Lumpia, bulgogi, dogs, burgers

Insight into my food-obsessed world: graduation centers around my niece (the grad) and food, food, food.

Here's a little insight into my food-obsessed family...and I use that phrase in the most loving way. Home in Maryland for my niece's graduation from St. Mary's College @20, magna cum laude, ODK, and Nitze Scholars' Distinction. (Any readers in hiring mode are urged to drop me a line...)

The trip planning begins with the pre-trip meal with C & J (our "Boston family" tradition) then the speculation begins: what will Mom make? What will John (father of the grad and chef) make? Will blue crabs be in season? Will you get soft shells? And so on...

First night's dinner with Mom did not disappoint: white rice, miso soup (two cornerstones of most Japanese meals); Kyuri oshinko (pickled cucumbers done in similar fashion to the hakusai but with vinegar); a seaweed type salad with bits of abura-age (fried tofu); oden - kind of light broth stew filled with large chunks of daikon, carrot, ika (squid.) I ate up all her cucumbers, finished the soup and graciously left just a bit of rice and oden for her.

Graduation was gorgeous, who knew Ted Koppel was so funny? Tears, hugs, cheers, and photos. It was a morning to ponder important questions: "What is the importance of time?" "What should these young grads take away with them from this college education? And, "What time will the food be ready?"

My brother and I decided to stop for a bite on the way home, just in case there was too long a wait for our rumbling tummies. Back at the house, there was of course, a huge platter of cold cuts for the pre-BBQ preparations. Chafing dishes set up, kegs tapped, and dance floor built under the tent pitched yesterday. Then, at last the food! And the music. And the margaritas. And the dancing. And the stories by the firepit.

The menu:

• Lumpia - traditional Filipino appetizer, like a spring roll or skinny egg roll. These crispy savory treats are a big hit. I found a recipe online lumpia
• Bulgogi - Korean recipe - garlic, soy, sugar combine for a fantastic marinade permeating skirt steak or flank. It could also be used with pork to good effect.
• Chicken - a Hawaiian style recipe with soy, ginger, brown sugar?
• Hot dogs, hamburgers, pasta salad with balsamic dressing, hummus, mozzarella, roasted red peppers, kalamata olives.
• And the cake, oh my...a thing of beauty, delicious and evil it called to us all last night, all today "eat me, eat me...you know you want more...."

Other honorable mentions:

• The best right hand man award goes to RJ (from Brockton, wicked!)
• The best music award to Lionize - Irie mon!
• The balloons were carried home by a chivalrous young guy who taught me a thing or two about helium, convertibles and generosity.
• Scott (new beau, I think) did an excellent job on house renovations and knows something about skating, too? Who cares, he's good to my niece, he's okay by me. If not, he's dead to me!

Now, where did Mom put those leftovers?