{"id":1176,"date":"2011-06-08T13:26:09","date_gmt":"2011-06-08T13:26:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.vicsocotra.com\/?p=1176"},"modified":"2011-06-08T13:26:09","modified_gmt":"2011-06-08T13:26:09","slug":"canned","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vicsocotra.com\/wordpress\/canned\/","title":{"rendered":"Canned"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"
\n(The new Willow Waif coasters at the bar. What are writers supposed to take notes on? Photo Socotra.)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Everyone was bracing for what is going to come at the end of the week. Mother Nature is going to open up a can of humidity and warmth- the heat index is supposed to spike up over the century mark and the sweat is going to roll down the insides of our sodden shirts and make the bright floral prints of the sun dresses cling damply to the curves of the ladies.<\/p>\n

It was starting to get sultry already. There were two civilians parked at the end of the bar in Old Jim\u2019s place, and I knew there was going to be trouble if they didn\u2019t finish their wine and move on. I was surprised to see both the Johns- with and without H- chatting about midway down the long dark bar.<\/p>\n

Elisabeth-with-an-S was topping them up with Happy Hour White, and turned and smoothly grabbed another tulip glass to place in front of me on the new Willow coasters that feature the gaunt heroin-chic lady whose image graces the inside entrance in the glass atrium of the building.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey,\u201d I said. \u201cYou are getting some hours this week. And what\u2019s up with the coasters? What am I supposed to write on when I am interviewing Admiral Mac?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe you should bring your own paper,\u201d said Aimee crisply as she walked by with the check for the civilians, who apparently were lightweights and leaving after a single glass of wine. Aimee is fitting in, and I can only describe her as having an acid wit like Rhea Perlman on Cheers only better looking.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou had better knock them back, Boys\u201d said Elisabeth. \u201cIt is going to get busy here soon.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is always busy,\u201d I said, taking a deep draught of the crisp cold white. \u201cThat\u2019s why we flirt with you when we get here because you don\u2019t pay attention later.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d she responded with that sly shy smile she has. \u201cThe Dames are coming.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

(Elisabeth-with-an-S preps for the coming Willow Happy Hour. Photo Socotra.)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d I said cleverly, then launched into the song from South Pacific. \u201cThere is nothing like a Dame\u2026nothing in the wooooorld\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n

John with an H joined in: \u201cThere is nothing you can name\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jon without concluded \u201cThat is anything like a Dame.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t get out of control,\u201d said Aimee crisply.\u00a0 \u201cLes Dames d\u2019Escoffier is no laughing matter. Owners Kate and Tracy both belong and this is the Spring General Meeting for the DC Chapter of the Dames.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is it?\u201d I asked. \u201cA cooking group?\u201d<\/p>\n

John with said: \u201cYou know Escoffier, don\u2019t you?\u201d John is of the ancient tribe of WASPS from Boston, washed up here in DC with some vague job at Main State in the aftermath of the overthrow of the old social order.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course,\u201d I said. He was the man who brought haut cuisine to London and then America. Didn\u2019t he do the basic cookbook for French cuisine? I think he cooked in New York, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

(August Escoffier in his prime. The famed chef eschewed any canned ingredients in his legendary gastronomy. Photo courtesy Les Dames D\u2019Escoffier.)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cHe was a rock star of cooking,\u201d said Johnwith. \u201cHe cooked for Kaiser Wilhelm onboard the Hamburg-America Line SS Imperator coming across Atlantic after a gig at the Carlton Hotel in London. The meal was sumptuous, and featured the Kaiser’s favorite strawberry pudding, which Escoffier named fraises Imperator. Willie was so impressed that he summoned him to have breakfast the next day and you know what he said?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo tell,\u201d I said, hoping Elisabeth would be attentive to our just requirements for re-fills. There were women coming in groups through the front door, filling up the cocktail nook and the aisle between the bar and the little tables. They were well-dressed, well-coiffed and all business.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, the Kaiser said to Escoffier: \u201cI am the Emperor of Germany, but you are the Emperor of Chefs.”<\/p>\n

\u201cNo shit.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFor real, or at least that is what they say.\u201d Aimee slid a piece of paper across the bar.<\/p>\n

