Gilda: Salty, green, spicy / Gilda: Salada, verde, picante

La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.

Our nephew Matt was born and raised in Pierre, South Dakota, as was Lindy. They both left and moved back “briefly” over 20 years ago which is when they reconnected and began their romance. Their return wasn’t as brief as expected and they’re still there, but not for much longer we all hope. So it’s astounding that Matt cooked a Christmas dinner at our house without Lowell family cranberry salad (ground cranberries, sugar, pineapple chunks, baby marshmallows, and whipped cream) and no Jello salad. Especially the orange Jell-O with orange sherbet and mandarin oranges.

We had an artsy dinner in great company. The menu: Gildas (see below), white wine braised garlic chicken, roasted vegetables (shallots, mushrooms, parsnips), risotto, and yule log. Per Matt, I should tell you the yule log had chocolate inside. The photo above is what’s left.

When the threesome were shopping, they saw the yule log and thought that would be nice for dessert. San Geraldo, meaning to speak Spanish, asked the bakery staffer, “¿Qué es inside?” which translates to “What is dentro?” And that’s not even proper Spanglish.

Nuestro sobrino Matt nació y creció en Pierre, Dakota del Sur, al igual que Lindy. Ambos se fueron y regresaron brevemente hace más de 20 años, cuando reconectaron y comenzaron su romance. Su regreso no fue tan breve como se esperaba y siguen allí, pero esperamos que no por mucho más tiempo. Así que es asombroso que Matt preparara una cena de Navidad en nuestra casa sin la ensalada de arándanos de la familia Lowell (arándanos rojos molidos, azúcar, trozos de piña, malvaviscos pequeños y crema batida) ni ensalada de gelatina. Sobre todo la gelatina de naranja con sorbete de naranja y mandarinas.

Disfrutamos de una cena artística en excelente compañía. El menú: Gildas (ver más abajo), pollo al ajillo braseado en vino blanco, verduras asadas (chalotes, champiñones, chirivías), risotto, y tronco de Navidad. Según Matt, debo decir que el tronco de Navidad tenía chocolate dentro. La foto de arriba es lo que queda.

Cuando los tres estaban de compras, vieron el tronco de Navidad y pensaron que sería un buen postre. San Geraldo, queriendo hablar español, le preguntó al empleado de la panadería: “¿Qué es inside?” que se traduce como “What is dentro?” Y eso ni siquiera es spanglish apropiado.

• Lindy holding Gilda: Green olives, pickled chili pepper, and salted anchovy. Called Gilda because the snack was “salty, green, and spicy” like Rita Hayworth’s character in the 1946 film of that name. It’s considered the first pintxo (pincho) ever created. Pintxos are traditional bar snacks in northern Spain, especially Basque country, Navarre, La Rioja, Cantabria, and Asturias. Lindy and Matt discovered Gilda while traveling one year.
• Lindy sosteniendo Gilda: Aceitunas verdes, chile encurtido, y anchoa en salazón. Llamada Gilda porque el aperitivo era “salado, verde y picante” como el personaje de Rita Hayworth en la película de 1946 del mismo nombre. Se considera el primer pintxo jamás creado. Los pintxos son aperitivos tradicionales de bar en el norte de España, especialmente en el País Vasco, Navarra, La Rioja, Cantabria y Asturias. Lindy y Matt descubrieron Gilda mientras viajaban un año.
• Dudo was curious last night.
• Dudo tenía curiosidad anoche.

Author: Moving with Mitchell

From Brooklyn, New York; to North Massapequa; back to Brooklyn; Brockport, New York; back to Brooklyn... To Boston, Massachusetts, where I met Jerry... To Marina del Rey, California; Washington, DC; New Haven and Guilford, Connecticut; San Diego, San Francisco, Palm Springs, and Santa Barbara, California; Las Vegas, Nevada; Irvine, California; Sevilla and then Fuengirola, Spain. And now Córdoba.

32 thoughts on “Gilda: Salty, green, spicy / Gilda: Salada, verde, picante”

  4. Ooh, a chocolate log! I used to make one for Christmas. The tense moment when you wonder if it’s going to roll up or break apart and need chocolate repairs.. But never any leftovers! Merry Christmas. Boud.

    Reply

    1. Boud:
      I would loved to have seen your yule log. SG made one once. So much fun. I remember his needed chocolate repairs, but it was tastier than the delicious one we had this year. I haven’t been able to find a photo of it.

      Reply

  6. A delicious feast in wonderful company! Plus a chocolate Yule Log cake! Always having a Bûche De Noël at Christmas is a big tradition in Quebec and among other French Canadians. Not so much among English Canadians, alas. I’ve never had one. In moments of insanity, I think I should try my hand at making one some year. What a disaster it would be, but still . . . maybe?

    Reply

    1. Debra:
      SG made one in one of our last years in California. It was beautiful when done and even more delicious than the one we had this year. But I do remember him laughing during the assembly (and patching with chocolate frosting).

      Reply

  8. Well, except for the fact that I would have had to sit in the bathroom for a quiet little cry about there being no Jello or cranberry salad, that certainly looks like the finest Christmas Eve dinner one could wish for.
    Peace, love, and joy to you all.
    Ms. Moon

    Reply

    1. Ms. Moon:
      I became the annual cranberry salad maker in our family after being introduced to it. And I must admit, I missed it. But it’s not easy to find bags of cranberries here.

      Reply

      1. Ambrosia “salad” was served yesterday at Lily’s house with our meal. That’s the one with little marshmallows and whipped cream and maraschino cherries and other types of the sweetest canned fruits available. I have to admit I ate a spoonful of it and I am still thinking about it.

        Reply

        1. Ms. Moon:
          Ambrosia salad is similar to SG’s mother’s cranberry “salad.” My family thought it was dessert.

          Reply

  9. Sounds like a wonderful meal with friends. does it get better than that? And if there is chocolate inside the yule log it’s hidden pretty well. Are the holly leaves and berries edible?

    Reply

    1. ellen abbott:
      Yes, there really wasn’t any chocolate inside the yule log. I forgot to mention that! The berries were edible as were, supposedly, the holly leaves. My last holly leaf, however, was like wax. Confusing.

      Reply

    1. Mistress Borghese:
      The yule log was delicious (and not big enough; only leftovers for one day). SG made a yule log one year that was twice the size and twice as rich and tasty.

      Reply

  12. Who needs jello salads with such a delicious-looking feast and happy people with which to share it?

    I’m glad I’m not alone in drooling over that Yule Log too, LOL!

    Reply

  13. I’m glad you explained the “Gilda”. All I could think of is Gilda Radner.

    It looks and sounds like a wonderful celebration!

    Reply

    1. Kelly:
      Matt and Lindy are too young to know about the movie “Gilda.” So it took a bit for them to relate the connection. The entire week with them was a wonderful celebration.

      Reply

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