Up in Ontario

Report on Big Night, la terzo

A first-person account, by way of my friend, Craig Riggs, filed in homage to the largesse of Big Night, la terzo.

Epilogue: Big Head in the Morning

Sitting here, puffy and baggy-eyed from two weeks of excess, one night
stands out with staggering clarity from the holiday just gone: Big Night
Trois, the latest, numbered installment of the now legendary cook-up at
2686. As BN devotees have come to expect, the incomparable Josh (Primo,
to those who know their pesto from their pasta), the undeniable Chad
(Secondo), and their able crew threw down a major throwdown.

Whether or not you embrace a particular religious practice at
Christmastime, there's no denying that God is in the house as your
crockery is graced with zuppa, then terrino, then risotto--and these
only to warm you up for the courses to come.

The food is adventurous and exquisite. The courses and the guests are
well lubricated with bottle after bottle of wine. But the real capper
here is that these guys have created something special in Big Night,
something both sophisticated and elegantly simple, and something that
reflects a real generosity and enthusiasm. A night so big, and the
people that come with it, are a gift at any time of year.

There's more to say, but I've got a physical to prepare for and an organ
donor card to tear up. So, in lieu of the next 1,000 words of waxing
poetica, some photos from the event itself...

Photos available through the link below.

From left to right, Uncle Dan, Emily, Kita and Trevor dip into the zuppa, our first course at Big Night III.

From left to right, Damian, Peter and Chad belt out the Christmas carols in front of the piano at the intermission between courses at Big Night III.

The kitchen where the magic of Big Night III was created by Josh (Prima), our chef.

Our host, Secondo, enjoys the evening in a merry and most-gregarious fashion.

Il Timpano makes its appearance to applause. What is Timpano?