September Eleventh

photos by Jacqulyn Maisonneuve

While we were cooking tonight for another amazing Home Restaurant (more about this below) my mind wandered to earlier in the day. I thought of spending an hour this morning with pre-kindergarteners tasting, touching and smelling herbs. We played in coffee grounds as we discussed the benefits of sprinkling coffee grounds on our edible garden. We chopped and ate farm fresh apples. My mind wandered to the magical rainy morning filled with the excitement of who knows what’s to come in a room full of three and four year olds.

Cooking and organic gardening are places where we can truly enjoy Chance–and spending the morning with out my multi-task portable communication device (a.k.a. my cell phone) contributes to the place of chance, that is to say the present. Of course the children and the amazing potential and wonder I have from being around them contributes more, but this by-product is the lesson I learn from them.

It has been written that communication is the doing away with chance. That is to say I receive the message and respond–yes communication is good. But similar to standardized chemical farming and Fast Food, that are both so quick to eliminate chance, cell phones have scripted things so tight that there is no Chance that we can miss anything. We run the risk of missing everything.

Frances, the Librarian at Scott Montgomery, uses a Reggio Emilia approach that allows the Children to wander and explore with respect and responsibility. This approach actually gives the children: Chance. That is to say the wonderful moment of the present is privileged in the discovery of demands and desires.

There is a symbiotic relationship to the Dinners we do out of our home and the time spent at Scott Montgomery Elementary Garden. We work hard at a practice in both disciplines, we have found curious, thoughtful people to share and learn from. We have discovered the importance of Chance–the play, the exhilarating unscripted-ness of cooking, farming, and children, the feeding of really any practice.

What is at stake is an issue of Time and for any Practice to have a Chance, what matters most is time spent–the actual practicing. To have as many chances as possible in the just being there is of the utmost importance. We discover, if we look closely in the between spaces of any practice, the ability to ride chance like a massive wave that you cannot master but only incorporate in an arrangement, thereby benefiting from its power in a symbiotic relationship.

We had a lovely evening. We reconnected with amazing guests and colleagues whose work we admire as well as met some new friends.

Dinner Friday September 11, 2009

Starter Bites
Roasted Okra with Banyuls Vinegar
Noodles with Olive Oil and Fennel Tops
Red Bean Puree
Lima Bean Puree
Winter Squash Puree

Basil Lime Vodka Martini
(Corail de Roquefort) Cotes de Provence Rose, 2008

Seated
Seared Sea Scallop with Cucumber, Garlic and Ginger Sauce, Basil with Sesame Bread

(Villargeau) Coteaux du Giennois Sauvignon Blanc 2007

Ratatouille with Creamy Corn on Corn Cake

(Lopez de Heredia) Rioja Crianza 'Cubillo' 2002

Whitmore Farm Lamb Shank with Roasted Potatoes, Beets and Beet Greens,Wild Oyster Mushrooms and Caramelized Onions

(Chateau Les Valentines) Cotes du Provence Rouge 2006

Cave Aged Marissa Cheese with Walnut Cracker and Garden Greens Dressed with Walnut Oil

X-Mas Melon Pudding

(Cantina Alice Bel Colle) Moscato d'Asti DOC 2008

Almond Torte with Fig Compote, Fresh Figs and Caramelized Almonds and Frozen Chocolate

(Chateau de Vaux) "XB" Extra Brut Methode Traditionnelle 2003

Dessert Bites
Toasted Fennel Seed Cookies
Cornmeal Drops
Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies
Honey Cakes

Tonight’s play list was based on Blues and Bach and contained Modern Jazz Quartet's amazing Blues on Bach. We built around the entire album by playing Glenn Gould’s 1959 Goldberg Variations as well as Urban Contemporary, Blues inspired work like Erykah Badu and Hipster Folk Blues like Iron and Wine… Cyrus Chestnut and my favorite album Miles' Kind of Blue–One year We listened to nothing but Gould’s 1959 Goldberg Variations and Miles' Kind of Blue. I think it was the year we were waiting for Martin Lane to come…

Ohio River Boat Song, Greatest Palace Music, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy

Gulf Shores, Greatest Palace Music, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy

You Will Miss Me When I Burn, Greatest Palace Music, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy

The Brute Choir, Greatest Palace Music, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy

I Send My Love To You, Greatest Palace Music, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy

More Brother Rides, Greatest Palace Music, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy

Agnes, Queen Of Sorrow, Greatest Palace Music, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy

Viva Ultra, Greatest Palace Music, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy

Pushkin, Greatest Palace Music, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy

Come On In My Kitchen, The Complete Recordings, Robert Johnson

Come On In My Kitchen, Blue Light 'Til Dawn, Cassandra Wilson

Certainly, Baduizm, Erykah Badu

Acoustic Medley, Songs Of Freedom [Disc 2], Bob Marley

Hear My Train a Comin' (Acoustic Version), Blues, Jimi Hendrix

Satisfaction (I Can't Get No), Greatest Hits, Devo

Love No Limit, What's The 411?, Mary J. Blige

Flow, Lovers Rock, Sade

Maundering, Master And Everyone, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy

Sweet Thing, Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan, Chaka Khan & Rufus

If This World Were Mine, Anthology [Disc 1], Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell

