Gourmet at Home -- February 7, 2004 -- Medley of Middle Eastern Dishes
(see pictures, below!)
   
Marilyn Conrad and Julie Campbell stepped forward to plan a middle eastern menu for February. 
The meal will be served on February 7 and we'll call it a Medley of Middle Eastern Dishes. 

Polly Clement will take the reservations for this event. Please let her know if you are willing to host in your home. 
Here is the menu that Julie Campbell and Marilyn Conrad put together:

Appetizers:
Hummus bi Tahini
Red and Yellow Peppers
Taramasalata (smoked cod's roe spread)
First Course:
"The Swooning Imam" (baked eggplant casserole)
Main Course:
Chicken with Preserved Lemons and Olives Emshmel
Couscous with Dried Fruits and Almonds
Orange and Olive Salad
Fava Lu-Bee (Lima Beans)
Cucumber Yogurt Sauce with "Lavash" bread
Dessert:
Ginger Ice Cream
Baklava


At the Bob Johnson/Lisa Reich table, things were "well-ordered...exemplary" and fun!
From left to right, Valerie Cardon, Bob Johnson, Lisa Reich, Polly Clement, Jerry Jensen, Marie-Paule Hajdu.  
Patty Jacquemin, Charles Armstrong and Laszlo Hajdu were also there. 
At the "other" table, well, maybe a little less ordered, but still exemplary and fun! See below

Ellen enters through the Casbah-style drapes -- 

and the kitty contemplates how those could be disassembled...

Norm Jacobs starts the hilarity by choosing to wear his mid-east designer napkin ring.
 

Hilarity -- See? Ellen and Darlene enjoy Norm's fashion sense. (Note the refrigerator game -- Yes, we stole that idea from Ron and Jane Freund at last year's July 4 party. It drives the cat nuts.)

Marilyn Conrad chats with Malcolm and the others.
 

...and then Malcolm Campbell gets some assistance wearing his napkin ring. Note that camel on sand as the centerpiece. Aïda Bullock and Berkeley Meigs-McCaleb look on. 

OK, I'll wear this thing because it's become the style. 
But I won't enjoy it!   (Just kidding.)
Lessee -- right ear, left ear -- is that significant?
Hmmm. Bob Lilley was also at this dinner, but
as often happens, he was photographing the scene,
not himself...