Top Chef

So, I am sure you can imagine that our days are pretty hectic.  We are running here and there, always a lot on our plate.  So, when the dentist called to cancel my appointment, I was a little annoyed.  These things aren’t easy to schedule.  Don’t mess with a good thing.  So I took the not-so-convenient offering they gave me.  And then I cancelled it.  They put me on this crazy short call list and then kept calling with same day appointments.   The short story is, I had to say yes.  I had to take an appointment because I hate voicemails.  So I did.  I went to the dentist after a full day of work.  I could say yes because I knew Brendan was in charge.  One thing led to another, I forgot my milk and had to go back to work, had to run an errand for Rachel, blah blah blah… not home from work until 6pm.

I walk in the door and poor Brendan looks like a ghost of himself.  Jo is screaming, the girls are playing and the kitchen looks like someone tried to make a gourmet meal with only one hand.  I grab the baby and feed her while he finishes the meal.  We are all a bit crazed (the ladies like to eat about 4:30).  Once we sit down (the two biggest in high chairs and #3 running free) B freezes.  She says papa, come to the table.  She has her palm open, face up, guiding him like a professional mediator. 

It is “TOP CHEF” time papa.  We will be the judges.   

(me laughing hysterically.  Her tone of voice and hand motions are all so adult through this)

B: I don’t like what you have done with the cauliflower here.  It looks burnt.

Brendan: I put it in the oven.  I thought it would be a nice change.

B: It smells like brussle sprouts.

Brendan: Is that a good thing?

B: I am not sure yet.  On to the chickpea pancakes…

They go on and on for a while.  Piece by piece.  Brigid giving very specific concerns about her critique of the food.  Then she asked A what she thought.

 

A:YAY PAPA!

Me: do you like the meat?

A: (hands over her head cheering) YAY PAPA GOOOD!

Me: How about the pancakes?

A: YAY Papa!!!!!!!!! (what a papa's girl)

 

So I turned to B.  It looks like the judges are split.  One likes it, one isn't so sure.

 

B: Mom, on Top chef, there are three judges.  What do you think of dinner?  I see yours has a sauce.  Mine didn't have a sauce.  Why are our plates different?  You should think of this when you judge.

Me: I think papa knew that you didn't like mushrooms and was trying to be nice.

B: Were there mushrooms in the basket?  You have to use what you have in the basket papa.  What was in your basket contestent?

Brendan: uh... ahh... (looks to me) 'She watches too much tv."

B: That doesn't matter.  We are judges.  What do we say on the show?  There are three judges and one guy that tells them to go.  "you have been chopped, please pack your knives and go."

Brendan: (head down at table).

B: No, PACK YOUR KNIVES AND GO.

 

Never a dull moment.  I can't even pretend to capture it, but her face/motions/realism with this was amazing.  She was acting so adult and so theatrical it had me in stitches.  Brendan was too puzzled at where she had seen enough of the shows to be able to recreate it so well.  Oh, and maybe he hadn't recovered from the crying baby. How fun.