{read chapter one here and chapter two here . I have been asked by some friends and family when Magdalena was returning, I wasn’t aware they missed her.  Well she is back and up to no good.  This story is a work of fiction…well You can decide.}

~chapter 3~

Chapter 3

The Party at La Grenouille in NYC

Magdalena’s Mother had decided against hosting her father’s party at The Plaza or any of the other ‘Way- too -obvious’ locations that her mother just couldn’t handle. She didn’t like doing things the way others did them, that bored her to tears.  She has been known to completely re-do a room once she saw it in someone else’s home, that is why she loves her old one of a kind Farmhouse.  Her mother wanted understated old world elegance and she wanted lots of art, flowers, music and good food.  Of course it needed to be in Manhattan, they live close by and have an apartment there.  It would be very convenient for the family.  It also needed to be French.  They decided on La Grenouille the superb French restaurant started years ago by Charles Masson and his wife Gisele.  It is to this day considered one of if not the best French restaurant in Manhattan and many feel the only one left.  The Late Monsieur Masson was a very talented artist, his eye for color and detail enchanted his customer’s as did and still do the masterpiece floral arrangements and artwork that decorates the restaurant. Monsieur Masson’s son now runs this iconic restaurant and his father would be so proud of his success.  Magdalena’s mom is renting the entire restaurant for her father’s party, after all he had just bought and sold some very important real estate and they were celebrating big time, gone are the days of the very early 2000′s when no one was spending and times were tough, this was 2021 her parents were in their mid 50′s now and enjoying every minute of the booming economy.

Her parents booked suites in nearby hotels for all the out of town guests.  Her mom and dad were going to return to their country home because they wanted to be with their pets.  Magdalena would be staying downtown with friends after the dinner party.  She was very happy she bought two dresses at Bergdorf Goodman, one for her dad’s party and one for club hopping after the party.  That is if she couldn’t convince her uncle Christopher to take her home.

Now that Magdalena was single and back home from Europe she seemed even more preoccupied with her ‘Uncle’, as mentioned her Uncle Christopher is not really her uncle but the best friend of her mother and father.  And there was no doubt about it she had a major crush on him and had since she was about 15 years old.  Now in her early 20′s and Christopher in his mid 50′s this would not go over very well with her father.  Magdalena’s mother is well aware of her daughter’s crush on her uncle, the three of them have kept this a secret from her Father.  He would have a heart attack if he found out his one and only daughter was fantasizing about having an affair with his 56 year old best friend..  Not that he has anything to worry about, Christopher has never given her any inappropriate attention, flirted with her or treated her with anything but respect plus he has been dating ‘what’s her name’ for about ten years now.  ’Whats her name’ is actually a lovely young woman in her late 30′s who lives in London.  Her name is Harper, she and Christopher met on an airplane 10 years ago and have been dating ever since.  It is a long distance romance that works for them,  they have never married and don’t have children.  Not from the lack of trying and badgering by Magdalena’s mother, she loves babies and wants to either have grandchildren or have Harper move to the States and have a baby desperately.  Magdalena’s mother loves her and they get along wonderfully. Magdalena however despises Harper because she is jealous and wants Christopher’s attention on her and only her.

Magdalena was certain Harper would be joining her Uncle Christopher at the party this evening so she decided last minute to ditch the more ‘appropriate’ cocktail dress she picked out at Bergdorf Goodman with her mother and grandmothers.  Instead she would be wearing the super short, super sexy mini dress. She felt her youth and beauty was all she needed to get his attention. Not that she wasn’t super smart, she planned on running her mother’s company, mainly the business end which her mother loathed, well at least she did until things changed. She meant to tell her mother she was not going to work for her at La Maison Parisienne  but had decided on something very different,  she had been so busy and nervous she has not mentioned it yet.  She and her father would tell her mother the news in the morning, one way or another, her dad said enough was enough and to grow up start acting like an adult and to be honest with her mother.

They arrived in New York around 7pm, Eddie their driver left them off in the front of the restaurant,  even thought it was winter, the air was calm and not too cold, it actually felt a little balmy out . Magdalena’s mother loved her short sexy dress but her Grandmothers just shook their heads.  That didn’t stop Magdalena or slow her down one bit, she grabbed her Prada clutch and practically jumped out of the moving car looking nervously around for her uncle.

The restaurant was over-flowing with the most gorgeous flowers and the tables were set with antique Hotel silver, masses of clustered glowing votives that reflected off of the many antique mirrors, the  gold Limoge china was trimmed with the loveliest flowers.  All the vases were contemporary and filled with flowers that were arranged by a master floral designer in the most simple yet extraordinary way, Anemones taking center stage in many arrangements.  Magdalena’s mother was beaming, everything was gorgeous, unique and the guests were having a great time, just the way her mother had dreamed this evening would be.  The only thing keeping this night from being perfect was that her oldest brother Samuel was still away working in very impoverished countries and was operating and unable to get back to the states.  Her other older brother Theodore was there with his wife.  She was finished for the season with her job as a Rockette until next year so they were able to make it. ‘The Rockette’ was quite the character, the grandmother’s didn’t like her one bit.  She was spoiled and very vain, it was highly unlikely her body was ever going to be ruined by having any bratty little kids. The Rockette’s words not ours.  Her little brother Oliver was there and as always the life of the party.

Magdalena’s heart stopped when she caught a glimpse of her uncle at the bar. He looked so handsome in his tux, older, gorgeous and very distinguished.  Now was her chance to corner him and flirt. She put on a little lipstick and quickly spritzed on her favorite perfume ‘Child’, the worlds sexiest scent, tousled her long gorgeous hair and headed over. Magdalena was 5′ 8″  a size 2 and gorgeous and she knew it.  This would be a perfect time,  especially that Harper was off talking to her mother. Christopher attracts women without any trouble at all, he is very flirtatious and girl’s of all ages just love him. Magdalena was so close to him she could feel his breath on her neck, she could smell the liqueur on his breath, she was so obsessed with him she would do anything to be alone with him. She felt dizzy and giddy from all the champagne, but mostly she felt uninhibited and nothing was going to stop her from being with him.  She would wear him down, she always got the man she was after.  Much to Magdalena’s dismay, her entire family came over to join them and interrupt her time with her uncle. Just when she thought she was making some progress.  Was it her imagination or was he checking out her cleavage?

Her Uncle Christopher gave Magdalena’s mother a hug and kiss and then to her horror he asked her what she thought about her daughter’s decision to not work at La Maison Parisienne but to instead start up a business with her father in Kiribati. They were planning on building a Green Boutique Hotel half way around the World in this very remote region in the South Pacific. They had gone their on vacation a few times and Magdalena had often mentioned that something should be done to help the economy and the people living there.  Her mother didn’t give it much thought, especially when her daughter went to Europe.  Magdalena’s mother looked shocked and confused, she and her daughter had plans for her company.  What was Christopher talking about, was he drinking and confused? As she looked around at her family she could see that everyone else knew about this except her. Her husband put his arm around her and told her he wanted her to hear it from their daughter first and that Christopher just assumed she knew.  She was furious, hurt and humiliated.  Plus she wondered how she would bare to have her daughter so far away from her. As she turned to walk away, her beloved son Samuel was face to face with her.  He had come home after all to celebrate with his father. Samuel would never let her down.

To learn more about La Grenouille visit here

The Soufflé- La Grenouille Is famous for their Grand Marnier Souffle, Get the Recipe here.

This entry was posted on Monday, February 15th, 2010.
Posted in Books, La Cuisine, La Cuisine - Desserts, Magdalena's Adventures