I am thankful that today is Thursday.

Why?

Duh. The weekend is almost here! Yippee!!

This weekend is going to be fantastic. Not only do I get to see my wonderful in-laws (Hi Chuck and Susie!), but I also get to party with my sorority sisters. I am very fortunate to have such an amazing group of college friends. I transferred from KU to K-State my sophomore year and thought I made a big mistake. But all that changed when I met everyone at G-Phi.

From my sophomore year until I graduated, my college career was filled with memories and experiences with these girls that ranged from:

– drinking Gin and Tonics at 3am in G-Phi
– peeing on Pi-Phi’s lawn before Barn Party because it was the lady thing to do
– calling animal rescue to remove a huge kitty from a window cell
– pub crawls that turn into food crawls
– giving random people rides to class on Friday afternoons
– trying to survive attacks from our crazy landlord who tried to charge us for a dirty driveway (Is she still alive?)

Life was good in college thanks to my girls. How we made it out alive? No clue. But I think it’s safe to say that I will be friends with these girls for the rest of my life.

Okay, moving on.

Today was rather calm in an eerie way. This morning I was really stressed out about not getting everything done before I left this weekend. Plus, I had tonight’s cooking event on my mind so I wasn’t quite sure how the day would play out.

I swear I need to be tasered sometimes because I freak out so easily.

Good news, the only thing I wasn’t worried about was today’s outfit. I love this dress. Banana Republic Outlet for $30, yes please!

my left arm has a severe farmer’s tan. doh.
a taste for the weekend
i wear my sunglasses at….wait. in the bathroom?
a taste for the weekend

After work I had to race home to finish up a bunch of crap, i.e. packing and clearing out my camera card. Does anyone else hate this task? There should be a 1-800 number to call to have someone organize your photos….just a thought.

I arrived at Cook Street early to take pictures and help the boss with setup. Can I just tell you how flipping excited I was when I saw this place? I was like a kid in a candy store.

a taste for the weekend
As clients arrived they served cocktails and appetizers. All the food was freshly prepared earlier that day. I need a private chef. I can go halfvies?
(A fun side note, the almonds were dipped in duck fat. What? The taste, exhilarating).
a taste for the weekend
Chef John was the instructor for the evening and he was brilliant. He had an extreme amount of patience, which was fantastic because I had tons of questions. Yep, I was that person.
Even though some of the techniques he taught were basic like letting your meat come to room temperature before cooking, I still picked up a couple of new tips. For example, you don’t have to stir risotto every 5 minutes and grill marks actually tell you how far along the meat has cooked.
a taste for the weekend
Everyone helped cook some of the risotto and steaks, and can I just tell you all the food was perfection. Probably the best food I have eaten in a looooong time.
The menu for tonight was Italian:

Risotto with Grilled Asparagus, Aged Pecorino, and a Balsamic Drizzle.

a taste for the weekend

Grilled NY Strip Steak Marinated in Olive Oil with Garlic, with Fresh Baby Spinach

Molten Chocolate “Vesuvius” Cake

a taste for the weekend
The night was a success! I was glad that no one burned themselves or cut their hand.
I think everyone had a great time, and I am really looking forward to our next event.
Now, on to the weekend!
Conclusion: With “A Taste for the Weekend,” savor the joy of indulgence and culinary exploration, as you immerse yourself in delicious recipes and gastronomic delights that transform your weekends into unforgettable culinary experiences.