Over the past year Wendy and I have worked hard to try and change our appetites. We try to make a bit healthier choices, we don’t eat out as much, and when we sit down for a meal we try to find contentment with smaller portions. The result has been that we’ve lost some weight and on the whole we are feeling a lot better.

So that’s the context with which I approach yesterday’s marathon of family celebrations and time with friends. Both Wendy’s mom and my dad celebrate birthdays this week, so Wendy and I headed to Des Moines early in the day to meet her folks for lunch at Outback Steakhouse. I can’t remember the last time I’d had a Bloomin’ Onion, but I jumped at Dad Hall’s suggestion that we start our celebratory lunch with one. Since the ladies weren’t having anything to do with the greasy, deep fried treat with the tantalizing and tangy dipping sauce, Dad Hall and I ended up splitting it. That was before the salad and the Filet on Foccacia sandwich came with au jus.

With stomach groaning just a bit, we left Mom and Dad Hall and ran some errands in the afternoon before ending up at Mom and Dad Vander Well’s for Eireflensjes Night. Ever since I was a kid, the Vander Well family has gathered once or a twice a year to feast on the Dutch version of the crepe. I have memories of my dad and grandfather standing at the stove with their sticks of butter, cast iron skillets and vats of creamy thin batter which were fried up into stacks and stacks of the paper thin pancakes on which we would sprinkle with sugar, roll-up and consume until we’d gone through enough eggs, milk, butter, flour and sugar to feed a small island nation.

Before the Eireflensjes Night was called (most likely by my sister – she’s usually the one calling for it), Wendy and I had planned on a dinner out with our friends Kevin and Becky.  It WAS my father’s birthday, however. My brother Tim WAS in town for a few days. So, I guess we COULD stop by for a few minutes to wish dad a Happy Birthday, say hello to Tim, and visit with Jody, Scott and Emma…

“What was that? Do I want to have an eireflensje before we go out to eat? Well, okay maybe one… or two.”

“Okay, those were good. Kevin and Becky aren’t expecting us for another ten minutes. I think I’ll have another. Pass the sugar.”

From there we met Kev and Beck and headed south of downtown Des Moines to dine at Tumea & Sons. I’ve heard of this little neighborhood Italian family eatery for years but have never been there. Believe me, it was as good as I’d always heard. The featured wine of the night was a Montepulciano D’abruzzo which perfectly complimented my Chicken Diablo with spicy red and cream sauce over penne pasta. Oh my… the food, the wine, the dinner conversation were all wonderful. Fill me up.

And we’re weren’t even finished! Taylor has told us all about this wonderful little bakery called Creme and we’d planned on visiting after dinner. This boutique bakery just off of Ingersoll is open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. They make special dessert creations which are paired with adult libations. So, on top of the Bloomin’ Onion, Filet Sandwich, Eirflensjes, Wine, and Chicken Diablo in spicy creamy red sauce I added Deep Fried Cake Balls rolled in sugar which was paired with a citrusy sweet concoction based on a Brazilian liquor made distilled from sugar cane juice.

Despite the dreary cold and rainy weather, it was a wonderful day full of laughter, family, love, friends, and lots of good food and drink (and I mean A LOT of good food and drink!)

Ugh. Pass the pink stuff. You’ll find me on the couch.