\u201cHere is what you are dealing with,\u201d and she glided off. Aimee glides. Elisabeth bustles. Moved the paper to a place near the coaster and between the Jo(h)ns. There was a mission statement:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Dames D\u2019Escoffier is a world-wide philanthropic society of professional women leaders in the fields of food, fine beverage and hospitality. The invitation-only membership, composed of 28 individual chapters across the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, is highly diversified and reflects the multifaceted fields of contemporary gastronomy and hospitality.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cImpressive,\u201d I said. \u201cNo men.\u201d The Jo(h)ns nodded, and with the civilians gone, Old Jim assumed his traditional position anchoring the entrance and we slid down to consolidate space as the bar filled with highly diversified and multifaceted women. One of them stood exactly as tall as your average floor lamp, and her head was adorned with the most extraordinary scarlet hat. I excused myself to ask her if I might take a picture for tomorrow\u2019s story.<\/p>\n

\u201cStory?\u201d she said with a wondering look.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s sort of a blog,\u201d I said. \u201cCanned ideas. It is a marvelous hat.\u201d
\n\"\"<\/p>\n

(A lovely hat at Willow. Photo Socotra.)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Slightly disconcerted, she gave her permission and I snapped the pic and uploaded it to the web. When I returned to my place at the bar, John said: \u201cLook at the menu for tonight after drinks:<\/p>\n

Willow Dinner Menu:<\/strong><\/em>
\nWine Service
\nPassed Hors d\u2019oeuvres:
\nWillow\u2019s Assorted Grilled Flatbreads
\nGougeres with Black Truffle Butter
\nEndive Spears with Blue Cheese Mousse and Candied Pecans
\nDinner Buffet:
\nMixed Greens Salad
\nOrange Glazed Chicken Breast
\nGrilled Beef and Norwegian Salmon Kabobs with Eggplant, Fennel, Zucchini, and Onion with Feta Raita
\nBarley Risotto with Summer Vegetables
\nGarlic-Roasted Broccolini
\nAssorted Petit Fours and Cookies
\nCoffee and Tea Service<\/p>\n

\u201cMan,\u201d I said. \u201cI wish I were eating here. It is a tribute to Escoffier. I wish I didn\u2019t have to swim when I get back to Big Pink.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t have to do anything, Vic,\u201d said Jon.<\/p>\n

\u201cTrue enough. But the exercise is what keeps me sane.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAimee!\u201d bellowed Jim. \u201cCan I get a Budweiser here?\u201d The din was rising, and John With left for the head. I turned to Jon without and asked him what was new.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell,\u201d he said slowly. \u201cI got fired today.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, HR was waiting for me this morning when I got in. Never saw this one coming.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDid they escort you to the lobby and take away your badge? I had to learn about how to lay off personnel when I was at the Phone Company, and the precautions you have to take to ensure that they are not armed when you tell them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI wasn\u2019t packing, and they were very nice. I filled a box and left. I got a chance to go to the pool this afternoon.\u201d The Lovely Bea arrived, striking even amid the throng of attractive women. She had no hat.<\/p>\n

\u201cDoes Bea know? Wouldn\u2019t you prefer a guy who is employed?\u201d I said with a smile.<\/p>\n

Jon said: \u201cI got fourteen weeks severance. I think I will be OK. I think.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA guy as handsome as you? Hell yeah. Just keep working on the George Hamilton tan and you will be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

We drank another glass of wine, and Jon and Bea decided to go to dinner someplace else. I spent a moment talking to Old Jim about his time in the Nixon White House. For a guy who got high with Dr. Hunter S. Thompson, Jim sure got around. Of course, the Doctor used to hang out with Nixon, too. Those were odd times.<\/p>\n

I gave Elisabeth my credit card and she bustled off.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know the other thing Escoffier said?\u201d asked Jim.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, what.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe said that the Brits were crazy. He had to put out High Tea at the Carlton in London, but it caused him real pain. “How can one eat jam, cakes and pastries, and enjoy the king of meals an hour or two later!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s why I didn\u2019t have the miniature fish and chips,\u201d I said. \u201cSee you tomorrow.\u201d
\n\"\"<\/p>\n

(Jon-no-H with his signature iced tea & vodka with 14 weeks severance, starting today. Photo Socotra.)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Copyright 2011 Vic Socotra
\nwww.vicsocotra.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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