Hot August Night, with Neil Diamond and Jewish Cuisine

Hello again, hello...

It was a Hot August Night, for the highly anticipated Diamond is Forever - The Neil Diamond Experience. This was the first Coronado Concert in the Park appearance for David Sherry's Diamond is Forever band, and Spreckels Park was rocking! You can check out a little video clip from eCoronado, here.

Our culinary group chose Jewish Cuisine as the theme of the evening, in Neil's honor (Neil Diamond was born in Brooklyn, New York, to a Jewish family descended from Russian and Polish immigrants).

We noshed and we shmoozed.  Ay, a mecheieh!   

John's Forever in Blue Jeans Sweet Potato Latkes

"Money Talks

But it can`t sing and dance

And it can`t walk

As long as I can have you here with me

I`d much rather be

Forever in Blue Jeans, Babe"

I take credit in finding the Food & Wine recipe, here, but John tweaked it slightly (he doubled the cayenne, and added a touch of celery salt, onion powder, garlic powder and parsley) and these were truly geschmak.

Kai's Love on the Rocks Chopped Liver

"Love on the rocks

Ain't no surprise

Pour me a drink

And I'll tell you some lies

Yesterday's gone

And now all I want is a smile"

Jack & Sandra's I Am, I Said Smoked Salmon, Bagel Chips and Cream Cheese

"I am," I said

To no one there

An no one heard at all

Not even the chair

"I am," I cried

"I am," said I

And I am lost, and I can't even say why

Leavin' me lonely still"

Kai's If You Know What I Mean Baba Ghanoush

"Took a drag from my last cigarette
Took a drink from a glass of old wine
I closed my eyes and I could make it real
And feel it one more time"

Kerry's It's a Beautiful Noise DZ Akins Corned Beef and Pickles Platter

"What a beautiful noise

Comin' up from the street

Got a beautiful sound

It's got a beautiful beat"

My Longfellow Serenade Aubergines with Cheese (from Kosher and Traditional Jewish Cooking: Authentic recipes from a classics culinary heritage: 120 delicious dishes shown in 220 stunning photographs).  Author Marlena Spieler says, "This dish is cooked in a thick cheese sauce that, when cooked, has a topping slightly like a souffle.  It is delicious hot but even better cold, and is the perfect dish to make for a picnic."  She's right; this was fabulous!

"Ride, come on baby, ride

Let me make your dreams come true

I`ll sing my song

let me sing my song

Let me make it warm for you"

Mom's September Morn My Favorite Roast Chicken (from Thomas Keller, here)

"September Morn

We danced until the night became a brand new day

Two lovers playing scenes from some romantic play

September morning still can make me feel that way"

Brad's Solitary Man Kugel

"Don`t know that I will

But until love can find me

A girl who`ll stay

And won`t play games behind me

I`ll be what I am

A solitary man

Solitary man"

My Sweet Caroline Apple Cake (from Kosher and Traditional Jewish Cooking: Authentic recipes from a classics culinary heritage: 120 delicious dishes shown in 220 stunning photographs).  "This cake is firm and moist, with pieces of apples peeking through the top."

"Sweet Caroline

Good times never seemed so good

I've been inclined

To believe they never would"

Mom's Play Me Majestic and Moist Honey Cake (from Smitten Kitchen, here)

"You are the sun

I am the moon

You are the words

I am the tune

Play me"

And, of course, many thought to bring some Red, Red Wine

"Red, red wine

Stay close to me

Don`t let me be alone

It`s tearing apart

My blue, blue heart"

Thank you to Alec for the Reubens!  And, I must express my deepest gratitude to Bob and Sandra, for contributing a few bottles of fine wine!  Couldn't handle the Manischewitz!

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