Chief Dieter
Plan Z Diet
48% of US Citizens report that they spend a quiet night at home on New Year’s Eve.
42% report they are asleep before midnight.
And surprising to me, only 8% report they go out on the town to celebrate.
In our little Plan Z Diet family we do two different types of New Year’s celebrations. One we call a “Sweaters New Year’s,” the other we call “Dressy.” This year we went dressy. So we were part of the 8% that went out on the town. This was a very special dinner/event. I booked it almost two months in advance to make sure we could get in. Last year I waited too long and got shut out.
The event takes place at Acadia restaurant in Chicago. This is a fancy joint (as my dad would say). On normal days they serve a tasting menu. So that means they do 8-10 courses and if you want, they will pair wines to go with them. Fancy food in the fancy joint.
On New Year’s Eve they do much the same, but they add a theme and a show. This year’s theme was “1889 Paris.” In 1889, Paris was quite the scene. 1889 was the 100th year of the beginning of the French Revolution. Paris was the place to be. They held the World’s Fair in Paris that year. The Eiffel Tower was brand new and was the entrance to the Fair.
The Moulin Rouge was in full grandeur and right next door. Moulin Rouge means red windmill in English. You could see the club from all over Paris. All you had to do was look for the giant red windmill on the roof. A club and a dining venue with celebration in high gear, the Moulin Rouge became famous and infamous all at the same time. This is where the concept of the cabaret was initiated and the can can dance was first performed at the Moulin Rouge. The women who went up on stage to do the can can were the courtesans who operated out of the club. (Hence the infamous part).
So on New Year’s Eve the Acadia restaurant was transformed into the Moulin Rouge; red lights and all. We dined and watched a magical show at the same time. When we came in there were trapeze girls dangling from fabric ropes that trailed to the ceiling. These women were scantily clad and spinning upside down in most cases. Can Can Girls swayed from the corners of the staging and some of them strolled through the crowd kissing cheeks and speaking in fake French accents.
Absinthe was popular in 1889. Turns out absinthe was quite addictive and destructive but it was pervasive. At our party, an absinthe fairy worked her magic and squirted a bit of modern absinthe into the mouths of all those who were interested. She was dressed in green with green wings.
The menu was right out of 1889 too.
Next came lobster thermidor, one of the most decadent dishes of the times, only to be topped by a beautiful beef wellington.
Dessert was Parisian cake.
Champagne flowed all night long.
As midnight approached a strolling peasant band came marching in. Then the Can Can Girls went into full performance. The bedecked master of ceremonies called out in French dressed in his top hat and red tuxedo. At the stroke of midnight the band played Auld Lang Syne and everyone sang and cheered.
It was a blast. And the food wasn’t bad either!
After that we were offered bands for our wrists. If we’d just step out for a bit, the stage was going to be removed and then disco dancing would begin. The bands were our ticket in.
Alas, we were too tired and too full to dance. Time for us to go home and tuck warmly into bed.
Happy 2014 from everyone here at the Plan Z Diet!
Cheers,
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