1. Saffron-celery root soup a la Wilcox, topped with Greek yogurt and parsley.

2. Turkish salad foraged from Stanley’s. Mixed greens, spinach, peppers, cherry tomatoes, goat cheese, olives, balsamic.

3. Day-old bread de Logan Square

4. 2007 Domaine Frissant-Touraine Sauvignon Blanc, two bottles

5. Mashed sweet potatoes with molasses, jalapenos, and cumin. Ancient Kendrick family recipe.

6. Roasted brussels sprouts, sans bacon, in deference to the fishatarian.

7. Stuffed cornish hens, procured at great risk to vehicle and sanity at North Avenue Whole Foods, 3 PM on Christmas Eve. 

8. Stuffing made with Andouille sausage, mushrooms, apples from Aaron and Lisa’s fruit bowl, ungodly amount of butter, and baguette finagled from Mark and Zoe’s freezer after I burned the first batch.

9. Baked Norwegian salmon with lemon. See above, in re: fishatarian.

10. 2005 Laboure-Roi “La Belle Masure” Cote de Nuits-Villages red burgundy. Two bottles.

11. Remaining cans of Island Wheat, which have been in the fridge since I unpacked the car in September. I did not drink these.

13. Long pause, in honor of Harold Pinter.

14. Plum pudding with hard sauce a la CSO.

15. Mulled cider spiked with brandy.

“What kind of brandy did you buy?”

“The cheap kind.”

16. Water, water, water, one women’s formula multivitamin, two Advil LiquiGels, more water.

And to all a good night!