The Blogpatch

Deepti, Jon and I threw a summer dinner party in early August. Jon orchestrated an amazing menu; we had a special secret theme. We drank many lovely bottles of riesling, chianti and prosecco, and somehow, a bottle of tequila. And I still have the group voicemail, left at 2am, as a record of the evening.

Pre-party prep dinner. Why is Deepti laughing? Because of Jon’s duck feet.

I love my mustard yellow table, especially with its grey chairs. Deepti brought dahlias, and the evening sun is casting wine glass shadows on the wall.

I’m practicing wedding photography here. Below is a shot from the garden looking in at pre-party cocktail hour:

Note that I moved Harper’s feeding dishes outside for the party. Inevitably someone (usually Frank) kicks the entire thing across the kitchen, and not once but several times throughout the party.

Note Deepti’s unconventional place card protocol.

Jon & Frank.

Action shots. Jon plating the salad. Said salad being eaten.

Frank holding court at the head of the table. Jon after three bottles of wine.

Enjoying an after dinner glass. And something funny.

Deepti hugging Jon. Deepti & Graham. Much love.

Best shot of the night. The dancing has started. Haven’t had a dinner party without dancing yet.

Crazy SF marathoners the very next morning. Too damn early. And an afternoon bloody mary recovery at the Ramp the next afternoon. Note Jon’s excellent headband.

Here’s our menu:

* Halibut and scallop ceviche on flash-fried wonton crisps with avocado

* Rocket green salad, shaved parmigiana, lemon vinaigrette

* Veal and pork and ricotta meatballs (with pistachios!) with heirloom tomato sauce and fresh basil; pea & boston lettuce tarragon puree

* Grilled fresh figs with goat cheese and balsamic-port reduction sauce. Here are the figs; they look ugly but tasted so good!

I finally got into my dream home on Tennessee in the Dogpatch, and here’s a photo tour. I would love to renovate this house; I literally vibrate with happiness when I walk past and imagine bringing it back to its original splendor. It could host some killer dinner parties.

The facade. The entrance is overrun with geraniums.

A simple but nice bit of stained glass in the entry way:

The front rooms, with sliding doors, and an old coal fireplace:

Lovely mouldings around the light fittings throughout the house:

The saddest paint in the world, in the master bedroom on the main floor. And its thin little master bathroom:

A large and old-fashioned kitchen, with beautiful tiles:

Third floor landing, pink bedroom, another kitchen and a claw-footed bathtub in a second bathroom:

The garden, with its rickety old stairs. There’s a plum tree and feral cats hidden amongst all that brush:

On the ground level, there was a flat with lots of mold and water damage:

Large undeveloped space in the basement where you could expand the flat to two bedrooms, and the garage:

Lots of work…