Getting Together!
I wanted Mary to meet some old friends. This group consists of folks I met when I danced at Disneyland every weekend. Santiago and Renee were my bartenders at Catal and Javier managed the valet parking lot at Downtown Disney. Our friendship goes back almost 20 years, before Santi and Renee were even married!
Mary knows Santi and Renee's wife but everyone one else will be new to her.
Mary and I decided to make it easy and we ordered a buffet from Taco Mesa. Evelia is bringing flan (this popular Mexican dessert has minimal ingredients and it's made with eggs, cream cheese, condensed & evaporated milk) and Vicky is bringing a surprise.
We will have other friends today including Vicky & Jim Bob Z. and Robin & Bob. It should be an interesting day!
Renee and Santiago circa 2018 at the family Christmas Play!
(They were handsome devils; still are!)
...and the family! They have really grown up!
Evelia & Javier (he is eight days older than Paul)
We started off the day laughing!!! Always a good thing.
We have eighteen place settings!
Just in case, we brought out some of our Christmas Tamales that we get from Vicky every year - They were a hit!!
We had such a big order the little girl brought two loads to the car and told me to "get out of the rain, I'll do it!" Wow, service with a smile!
First to arrive and ALWAYS a welcome sight!
Santiago always has a smile and a story to tell!
We gathered and shared for a while before dinner began;
Mary made sure we had a load of goodies to nibble on!
Scout has many new friends; he is wonderful with new people!
(He was convinced they all came just to scratch him!!)
...and if they stop scratching him, he lets them know!!!
(Notice his left paw)
The little boys were great!
Be careful of his hot sauce! It is loaded with fire!
Bob bailed us out; the ice machine was empty so he jumped
in the car and found a bag of ice! He is our hero!
Everyone dived in and food disappeared instantly.
Santiago had some bar tending tricks to show us!
We made sure Evelia had a vegetarian meal - Just like she used to do for Sue!
Here comes the magic! Eye of newt; dragon wings; butterfly tongues and octopus bones!
Ingredients must be applied at 184 shakes per second!
Watch for the flames!
Did You Know? - Gaytán's Paseo will replace Catal and feature upscale cuisine inspired by his Mexican homeland and his training in French technique. Outside, Gaytán's Centrico replaces Uva Bar, focusing on small bites and premium drinks, including tequilas. Both locations will continue to be operated by Patina Group.
After twenty-five years, Catal is going to be replaced; I guess change is inevitable?
Robin thinks of everything; she brought games for the kids!
Robin has known our guests for as long as I
have since she used to go to Disneyland with us many times a year
"Hint of newt, hint of something!"
Sure looks pretty!
Needless to say I went back for seconds and thirds!!
Best flan we have ever had ... Emilia made magic happen!
Did You Know? - The Roman Empire is the true origin of this dessert. The word flan is the French equivalent of the Latin word fladon, which comes from the Old High German word "flado," meaning "flat cake." Flan was once a savory dish, usually made from fish or meat. Today, the dessert has evolved into something sweet.
Dang! She caught me!
Always a smile!
Everyone gets to play!
The afternoon was like musical chairs; everybody sat everywhere!
The dessert table was a favorite.
Mary makes sure everyone was OK!
Robin makes coffee for Santi's next creation!
He is brewing up something good!
We had a mess of food!
All eyes on Santi!
Should someone call 911???
"It's all in the hands!"
Whatever it was, was outstanding!!
It was beginning to mist!
Everything was stashed away!
Watch out for these three!
Just us!
See, I was here all day!
Scout asked if he could jave his friends over!!
