Vernal Geekuinox 2024: Dinner in a Crystal Palace

 

For many years now--I'm a little afraid to count them--Pete and Ellen have hosted Geekquinox dinners every spring and fall. A little less than a dozen lucky guests made the pilgrimage to Pete's place and were treated to the finest food and fellowship in the land. 

But this year is different: Pete and Ellen, married last year, have sold their old homes and moved into brand new digs together. The former owners had a thing for glossy, glassy mirrors and chandeliers, and so Pete and Ellen have dubbed their new home the Crystal Palace. 

It's a beautiful home, styled in black and white, with plenty of room to accommodate Pete, Ellen, and the kids, along with their many varied hobbies. 

It even has a spinning disco ball in the basement, and I have convinced Sylvia that we're going to have one installed in our theatre room. VICTORY!

This year's dinner theme was, naturally crystal, though Pete admits that some of the courses have only tenuous connections to the theme. For example, this baked ziti was served in crystal glassware. A thematic stretch? Sure, but who cares when the pasta is so scrumptious?

Here Audrey enjoys a basil lime cocktail. I don't remember what kind of booze this drink contained, but it was universally enjoyed and had SOMETHING to do with crystals. Maybe limeade crystals? No, probably not. 

Steve looks like he's scored a rhetorical point here, and Mike looks quite pleased with the ziti. 

Ellen makes a great sous chef and charming hostess alike, and it was lovely see how happy she and Pete are in their new home. 

Here's Pete pouring out his homemade cheese sauce for fondue. Bread and melted cheese--so simple, so delicious. We gorged on it. Just incredible. 

Margaret contributes one of the many contented smiles enjoyed through the day. 

The Edmonton Oilers had a playoff game last night, and Jeff was fired up for it, even though Pete and Ellen hadn't yet hooked up any televisions upstairs yet. There's always radio! 

Because Geekquinox came so late this year, it falls just a few days before Gaming and Guinness 18. Rob used the opportunity to come for G&G a few days early, joining us for Geekquinox. 

Pete served up some amazing steak fajita slices, cooked to perfection, so juicy and savory we couldn't help but wolf them down like, well, wolves. 

Scott entertained us with an airport security story not repeatable on these pages. 

The chef and the blogger. 

The blogger and the debutante. 

Alas, Sylvia and I had to head home before dessert, but Pete snuck me downstairs so I could photograph his no-doubt-heavenly geode cake. 

Here's a gratuitous high-angle shot of Stephen with the Chandelier of Damocles hanging ominously above.

And a gratuitous shot of Sylvia wearing one of Audrey's crystal-bedazzled accessories. 

Once again, Pete and Ellen gave us a very special gift--an opportunity for fun, fellowship, feasting, and fantastic memories. Thanks, guys. It was amazing, and may you enjoy your new home for many years to come. 

Today's Yuk

Q: What's left when your container of paint runs dry? 
A: Nothing but a pigment of the imagination. 

-Today's joke inspired by a quip I made recently after my friend Scott spilled paint all over his leg. 

Autumnal Geekquinox 2023: The Barbenheimer Affair

"I am become Chef, creator of Worlds . . . of flavour." 

Pete could have said this, but instead he lived these words by preparing a multi-course meal inspired by two of this year's biggest critical and commercial film hits, Barbie and Oppenheimer. 

To begin with, just look at that menu. Not only is he a creative culinary force, he's also a damn fine writer and graphic designer. 

Enough fawning, on to the food and friendship: 
 

Sylvia loved her Barbies as a child, so she was well equipped to doll herself up (pun intended) for the event. The best I could do was to don my only pink shirt (a holdover from Gaming & Guinness created by Steve) to serve as a sort of bargain-basement Ken. 

Here's "Pink just looks so good on toast," a savoury concoction that burst on the palate when consumed. There's lox, capers, tomato, and avocado in there. Oof! Chef's kiss. 

I haven't seen Oppenheimer yet, but this juicy rosemary chicken breast is so named for a nude scene in the film. I'll understand the context eventually, but yesterday the flavour was far more important than the reference. The chicken may look unassuming in this photo, but it was irresistible. 

"It's so ($#&%*# good!" 

The atomic turds were hot, hot, hot, but I managed to eat two anyway. Bacon, cream cheese, jalapeno, and sausage, all wrapped up in one explosive package! 

"Is that going to be too hot too handle?"

I hate mushrooms. But I have a self-imposed rule about Geekquinox: If it's on the menu, I must AT LEAST try it. I devoured two of these thanks to the generous heaps of garlic-infused cheese Pete stuffed into these Mushroom Clouds. That's more than enough juicy flavour to overcome my distaste for mushrooms.

