LOVELY PERSIAN DINNER PARTY…..

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

LOVELY PERSIAN DINNER PARTY…..

…..and Mom’s ready to party!

What a great idea…..the toothpicks are placed into a cabbage head. Now why didn’t I think of that????? I wasted no time in devouring the pistachios which were from Iran and much, much better than what we have here. ( ‘Pistachio Vera’ is a small tree originally from greater Iran. Impressed?)

And there was ‘nougat’ from Iran which is 100 times better than anything I’ve ever had (not so sweet.) I could scarcely control myself.

Homa our lovely and gracious hostess….

Lisa and I were spellbound…….mom was in her element. Rex, thanks so much for taking this picture….don’t know how I missed getting one of you.

O.K., this really did give new meaning to ‘shrimp cocktail’. I’m not sure what was added to the yogurt but the chopped apples were just the right touch.

Who is that hiding behind the candelabra????

Don’t you love the tulips? (There were beautiful flowers everywhere!!

Let’s just call this chicken ‘Ambrosia’ and end it there.

Tacheen (Tachin) Rice….what a creation. The crispy top is what everyone craves….oh my. Love the top ….Saffron is the high note and pistachios make it a wonder of a dish.

I can’t believe I asked for seconds. It was just so incredibly delicious I couldn’t help myself…honest!

This spectacular desert is hard to describe…the Rose Water in it was so refreshing. But look at the top….Homa is truly an artist!

See those little cream puff jewels? Homa makes them. I mean who makes pate a choux??? It’s incredibly difficult to make. These were so light and lovely they just evaporated in your mouth.

Predictably, I had seconds on the cream puffs. Come on….who wouldn’t???

This tea was lovely….must find out where to get.

Great conversation, elegant surroundings and heavenly food. Can’t top this one.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...: So happy to have you guys enjoyed the evening. Homa & I were so happy to have you over. Thanks for all the kind words.

Love, Homa & Rex; February 15, 2013 at 3:11 PM

Introduction

There is no avoiding the pull of the internet, the blogs, the YouTube imaginings. It's as if we're all 'On the Road' with Jack Kerouac each in our own world of meanderings. When we tell someone to 'get a life' it might be a bit difficult when you're dragged into other people's 24/7.

I've come to realize two foundational principals, there are no accidents and everyone has a purpose. More and more I'm desiring everyone to come into a full realization of their purpose as we all find our way on this little jewel of a planet.

For me, as a professional 'Western style artist', I stumbled into Chinese Brush Painting after a trip in 1980 to Monet's home/garden. Seeing all of his collection of Japanese woodblock prints was an ahh haa moment for me and when I returned to the States I started painting in the Chinese manner and never looked back. The first year was extremely painful for me as I felt that I should be able to master the technique since I was a 'trained' artist. Not a chance ... that just gets in your way.

Now, after teaching close to 3,000 students and having my book 'The Ch'i of the Brush' published by Watson Guptill, I can say that every one of my students does better their first day than I did my first year! Why? Because I insist that they leave their critical parent outside and just enjoy the journey, respecting the work that they do. I never let anyone throw anything away because that just ingrains frustration and defeat.

We really only begin to learn when we stop and figure out how to 'save' a painting. It works every time.I am so proud of my students, their receptivity and eagerness to express themselves is a continuing blessing for me.So, back to finding your purpose. Perhaps it starts with realizing 'it's not about me'. It so easy to want our needs met and to filter everything thru this attitude. When we realize that we're here to be of benefit to every life that we touch the universe really provides the ways and means.

The best part is that it's really exciting to not have yourself on your mind all the time!I'm re-reading a wonderful book about authenticity and in my next meandering I'll tell you about it. In the meantime I'd love to hear about your journey and am here to answer any and all questions about Chinese Brush Painting.