Autumnal Geekquinox 2026: "Best of" #2

 

Once again--Geekquinox. Autumnal. Best of, the second time around.

Two absent, stricken by illness and injury. We who remained--carrying on valiantly. To eat what they could not; to drink what their lips would not touch. To share conversations later, and bring juicy leftovers. 

To begin: cocktails, virgin and wanton. Recipes tried and tested true. 

The tally for teetotallers.

I partnered with Scott to absorb the Silken Verdure. Sweet. Cold. Chilling in its crisp ambience. Delicious and smooth. A clear, perfect, see-through cube of ice. 

The appetizer. Atomic buffalo turds. Crudely named. Finely assembled. Fresh off the BBQ--sausage, sauce, and cheese wrapped in a jalapeno pepper. Hot stuff for a hot day and a cool crowd. 

Consumed on the back deck on an unseasonably hot September 19. In the distance, a sinister reflection. An Alpha male at the forefront. 

Perfectly pleasing. Snappy, sweet, scintillating. The pear and pomegranate salad. Presented perfectly, gobbled with gusto. 

And what next? A short rest. Use hit dice to regain hit points. Prepare for the next assault on the taste buds. 

The chef's court. Ruler of his culinary domain. 

An audience for the queen. Of beasts and men. And women. 

One of the wanton cocktails, clutched firmly in Mike's fickle fingers. 

Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha--

--hamacha shots. A sudden, surprising shock of savoury sensation, twice over. 

Back in time by an hour. The main course. Beef Wellington. Named for the general? The city? It matters not; all wellington and good. Better than good: scrumpsational. 

Unseen: key lime pie. Dessert. Tart. 

Bringing home the bacon. The beef. The pastry. The mushrooms and fois gras. A tender moment. 

Gratitude? Boundless. It was a very good day...to dine.