Playing the piano for my supper

Yesterday I was the guest of the Junior Grand Steward at his lodge for its quarterly meeting. It's an interesting group. Called Fraternity Lodge, it's an affinity lodge where all the members are former members of Greek letter college fraternities. We all wore our fraternity badges, too! They are also a little bit unique in that they draw membership from across the country; the master himself living in San Francisco, one of the wardens is from New York City, and I also visited with a new initiate who lives in Oregon. Of course, since they only meet four times a year, it's a lot easier for people to come in to Washington for meetings, unlike with my lodge that meets twice a month. It was a long meeting, since they were doing the third degree for three new members. I got to be the pianist for the ceremony. The music was okay, but the excitement was when the antique piano stool seat broke while I was playing and singing a song!

After the meeting, they had a festive board with a very nice catered meal (they don't cook their own food like we do at Federal). After pre-dinner cocktails featuring top-shelf liquors, they sat down to a fine meal with waiters. The first course was a baby greens with asparagus, artichoke, and mushroom salad dressed in a dijon vinaigrette. Next came "chicken Villa d'Este," artistically sliced and arranged chicken breasts stuffed with herbs, prosciutto, and gruyère cheese somewhat reminiscent of a chicken cordon bleu, served with porcini mushroom risotto and grilled red and yellow tomatoes. Dessert was a gloriously presented chocolate royale, with a round "cake" of chocolate mousse and nougat on a mirror of crème anglaise and raspberry purée, and decorated with fresh raspberries and a spectacular spiral of chocolate bark. Throughout, the waiters kept our wine glasses full!



During and after dinner, there were lots of toasts and songs to sing. Twas quite a fun evening!