A Memorable Meal

Dinner For The Steins

(My beautiful cousins Carrie Jo, Matt, and Zane were in town to remember my Dad. 

This is the meal I created for them. It was the 1st time they'd visited my home. My dear friend Paolo Caserotti joined us for the evening as well.)

2009 Vietti Roero Arneis

Jumbo Lump Maryland Crab Cakes served with a Tomato & Fennel Coulis and a Lemon Mayonnaise

Cannelini Bean Salad with Shaved Radish, Asparagus, Scallions, and Zucchini

2004 Fattoria dei Barbi Brunello de Montelcino

Broiled Loin of Lamb served with Farroto con Funghi, and Grilled Radicchio & Endive

Frommage - Gorgonzola Dolce, Taleggio, and Reggiano Parmesan 

served with warmed Olive Fougasse & Ciabatta, and Strawberries in Balsamic with Black Pepper

La Praline Walnut Dacquoise

Sumatra Espresso

Paolo's Parade of After Dinner Drinks - Limoncello, Cognac, Aquavit...

La Praline Assorted Macaroons

Dad - May 15, 1922 - May 29, 2011

I was chatting with my brother Eric the other day

and I told him,

that for Dad's service,

I'd like to rise from the grave

seated at a grand piano

playing the Aria from

Bach's 

Goldberg Variations.

This stunning piece of music is 

an example of the exquisite 

thought & beauty

that my Father was so fond of.

Sadly, a piano could not be arranged in time.

Dad grew up in The Bronx

where he used to play stickball,

eat Chinese Food,

and read

Science Fiction.

Dad was a curious lad

and always had an enquiring mind.

He loved games and puzzles, 

was a wordsmith, 

and as he grew older 

his games and puzzles grew increasingly 

more complex and into complicated equations, patterns,

languages, and systems. 

Dad, until his last days,

could be seen cocking his head to the side, and seemingly,

by tapping his fingers together, or waving a hand,

or patting his chest,

was making various calculations.

Considering String Theory no doubt.

All that Dad really wanted to do

was contemplate these beautiful truths

and their variations, and to share them with 

whoever was interested.

T'was a noble pursuit.

A noble life.

Dad 

was 

a 

Thinker,

a Writer,

and a Painter...

Here are 

A Few Words My Father Lived By

"Sums are not set as a test on Erasmus."

"Drawn I sit, Serene rest is inward."

and he sometimes asked...

"Are we not drawn onward, we few drawn onward to new era?"

Or more recently, during some of his hospital stays...

this could be heard...

"Nurse, I spy gypsies. Run!"

Yes,

and with Dad's 

fondness for puzzles, patterns, and words 

it is no surprise that he enjoyed a good 

palindrome now and again. 

Tough Times

Welcome back 

Dear Readers,

Dear Friends.

As some of you already know,

things around here have been rather tough lately. 

My Dad,

who suffered a stroke around four years ago,

was hospitalized a number of times

in the past couple months.

Then, 

at around 8:00 AM Sunday May 29th,

with Juliana, his loving caregiver

holding his hand,

and singing

"You Are My Sunshine"

to him, 

he just kinda hiccuped a couple times

and closed his eyes. 

We'd just celebrated Dad's 89th Birthday  

on May 15th.

We will miss my Dad,

Dr. Joseph Henry Engel,

and I will continue to try to celebrate him & my Mom,

by sharing my 

love for 

The Arts

with you.