THE FOOD OF LOVE

12 -- ONE DAY

Warning  --  bxb

"NO.  No substitutions.  I told you guys, you should know better, and so should they."  It was New Years Eve at "Fresser".  Larry was obviously engrossed in the kitchen, doing his usual exemplary thing, while Laurent worked the bar.  The guests tonight were seemingly going crazy, throwing back champagne and very expensive cocktails like they were going out of fashion.  

The deal at the restaurant tonight was an early dinner, 7 - 9 p.m. or thereabouts.  It didn't really matter what time the guests finished, as they would just hop on over to another part of the restaurant for the party.  At $250 per head, the celebrations included a five course dinner, champagne, party favors, a midnight buffet, live music, and watching the 12,000 lb, $1 million Waterford crystal ball drop virtually right outside the window without having to get trampled on by the rabble outside.  With the whole shebang finishing up at around 2 a.m., hopefully.  

Although Larry would finish work officially after the cleanup of the dinner service, Laurent had threatened him with a very early demise if he worked after they had changed, being guests at the party themselves.  He would give him a little leeway to schmooze, but actual work was out of the question, and he knew how hard it would be for Larry to not talk shop in ..... his shop.  It was his restaurant, his party, his guys, his food, HIS reputation, and Laurent would have his work cut out for him.  Besides, Deena, Eli and Bubbee were here tonight, as well as Isobel, Rowan and Ava.  The boys had treated their respective parental groups to this night out on the town, this year having been one for the books, and they all needed to celebrate.  Larry and Laurent had wanted to see out the old, and ring in the new in style with their friends, and their ever expanding family.  

As usual, "Fresser" looked amazing.  It had been closed between Christmas and New Year to give his guys a break.  They had all come back in yesterday morning, and the sight that greeted them left them speechless.  Larry had commissioned an amazing local interior design team to decorate the restaurant, just for New Years Eve. 

The usual midnight blue theme was still prevalent throughout, as stars sparkled across the ceiling, and lights hung low, suspended by silver ropes.  The tables were dressed a shade lighter, the silverware polished to within an inch of it's life, and crystal glasses and votives sparkled in the light of what seemed to be thousands of ivory candles.  Waterfall lights fell from the ceiling, hidden between flowers and greenery, like shooting stars falling through a beautiful forest to the earth.  Huge arrangements of white and ivory flowers and greenery were placed throughout the space, statement pieces in their own right.  While on each table stood a single green orchid.  

Larry's guys were kitted out all in midnight blue tonight, so as to blend in with the surroundings somewhat, their presence only being felt in the exemplary and unobtrusive service.  Dinner was Larry's usual brilliance, and as both his and Laurent's family were here tonight, he even upped his culinary game a notch because of that, and every single diner benefited.  The midnight buffet would be a masterpiece too, with long tables groaning under the weight of the likes of lobster, snow crab and caviar, croque monsieur and steak sandwiches, and tiny french pastries and desserts.  All placed in front of the tall windows that overlooked Times Square, Manhattan making it's own cameo appearance in the movie that was New Years Eve at "Fresser".  The centre piece of it all, a 6 foot tall croqembouche, a choux pastry, caramel and creme edifice that was traditionally served at weddings and large parties, but Larry had wanted to make a statement tonight.  

The statement being that this year had been his best yet, familial relationships were in the process of healing, if not yet completely fixed, and that he had found, in this very room, the man he knew would be the love of his life.  It was early days, but he just knew it, he knew it in his gut and in his heart and in the deepest part of his soul.