“The first candle glows with a wish for the best things in life.” ChezHelvetica celebrated the first night of Chanukah filled with optimism. Miracles were imminent! The stunners this evening began with Chicken Soup made from Rotisserie Chicken with Onion, Garlic, Celery, Carrots and Dill. Next, delicious Potato Latkes (made by dear friend Joan) served with Sour Cream and homemade Applesauce.
Arugula Salad filled with Smoked Salmon, Cherry Tomatoes and Red Onion, covered with Apricot Salad Dressing (made with Apricots from my sister’s tree) accompanied the Latkes. Another marvel this evening – Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon. Sweet cookies concluded this gathering, for which the Maccabees would certainly declare another victory. Happy Holidays to All!
First Course: Delicious Tea Sandwiches – Egg Salad with Chives, Honey Smoked Salmon, and Pear Pecan Blue Cheese, paired with an assortment of Celestial Seasonings Herbal Teas and J Sparkling Wine. Second Course: Incredible Blueberry and Currant Scones, served with Somerdale Double Devon Cream, English Clotted Cream, Ollalaberry/ Blackberry Jam (made by my friend Priscilla) and Lemon Curd. Third Course: Desserts! Chocolate Crinkles, Orange Cookies, Ginger/TCHO Cocoa Powder Cookies (made by my niece Rachel) and Iced Pound Cake. Now wine, a luscious Twomey Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, donated by The Duncan Family. And then a Fourth Course: Besparkling Angels. Each Cava decorated a wooden angel with Glitter Glue for the perfect ornament to decorate their Chanukah Bush or Christmas Tree.
ChezHelvetica’s first experience with Cranberry Beans, also known as Borlotti, opened a new world in dining. Sensuous in their curved shells, these beautifully pink-speckled oval beans added creamy, delicious flavor to a Tri Color Barilla Pasta dish, nestling on Earthbound Farm Organic Baby Spinach. An Epicurious 
Grated Parmesan-Reggiano Cheese showered the Pasta Salad, studded with 
ChezHelvetica ushered out 5779 with a New Year’s Eve dinner for visiting family. 
Turkey Soup made with Empire Kosher Turkey Breast, Italian Fusili, Vidalia Onions, Garlic and Organic Carrots (spiced with Bay Leaf and Fresh Dill) took center stage for this 
gathering. The heartwarming soup was accompanied by Whole Divinia Greek Olives, Del Monte Tiny Dill Pickles, Zucchini/ Parsley Salad with Apricot Dressing and Acme Sourdough Bread. Edna Valley Chardonnay from the backyard of my relatives in San Luis Obispo made the lively discussion about future plans and trips that much livelier. Delicious Chocolate Babka (a pastry with Eastern European Jewish heritage) sweetened our meal and heralded a Sweet New Year. L’Shanah Tova 5780!
From Black Rock City, Nevada to ChezHelvetica at Land’s End, a Burner returned to Welcome Back feasts and Tide. (Lots of Tide/three loads). The day’s first repast, a collaboration, featured an Organic Arugula Salad with homemade Apricot Salad Dressing, Marin Gourmet‘s delicious Aubergine Dip with Lemon Crackers and Black Bean-Vidalia Onion-Cheddar Cheese Wraps punctuated with stories of incredible art, desert challenges and dust. Dinner included 
Farmers Market Zucchini, Early Girl Tomatoes, Garlic and Onion sizzled in Stonehouse Extra Virgin Olive Oil, then accented with fresh Basil. Husked Sweet Corn wrapped in damp paper towels, microwaved for just five minutes, then dipped in butter and salt. Mouthwatering delight! This year on Saturday the Burning Man, surrounded by a kaleidoscope of colorful mutant vehicles and fireworks, incinerated in a huge flash and fell over almost as quickly as the corn cooked – about seven minutes. Yet there are more beautiful Temples to burn, with Sorrow and with Joy! 🧨🔥
Pride, Independence and Victory describe
ChezHelvetica on this auspicious occasion. Jubilant Pride Parades and the 4th of July inspired the table setting and menu for this family welcome, with Food & Wine Magazine providing the recipe for a delicious 
Using home-grown greens already on hand instead of Kale, and removing Corn Kernels by inserting the cob into a Bundt pan (so that the kernels fall into the pan and not all over the floor) facilitated the creation. Trader Joe’s Moroccan Harissa spiced the piquant dressing. Turkey Soup made from an Empire Turkey Breast, Onion, Garlic, Celery and Carrots accompanied the salad, along with Bakers of Paris Pain Rustique topped by Primo Taglio Soft Goat’s Cheese. Sweet TJ’s Medjool Dates concluded this meal but attending the Oakland A’s/Minnesota Twins baseball game and witnessing Marcus Semien’s Grand Slam homer crowned the day!
Why is this night different from all other nights? The answers to this age-old question had fresh answers at ChezHelvetica’s saffron-scented Seder. First, in keeping with young female leaders prevailing in today’s world, our leader was my 25-year old niece, Aliya. 
Second, instead of the traditional Four Sons, we discussed Four Children – an activist child, a skeptical child, an indifferent child and an uninformed child – and how we answer their questions on ways to pursue justice in our time. Then, instead of filling Miriam’s (sister of Moses) glass with water, it was filled with wine just like Elijah’s. Family and friends from near and far sat where indicated by the artful suede placecards, handmade by Mom, to follow the exotic culinary journey to Persia – 
and Banana, 
From the awe-inspiring shores of France and Spain,
the unique identity of Basque culture enveloped the table at ChezHelvetica on this rainy night. Piping hot 
Organic La Tortilla Factory Corn-Wheat Tortillas, spread inside with Trader Joe’s Truffle-Honey Mustard and outside with melted Butter, wrapped Gouda and Cheddar Cheeses. Oven-grilled Onion Rings adorned the Quesadillas. Pomegranate Dressing bursting with seeds, Pomegranate Syrup, Meyer Lemon Juice and Extra Virgin Olive Oil showered the accompanying Arugula Salad. Pepperidge Farm Double Dark Chocolate Butter Cookies finished our conceptual voyage from the majestic Basque Mountains to the hills of Land’s End. Dulce – Sweet Indeed!