Well-Fed Artist Event #15 — Scart’s Creole Gumbo

Hosts: Scott & Art (photos to come)

Relationship: I've known Scott since I was about 19 years young, but we lost touch for about 13 or 14 years…one day he googled me and we discovered we were living about four blocks from each other! The world is a crazy, wonderful place. So we reconnected and I got to meet his lovely significant other, Art. Their back deck is pretty much an oasis of calm, peace, and tranquility — and dance parties. They wanted to get in on the Well-Fed thing, because they are at almost every show, and will do most anything to cheer me on.

Menu: Scott did the cooking, and can be quite adventurous in the kitchen. For the salad course, he made a dressing that was kind of caesarish, but of course, homemade, inspired by a Paula Deen show he saw on TV. A basket of toasted french bread and butter was on the table, and went perfectly with the main dish: A shrimp, crab, and sausage gumbo served over fluffy white rice. (Scott wanted to serve brown rice, but said it seemed wrong to serve gumbo without white rice. I agree!) The gumbo was quite the hit, as I had two servings, which I am rarely letting myself do these days. It was just so good, I couldn't resist. Scott once made these stuffed peppers that I still talk about, but I think the gumbo takes the prize. Thanks, guys!!

I was planning for this to be my Well-Fed finale, but we have a few last minute additions…they'll be trickling in over the next couple of weeks…I told them I've made it past the two week point by now, plus some, but my friends are so sweet, they want to cook for me, so who am I to stop them!?

Well-Fed Artist Event #14 — Gina’s Skinny Bitch in the Kitch Vegan Dish

Host: Gina (she won't allow a photo! sorry, i tried!)

Relationship: Gina's another lady I met through work about six or so years ago, but she has also been a benefic force in my musical adventures…from helping me decipher legal paperwork, to buying music gear, to telling me how to hook said gear up, to actually coming to hook it up when i couldn't figure it out, to running my sound, she's kind of done it all…except cook for me. She's really been into Skinny Bitch (which I've also read and enjoyed), and to also appease the PETA-philes, she decided to cook me a vegan meal, which I got very excited about. (She's also pledged to cook for me when I move into my new place next week if I can't afford food. She also has some mad napkin folding skills.

Menu: Whole wheat pasta, broccoli, garlic, and sauteed vegan sausage. Topped with vegan cheese yumminess, and served with a Viognier. I know I was just raving about the apple pear dessert on Monday, but for the finale, Gina did something so simple and delicious. She grilled a banana and served it over soy dream vanilla bean faux-ice cream. The grilling of the banana really brought alive the flavor and texture of the nana, and paired with the gooey coolness of the soy dream, well, all i can say is mmmmmmmmmmm.

We then retired to the living room to watch Obama's speech at the DNC. Not one to ever get very engaged with the political process (Yes, I vote, I just don't need all this talking….), we also watched a little bit of an old Grey's episode and talked about the characters we loved or hated. (Hate George and Izzy, separately or together; love Meredith's flawed perfection.) And how creepy it was for TR to be dating a teen. Yes, we judged. Then it was time to go…


But if you see a sister biking down Boulevard with an insulated bag stuffed with vegan goodness in her bicycle basket any time soon, you know who it is.

Well-Fed Artist Event #13 — Flying Biscuit and Tub Talk

Host: Michelle

Guests: Me, Hillary and the ever-adorable Dawn.

Menu: The girls called me on the way home from my "appointment" (group therapy, LOL), and we placed our orders at Flying Biscuit. Shelly always loves the warm chicken salad, Hillary loves the Devil burger (the only veggie burger she'll eat, she says, but she's never had the veggie burger at Houston's.), Dawn had the love cakes (also vegetarian), and I had the turkey meatloaf with pudge. (This was before I discovered turkey is acidic and I need to eat more alkaline.) Flying biscuits with apple butter were in abundance.

After dinner, we retired to the pool, where Hillary showed us her mermaid-like moves. Then we hopped in the not-so-hot tub (the storms had knocked out power to the tub, so it had to heat up, which it did suprisingly quickly!), and had one of those great several hour conversations that really quench your soul. I loved having two of my best gals together and we all learned so much about each other. Suddenly it was nearly 1 a.m. and we had to work the next day…. so we dried off and hurried home….. Great night though….Thanks, ladies!

Well-Fed Artist Event #12 — Dinner with the cutest family EVER!

Hosts: Laurel, her hubby Mike, and their two amazing girls, Ana and Zoe

Relationship: I met Laurel met six or so years ago at work, and immediately discovered a shared love of Mollie Katzen, shelter mags, yoga, small space design, old Ani DiFranco, and working long hours during hurricane season. When I became a product manager, she showed me the ropes, reviewed my requirements and spent a lot of time helping me not look like a doofus. (Thanks, Laurel! If only I could be 1/10 as organized!) She is also a fabulous vegetarian cook, and a constant supporter of my music (she and Mike were at my first real show at Red Light Café back in the day!), so she was a natural for one of my Well-Fed Artist dinners…And her girls may well be the cutest, sweetest, most well-behaved, polite, fun-loving, laughter-filled, smart, and lovable creatures to dwell on planet earth. And, in the right lighting, Mike kinda looks like Russell Crowe, minus the phone-throwing antics.

Menu: Appetizers were these delicious filo cups baked with a mixture of artichokes and black olives, paired with a lovely Prosecco. Main course was a totally scrumptious veggie-and-tofu-laden red sauce, served over fettucine, served with a wonderful red wine. Dessert was simple, but delicious: a fruit platter comprised of cherries, orange slices, mint sprigs, and the most amazing new food discovery, asian pears (sometimes called apple pears). Laurel is so sweet, she sent me home with one because I couldn't stop raving about it. If you've never had one of these, seek it out the next time you're at the farmer's market. I'm hooked, and you will be, too. Really, I'm not sure I've ever tasted something so fresh and flavorful!

After the real dinner, Ana and Zoe made us some additional dishes in their play kitchen. Ana cooked, and Zoe oversaw the cleanup. They're quite a team, and definitely quite a family. Thanks for having me over, M's, and hope to do it again soon!!