The Wedding Day - Part Five

Let me take a moment to properly introduce you to one of the best chefs there ever was. Not just a cook. (and just for the record I'm no chef. I am more of a cook) One of the distinctions between the two being, perhaps, that a cook is often synonymous with quantity of food or numbers fed, as in an Army mess cook, for example. While a chef might be thought of more in the context of smaller, delectable morsels, for individual plating. Well this boy is all of both. I, too, have a penchant for large-volume cooking and, as such, see myself more in tune with the 'cook' monicker. I have always felt that my high-volume cooking lacks the subtle, je ne sais quoi, that defines the exquisite taste mastered by a true chef. And so, when cooking for over 100 this day, I so appreciate all he can do. Sir Peter Chase, of the Chase Restaurant in Etobicoke. My neighbor. My pal. Absolutely brilliant! He delivers, later in the evening, dinner for 120, hot and delicious. And very expeditiously, all within the confines of our rather ill-equipped and limited kitchen and dining room. One of the highlights is without a doubt seven --- barbecued to perfection --- beef tenderloins that do not require a knife to cut as they are so scrumptiously tender. All served up with your choice of home-made seven-grain mustard or horseradish sauce on the freshest buns I've seen since I last glimpsed Mel's.

Peter is so capable at large-volume catering. I know cause he asked me to assist him once with a commercial function for over 250 and I witnessed it first-hand. Peter can be contacted by email here: www.thechaserestaurant@cogeco.ca if you have an interest. OK. Enough of the commercial interlude. And now we return you to our regular programming.

Ryan arrives with the final remnants of Astroid M. The Sanglier Studios (my basement) House Band consisting of Andrew Dawson (courtesy of Humber School of Music) on lead and rhythm guitars, Nic Armour (courtesy of the God of Moderation and Common Sense allowing Nic a slim moment in time to keep his shit together long enough to join us) on drums and percussion. What else can you say? He's a drummer!! Ryan Peters (courtesy of Wilfred Laurier's School of Music) on bass, backing harmonies and musical direction. Our well-placed dollars, hard at work. And last, but in no way least, the magical master of crowd capture, and rapture and swooning young ladies, Mr. Will Bowes (courtesy of trains, buses and taxi cabs) on lead vocals and clownery.

The boys haven't played together for two years now, after having spent four years together at the Etobicoke School of the Arts. They arrive at 4 p.m. to have a wee rehearsal prior to show time at 9. it is an undeniable truth, evident from the opening volley, these boys haven't forgotten a thing and certainly do not require any stinkin' rehearsal. It's not appropriate to call it practice so let's just say the band entertains the set-up clientele from 4 until 6. Dev tells me it was great.

Petey, the caterer, arrives at 6 and begins schlepping the initial food from his place across the street and three doors down, where everything has been, or still is being, prepared. Chafing dishes have been set up to handle his butter chicken, 200 meat and veggie Samosas, home-made, old country, all vegetable, ratatouille and accompanying basmati rice. All this arrives and is set in place along with the crusty buns and the sides of mustard and horseradish sauces.

Oh, and did I mention tray after tray of cold canapés, to be served as the guests arrive beginning at 7. And arrive they did after Mel and I did at 6:45. Devon, Amanda Malashevski, Lisa and sis-in-law Denise begin serving the shrimp, oyster, smoked salmon, cucumber and avocado canapés to the crowd at 7. Notable mention must be made to include warm appreciation to both Steve and Kevin who assist Peter with the progression of the food from door to door. And when Peter is advised by his wife of an urgent situation requiring his attention else where, in the middle of the service I might add, Steve steps up to man the knife at the carving table without so much as an interruption in the flow of the receiving line.

Shelly arrives with two rather ominously large presents all wrapped and bowed. Mel and Jeff are ushered into the living room and presented with the gifts. We open them simultaneously and are delighted to find a montage of beautifully framed pictures taken earlier in the day. All in black and white and matted and capturing so perfectly the gentle moments between the to of us during our service. Soooooooo thoughtful. Shelly opens the glass of the frames and, over the course of the evening the matts of the pictures are signed by all in attendance. Wow! How good is that?