Moving Day

A lot has happened since the last post, which is the reason there has been such a delay between entries. Namely, the Chef and I moved. Not a big move, we’re still in the same area, just a change of apartments. Moving is hard work, I should know, we do it every year. Every new place we move to ends up having something significantly wrong with it. A lot of planning and organizing needs to happen when you move. You can’t just throw things in a box. First you must organize things you want to get rid of, then the actual packing of boxes, which also needs to be highly organized. There is also hiring the movers, changing addresses, switching utilities, making phone calls, emails, etc. etc. etc. It’s a lot.

Let’s reflect back to my first blog entry and the whole, “not seeing your chef boyfriend because he works so much.” While that can be a total bummer in regular, ordinary life, it becomes especially stressful in situations like this, picking up your life and moving. On the plus side, he has access to a large stash of boxes which can really come in handy in the moving process. But the benefits end there.

In the week and a half or so leading up to the big move I found myself responsible for the bulk of the work. That’s a lot of stress. Granted, I am the one that handles the everyday tasks of running the household, however, moving puts my responsibilities at an all time high. I am the one who went out apartment hunting. I am the one to organize our stuff. I am the one who packed boxes. I am the one who organized the logistics of moving day. I had to do it all. Now, I don’t want to make this sound too negative. I’m not bitter about this. And it’s not that I couldn’t handle the job. It’s just that I am one person, I am 50% of a partnership who at times must take on 100% of the responsibility.

On the actual moving day, the chef really came through. In fact, he used to work as a mover so delegating the job to the hired help was his time to shine. I couldn’t have done it without him. However, once the possessions were safely transported his ability to assist was once again non-existent. Of course it’s not his fault, he’s not choosing to slack on helping, but his work and long hours comes first. In fact, his hours were so long in the days following the move that he would come home nearly incoherent.

It’s not the physical work that is frustrating, it’s making the decisions of where things should go, how to decorate, how to make your house a home, and having to do it solo. Once unpacking is complete it’s time to make yourself comfortable. However, it’s supposed to be OUR space, not MY space. But how can I do that when I’m the only one home, cooking dinner for one, sitting on the couch by myself, going to bed alone?

And how long will this place last? What are the chances he’ll get an offer somewhere else, maybe in another city all together? I work for myself, and work is slow. Our lives are currently dependent on his career. Our first apartment together didn’t last long. The moment we got comfortable we had to pick up and move half way across the country. Who’s to say that won’t happen again, and happen quickly.

For the time being, I’m plugging away, trying to make things cozy, trying to make it a home. But no matter what, a part of my mind will remain antsy, wondering when the restaurant business will once again turn my life upside down.

Iron Chef

While there can be a downside to dating a chef, for instance, not ever seeing them, there are also perks. One perk, events. That’s right, there are events going on all over the city all the time. Magazine parties, premieres, private parties, art openings, and yes, restaurant events. Many of these events are by invitation only. So you may ask yourself how I might be privy to the occasional event. Clearly, I am not a socialite and as this blog has certainly not reached any sort of fame, yet, it’s a wonder how I may, on special occasions, find myself able to attend an amazing party…for free. Answer: date a chef.

Being slightly connected to some great people can’t just happen by dating any old cook in the kitchen. No, you need to find yourself one that matters, one that runs the show. They’re the ones who build a name. And if you have a name, then you get to meet all the other names out there. And when you date the chef, you’re on his arm when all the names get together.

Case in point, the Iron Chef event. If you’re a fan of the Food Network, you’re probably aware that Iron Chef America has a new Iron Chef, Jose Garces. The Garces Restaurant group may be based in Philadelphia, but Chicago is very lucky to have a restaurant right here in the city with Jose Garces as celebrity Executive Chef. That restaurant also happened to be voted one of the 15 best new restaurants last year in Esquire Magazine. That restaurant is Mercat a la Planxa.

Last Sunday I found myself walking up the steps of the Blackstone hotel in my Bitton pants, red satin heels, with a comp ticket in hand to the Iron Chef premiere party at Mercat a la Planxa. Free wine, free food, and a viewing of the first episode of the show with Garces as Iron Chef. The already beautiful dining room was stunningly transformed into a swanky lounge with bright orange uplighting, tall plants with branches gently cascading down towards the guests, and food stations strategically placed throughout the room, glowing blue, providing samples of the delectable dishes Garces prepared on the show.

There were a lot of amazing and very important people in attendance, people in which I probably should have mustered the courage to put myself out there and meet. But as this whole world is still a little new to me, the confidence has yet to come. Baby steps. While I didn’t make any new connections, I was able to run into a friend, who happened to be one of Jose’s Sous Chefs on the episode, to have a drink with him, catch up, and most importantly, to be standing next to him when the winner was announced. So who won, you ask? Jose of course, would you expect anything different? So being near a friend as he gets to witness the win one more time, to see the smile on his face, to understand what a proud moment that was for him was priceless.

And what about Jose himself? Jose is wonderful, you should meet him sometime. He knows my Chef and we have met before. He’s a talented Chef, a successful businessman, but most importantly, a down to earth, humble, and personable man.

How would I rate this party? Well, I ate some amazing food, talked to some great people, and woke up the next morning with a red wine headache like you wouldn’t believe. All in all, I’d say it was a huge success.