Family Dinner

 Saturday, December 18, 2021

Our plans to spend the family weekend did not materialize due to a snowy forecast.  Alternate plans for a family dinner did not happen because Jay was nursing a cold and Annika wasn't feeling well.  It happened for the best since Bonobo overbooked the private room Jay had arranged.

As I'm leaving my apartment, a box was outside my door from Masako.  In it were a small bowl, a container of ginger snaps and a small box of chocolates.

We were able to gather tonight at Bonobo: Jay, Laura, Anton, Claude, Brad, Janice and I.  We were led to the private room which had little kids at two of the tables.  It was brightly lit with chalkboards to amuse the kids.  Soon, another family with kids arrived.  We were not amused. All that was missing was a cage with balls for the kids to jump in.  We were offered seating in the bar area at tall tables, which I refused.  The manager apologized and after a short wait, situated us in the regular dining room.  Probably the manager assumed there were children when Jay made reservations for nine.  When we were seated, Jay complained that there were too many adults in the room. 

We were very satisfied once we were seated in the dining room.  Laura and I shared a bottle of red wine, the others had various beers.  My braised short ribs were delicious; everyone else seemed to enjoy whatever they ordered.  Janice was especially pleased with the vegan selections.  Brad and I completed our meals with creme broulee.  It was a very relaxing, satisfying evening.

On the way to their house, Jay drove through some neighborhoods to view the holiday decorations.