How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore?, The Hits / The B-Sides (Box Set), Prince

Everybody Is A Star, Moonlight Mile, Sly & The Family Stone

The Devil's Real (Live), Live As I'll Ever Be , Chris Smither

Kamera, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, Wilco

It's Not Happening, Chinatown, The Be Good Tanyas

a man/ me/ then jim, More Adventurous, Rilo Kiley

The Rooster Moans, The Creek Drank The Cradle, Iron & Wine

Upward Over The Mountain, The Creek Drank The Cradle, Iron & Wine

Don't Explain, Mystery Lady: Songs Of Billie Holiday, Etta James

I'd Rather Go Blind, At Her Best, Etta James

Trans Fatty Acid, The K&D Sessions (Disc 1), Lamb

Baroque Impressions, The Dark Before The Dawn, Cyrus Chestnut

Regret?, Blues on Bach, Modern Jazz Quartet

Blues in *B* flat, Blues on Bach, Modern Jazz Quartet

Rise Up in the Morning, Blues on Bach, Modern Jazz Quartet

Blues in *A* minor, Blues on Bach, Modern Jazz Quartet

Precious Joy, Blues on Bach, Modern Jazz Quartet

Blues in *C* minor, Blues on Bach, Modern Jazz Quartet

Don't Stop This Train, Blues on Bach, Modern Jazz Quartet

Blues in *H* (B), Blues on Bach, Modern Jazz Quartet

Tears from the Children, Blues on Bach, Modern Jazz Quartet

Bach: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 – Aria, The Glenn Gould Edition N°23, Glenn Gould

Variatio 1 a 1 Clav., The Glenn Gould Edition N°23, Glenn Gould

Variatio 2 a 1 Clav., The Glenn Gould Edition N°23, Glenn Gould

Bach: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Variatio 3 Canone All'Unisono. A 1. Clav., The Glenn Gould Edition N°23, Glenn Gould

Variatio 4 a 1 Clav., The Glenn Gould Edition N°23, Glenn Gould

Variatio 5 a 1 ovvero 2 Clav., The Glenn Gould Edition N°23, Glenn Gould

Variatio 6 a 1 Clav. Canone alla Seconda, The Glenn Gould Edition N°23, Glenn Gould

Variatio 7 a 1 ovvero 2 Clav., The Glenn Gould Edition N°23, Glenn Gould

Bach: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Variatio 8 A 2 Clav., The Glenn Gould Edition N°23, Glenn Gould

Bach: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Variatio 9 Canone Alla Terza. A 1 Clav., The Glenn Gould Edition N°23, Glenn Gould

Variatio 10 a 1 Clav. Fughetta, The Glenn Gould Edition N°23, Glenn Gould

Variatio 11 a 2 Clav., The Glenn Gould Edition N°23, Glenn Gould

Variatio 12 Canone alla Quarta, The Glenn Gould Edition N°23, Glenn Gould

Variatio 13 a 2 Clav., The Glenn Gould Edition N°23, Glenn Gould

Variatio 14 a 2 Clav., The Glenn Gould Edition N°23, Glenn Gould

Bach: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Variatio 15 Canone Alla Quinta. A 1 Clav. Andante, The Glenn Gould Edition N°23, Glenn Gould

Variatio 16 a 1 Clav. Ouverture, The Glenn Gould Edition N°23, Glenn Gould

Variatio 17 a 2 Clav., The Glenn Gould Edition N°23, Glenn Gould

Variatio 18 a 1 Clav. Canone alla Sesta, The Glenn Gould Edition N°23, Glenn Gould

Variatio 19 a 1 Clav., The Glenn Gould Edition N°23, Glenn Gould

Variatio 20 a 2 Clav., The Glenn Gould Edition N°23, Glenn Gould

Variatio 21 Canone alla Settima, The Glenn Gould Edition N°23, Glenn Gould

Variatio 22 a 1 Clav. Alla breve, The Glenn Gould Edition N°23, Glenn Gould

Variatio 23 a 2 Clav., The Glenn Gould Edition N°23, Glenn Gould

Bach: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Variatio 24 Canone All'Ottava. A 1 Clav., The Glenn Gould Edition N°23, Glenn Gould

Variatio 25 a 2 Clav., The Glenn Gould Edition N°23, Glenn Gould

Variatio 26 a 2 Clav., The Glenn Gould Edition N°23, Glenn Gould

Variatio 27 a 2 Clav. Canone alla Nona, The Glenn Gould Edition N°23, Glenn Gould

Variatio 28 a 2 Clav., The Glenn Gould Edition N°23, Glenn Gould

Variatio 29 a 1 ovvero 2 Clav., The Glenn Gould Edition N°23, Glenn Gould

Variatio 30 a 1 Clav. Quodlibet, The Glenn Gould Edition N°23, Glenn Gould

Aria da capo, The Glenn Gould Edition N°23, Glenn Gould

So What, Kind of Blue, Miles Davis

Freddie Freeloader, Kind of Blue, Miles Davis

Blue In Green, Kind of Blue, Miles Davis

All Blues, Kind of Blue, Miles Davis

Flamenco Sketches, Kind of Blue, Miles Davis

Flamenco Sketches - Alternate Take, Kind of Blue, Miles Davis