"Surprised you, huh?"

Call Them Trinity . . . fondant potatoes stuffed to overflowing with a trio of cheeses. A delectable accompaniment for the main meat course . . .

"MORE MEAT . . ."

No, not another serving of atomic turds, though they would have been welcome. This is Oppenheimer's Vision--pork belly burnt ends. Melt-in-your-mouth tenderness and palate-pleasing flavour in every bite.

"I am become Chef . . . wait, you already used that joke." Pete as Barbenheimer himself! 

Barbie herself dropped in to present the Barbieland Cloud, made from scratch, just like everything else on the menu. It was moist beyond belief. 

"We can't eat another bite! Look, Pete's passing out." 

"Hey Steve, did you know you can read all about this event on your blog?" 

"Yes, Earl, because I WROTE IT." 

The four Barbie girls that graced our Barbie world on Saturday. 

And of course, Ellen's traditional group photo. 

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I have the best friends. Thanks to Pete and Ellen for another fantastic gathering, and to the rest of you fine folks for coming out and sharing another evening of loving laughter. 

Scarab

I painted Scarab mostly with contrast paints, and I think my application on Scarab improved a little by this point. I'm trying to be very conscious of Jeff's advice to apply very thin coats, and Sean and Scott's advice not to let the paint form pools. The rockets seem to look best, with the paint applied quite evenly and little evidence of brush strokes. 

One of the blue contrast paints worked quite well on windows, so I used it for several of the cars in my Car Wars collection. 

There are better models ahead. 

Kodiak

Here's another Car Wars vehicle. This one is Kodiak, a burly-looking, brawny beast, and perhaps my favourite of the five I've painted so far. This time around I took some advice from Jeff and Scott and added some weathering effects, partially to hide my paint errors and partially to make the vehicle look well-used. 
 

Vernal Geekquinox 2023: The Spice Must Flow!

 

We had a hot time in the old town last night as Pete and Ellen hosted another utterly delightful Geekquinox, this time themed around hot spices. The spice did indeed flow, and many sinuses and intestinal tracts were cleared! 

I talked to Mom about the menu on Friday night, and we both agreed that neither of us would be likely to try anything hotter than the Heartbeat Pineapple Habanero, but I surprised myself last night by sampling each. Surprisingly, I found the hottest spice more palatable than the second-hottest, which had my pores and sinuses open wide and my tongue twisting in protest. Regarding flavour, my favourites were the Heartbeat Pineapple, the Los Calientes, and the Ginger Goat Original. I can't really call them hot after detonating The Bomb in my mouth; each offered a nice mixture of sweet or sour to temper the heat. 

Scott samples a sauce. 

I don't believe I've ever had homemade guacamole before last night. It was scrumptious, and a welcome antidote to the heat. 

Pete often prepares his amazing chicken chili verde at Gaming & Guinness, and I'll never tire of it. I could live on this stuff. 

Pete spends most of his time at Geekquinox cooking, but luckily he could take breaks to enjoy his own preparations, thanks to occasional sous-chefing from Ellen and some of the more talented guests. (I was fit only for crumbling some feta into a measuring cup.) 

For example, here's Jeff stirring that delicious chili. 

And here's Steve coring the fruit out of a pineapple. Mmmm. 

Ohhhh yeah. 

Steve enjoys some chili. 

The incredible hamachi shot. 

One of Pete's kitchen light bulbs had been burned out for years, and I'm proud to say that I was among the first to notice he'd finally changed the bulb. Huzzah! 

Our hostess enjoys a steaming cup of specially-brewed spirited rum coffee with butterscotch whipped cream. Even a teetotaler like me has to admit that sounds pretty good. 

Mike's animated conversation brings life to every gathering graced with his peripatetic presence. 

We all feasted on chips, guacamole, and hot sauce between courses. 

But in truth, coming together to share our stories and laugh is the best thing about Geekquinox. Or is it the food? No, it's the friendship. No, the food...they're both amazing. 

The pork and pineapple skewers were heavenly, rivalling, in my eyes (or rather, in my mouth), the chili verde.

Sylvia and I had to leave before the day wrapped up, and boy do I regret missing the Mexican street corn. But needs must! 

Don't skimp on the cheese sauce. 

Sylvia and I feel incredibly lucky to have such lovely friends and to be part of what's become one of our favourite traditions. Thanks again, Pete and Ellen! 

For more, check out Steve's thoughts on the night.