The Party
- Michael Jay Tucker's explosive-cargo
- Sep 18
- 5 min read
I left off last time with us sitting down to pizza. It was quite good. But, you have to work hard to make pizza bad. Which is not to say that some restaurants I’ve been in didn’t manage it. Still, it isn’t easy. In fact, I think it takes genius, I think, to really screw up pepperoni and black olives. You have to be gifted to pull that off. Sort of like being the Sauron of chefs. At that point, you’re just a huge flaming eye floating over the Barad-dûr bake-off. Which would bring whole new meaning to the term Hell’s Kitchen.
Where was I? Oh, yes. We had a quick dinner and then did a bit more visiting. Then, the kids took the g’kids back to their hotel for bed. We stayed to do a bit more prep work for Vincent’s party. Finally, we, too, headed back to the hotel.
The next morning, we got there early. Once again, we joined him in getting the house ready. Today was the day that very important things were happening. Specifically, Vincent was preparing the garlic lamb (out of this world) and what are known in the Circle as “Those ...oh!...potatoes.”
ABOUT THE PHOTOS: A great many today, all from the party. First, the star of the show, the Lamb. Second, the birthday boy, young Mr. Vincent. Third, David looking on thoughtfully. And, forth, an assortment of cakes and candles.
The kids and g’kids arrived a bit later. They’d spent the morning touring Durham. I think they quite liked the city. I’m guessing it reminded them of Austin as Austin was not so long ago, when it wasn’t yet entirely a tech-hub boomtown, and still had a touch of the bucolic and a dash of the college town.(1)
In particular, they told us they’d found a cool restaurant/grocery store, Redstart Foods, which they’d really liked and suggested we try. There’s more Redstart in the footnote below.(2) As an aside, we did try to eat there a few days later, but when we arrived they’d shut down their kitchen for the day. Maybe next time.
A short while after the kids got there, the New England Four--Patty, Michele, Jim, and Tom-- arrived. They, too, had spent some time exploring Durham, and they, too, had found a restaurant they’d really liked, Cafe Ferdosi.(3) As an aside, we did manage to eat there, and it was terrific. I will write more about it soon.
We all worked together to finish the party prep. There was also considerable socializing. At one point, the New England Four trotted up the hill to see Gene Dillion’s Mosaic House. Once again, he was there, and they all met and had, I gather, a pleasant chat. Later, I watched while Michele and Pam talked about something, though I couldn’t hear what it was. The g’kids, meanwhile, played with Peggy, Joanne, and Jim.
David had a conversation with Joanne’s husband, Mark. It turned out they were in related industries. David is, of course, an architect. Mark designs the internals of warehouse systems -- not an easy thing, when you think about it, particularly in this day and age of automation and robots.
And then it was time. We set the table. The lamb came out on a huge platter. *Those* potatoes and the vegetables followed. There was much shuffling around as seats were assigned. We were afraid there might be problems with the g’kids wanting different seats than the ones they got. But, in the end, somehow, it worked out.
The food was...well...out of this world, as usual, as it is whenever Vincent cooks. Everyone got very quiet.
After seconds, we moved on the cake...actually, cakes. I forgot to mention we were celebrating Vincent’s birthday, but also his sister’s, that is, Joanne’s. She and he were born almost the same day, albeit a few years apart. I’m told that in their childhoods, this was a serious issue...with each accusing the other of overshadowing the other’s special day. But, now, in the way of siblings, it is only a joke.
As an only child, I do not understand *any* of this.
Anyway, cakes appeared, candles and sparklers were lit and duly blown out or otherwise extinguished. Then we got down to the serious business of eating desert.
And that, basically, was the day. Somehow, it had gotten dark, the kids and g’kids were off to their hotel, the dishes had all been washed, and the leftovers had been farmed out to those of the guests who were not flying back to Texas or Massachussets in the morning. We stayed for a bit longer, talking to Vincent and his other guests. Then, discovering that it was very late, we headed off.
Which ended Vincent’s birthday party...but not our visit.
So stay tuned. There’s much ice cream, a bit of art, and a large metal bull, yet to come.
Footnotes:
1. Which isn’t to say that Durham couldn’t go down the same road. It is, after all, in the Research Triangle. But, at least for the moment, the city hasn’t given way to completely uncontrolled growth.
2. Redstart has a webpage here: https://redstartfoods.com. I gather it is mostly a take away place. That is, you place your order for various complete meals and they will deliver them to your address. Or you can pick it up yourself at their store. However, they also do some dining in at their location.
3. Cafe Ferdosi has a website here: https://cafeferdosi.com/. However, as of the time I’m writing this (April 24, 2025) the site isn’t in operation. It looks like it is under development and may be with us. However, the Cafe does have an excellent Instagram page, with lovely pictures of its meal offerings, here: https://www.instagram.com/nccafeferdosi/
Copyright©2025 Michael Jay Tucker
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Another great story and photos thanks so much for sharing. Can’t wait to here more about the trip.