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A Special Memory Of A Great Man – George H.W. Bush

This blog is off the supper club  topic, but in light of the passing of George H.W. Bush, I wanted to pass on a special memory of him that Susan and I have.

We met George H.W. Bush 20 years ago at his presidential library in College Station Texas on the campus of Texas A&M University. We were in Houston visiting our friends Jerry and Tricia MacDonald. It was a cold snowy/rainy day and instead of playing golf as planned, we decided to visit the George H.W. Bush library.

I remember that day clearly. I knew that Bush was from Greenwich CT where my wife Susan went to school, lived and taught and Barbara was from Rye NY. Our friends Tom and Mary Julian, lived across Onondaga Street from the house that Barbara grew up in.

Presidential libraries are all great. History comes to life. On the day we were at the library there weren’t a lot people there because of the weather. The tour was great. I loved his emphasis that while from Greenwich he was really a Texan. At the end of the tour we were in the back of the library watching a tv with funny video clips of   Bush. We were watching one where a post President George  was playing golf, complaining that putts that friends used to give him when he was President, they now made him putt (with his long putter)

Just as we were watching on tv the real George Bush appeared in person. He walked up to Susan and said: “watch this, it is really funny”. He just happened to be there that day to throw out the first pitch for a Texas A&M baseball game that had been canceled. George Bush had a sense of humor. He could laugh at himself. The way he did it, was a testimony to the self confidence of a great man.

Video clip of George Bush and Dana Carvey

I had been a fan of “41” for years. As a history major in college, I always have felt that he was the best trained president in history. (War hero, Yale graduate, Senator, Ambassador, CIA Director, Vice President). Past that, he was such a good person. In the presence of his greatness, I could have asked a lot of questions. We had common history having grown up in neighboring towns. I could of asked a historical question.

But no: I asked him if he gave lessons on how to use the long putter in golf like he was doing in the funny video we were watching? He looked at me like I was from another planet. Then, he and his secret service contingent whisked away.

A stupid question, but a great man and a special memory.

George and Barbara Bush with Amy Grant, Jerry MacDonald and Michael W. Smith at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion on December 5 2015. Jerry (in black) runs the Pavilion and was with us when we met President Bush at his library.

If you enjoyed this blog and similar other stories/supper club lessons follow me on Facebook and Twitter and subscribe to get future blogs at www.impromptufridaynights.com/blog and check out my book Impromptu Friday Nights a Guide to Supper Clubs. Published by Morgan James Publishing and available through most channels where books are sold.

Pop Pop’s Turkey Dressing

Saint Remy Market

Markets are a wonderful source of menu inspiration. There is nothing better than developing a menu around fantastic ingredients. A walk through the weekly market in Saint Remy de Provence is more than inspirational. It is simply unforgettable.

Local outdoor markets in France are special. If you ever get a chance to visit France, make a point to spend a few hours walking through the market. There is a cornucopia of wonderful food and fantastic Ideas.

Mushrooms

In the fall you are sure to see a wonderful selection of mushrooms. In the US we grew up with one mushroom.  The Champignon or white button mushroom was all we knew. We called generic  tissue a Kleenex and a Champignon was a mushroom. My mom was an adventurous cook and I can remember her forcing mushrooms on us as kids.  As the ungrateful brat that I was, I can even remember complaining about the smell of the mushrooms cooking. Today the sight of the mushrooms at Saint Remy made me drool with thoughts of mushrooms soup, sautéed mushrooms with chicken, mushrooms in a wine sauce with steak. I could go on and on.

Hostess Gifts

My book publicist made me write an article on hostess gifts. I protested that hostess gifts weren’t exactly a “guy thing”, but I tapped into my “expert panel” and wrote a fun article. Walk through the market in Saint Remy and you find all kinds of things that would make any hostess happy. One catch, you won’t find any Pro V1 golf balls, but I digress. (see the article)

Fruit de Mer

There is nothing like a multi tiered platter of fresh seafood at a Paris bistro. I always remember my buddy, the food scientist from Louisiana, ordering a whole platter for himself and declaring: “It is just protein and water”.

Cured Meats

Growing up in an Italian neighborhood in New York, I learned to love salamis and sausages. The cured meats at the Saint Remy market were simply at another level. A few of these salamis and a nice baguette would make the perfect supper club meal, for me.

The Perfect Takeaway

Do have people coming over for dinner and you are too tired to cook? Stop by the Saint Remy market and pick up some paella for dinner. Sounds pretty perfect to me.

Fromage

What to have for dessert? Why not bring home a selection of cheeses and a pear, an apple and a bunch of grapes. Voila!

Seasonal Specialties

For me, there are few things more inspirational than the perfect tomato, lettuce and peppers. To get vine ripened produce in season is more than special. Maybe I am just weird.

Exceptional Produce.

Every supermarket in the U.S. has produce, but to see really fresh produce at the market in Saint Remy was special.

OK, many of you are thinking: “The Saint Remy market is great, but I don’t live in the South of France”. My advice is go to your local market and dream a little. Think about the trip you took, the TV show you saw or even this silly blog. The chances are you will see something inspirational.

If you enjoyed this blog and similar other stories/supper club lessons follow me on Facebook and Twitter and subscribe to get future blogs at www.impromptufridaynights.com/blog and check out my book Impromptu Friday Nights a Guide to Supper Clubs. Published by Morgan James Publishing and available through most channels where books are sold.