It’s easy to impress me. I don’t need a fancy party to be happy.
Just good friends, good food, and good laughs. I’m happy. I’m satisfied. I’m content.
~Maria Sharapova
So just what goes on at a Friends of Gil (FOG) dinner? If you’re thinking it’s a gathering of a bunch of pretentious food snobs and aesthetes getting together to try one-upping one another with our highfalutin knowledge of the culinary arts, nothing could be further from the truth. True, the Friends of Gil are all passionate and knowledgeable food enthusiasts who appreciate and understand great food, but we’re all ordinary people with a broad and diverse range of interests and backgrounds. We’re people who enjoy great conversation and great humor as much as we enjoy great food.
On Friday, April 10th, 2015 at 7PM, the Friends of Gil (FOG) converged upon M’Tucci’s Kitchina for an evening good friends, good food and good laughs. It’s the fourth FOG event over the past two years and it may have been the very best.
Several FOG members were making their inaugural visit to M’Tucci’s Kitchina. To say they were impressed is an understatement. By night’s end, several of them were placing M’Tucci’s in rarefied company with Torinos @ Home and Joe’s Pasta House as the best Italian restaurants in the metropolitan area. Executive Chef John Haas and his staff deftly prepared culinary masterpieces delivered efficiently and with alacrity by one of the best wait staffs in Albuquerque. Our hosts, owners Katie Gardner and husband Jeff Spiegel outdid themselves with their hospitality.
Dinner was held on the restaurant’s grotto. The diversity of items ordered from both the menu and the evening’s specials reflected the diversity and adventuresome nature of our group. Exclamations of “ooh” and “ah” were uttered as generously portioned and artfully plated dishes were delivered to our tables. Thanks to the sharing which went on, most of us know what we’ll be ordering the next time we visit M’Tucci’s Kitchina.
Our thanks to Child Bride Janet Millington and her chauffeur Jim for organizing a very fun and enjoyable event. Our next event, tentatively scheduled for July is being planned by Bob of the Village of Los Ranchos . We hope many more of you are able to join the friendliest group of foodies in the Duke City.
Another wonderful FOG dinner! Thanks to Jim and Janet for setting it up. The food was as enjoyable as the company. The PEI mussels were an extraordinary surprise–really tasty and well sauced on a par with what we had on PEI.
Thoroughly enjoyed FOG @ M’Tucci. Gained 3 pounds, but well worth it. Everything I ordered was outstanding,and tasting the others dishes assures I’ll be back again, and again and again……see you at the next FOG!!!
Thank you Janet and Jim for putting this together.
I had an absolutely great time and didn’t gain all that much weight. Everybody was great.
Bob,, I hadn’t thought of the edible body lotion demonstration. In fact I was completely unaware of such a valuable product but it sounds like a great idea. Give it some consideration.
(Ah sorry Schuyler…While you may wish, read on:)
Well Jen, Kudos for admitting it, and just to let ya know so as not to be too embarrassed, you are not alone amongst women I’ve caused to be breathless…pardon!!! As such, let me say that munching with such fine-dining Gourmands, deserves another fine dining site which could be……….are ya ready for this? Luna Mansion, with which, those I was able to get to, noted an agreement!
For those who couldn’t attend as well, let me suggest my previous Comments re LM along with Gil’s Overview https://www.nmgastronome.com/?p=161 might also elucidate my rationale for such a choice. While it may seem to be a “ride”, Google maps tell me its only about the same time from The Heights to e.g. Joe’s Pasta House, Fat Squirrel, Rub n Wood or vice versa to places in The Heights…. and, in contrast, its mostly freeway!
– Otherwise and confirming Gil’s note about Friday’s melange: Jim provides a wealth of info of food and exotic places; Child Bride is most colorful while exuding an aura of serenity; I can look to Hannah’s Spanish linguistic forte to sharpen nuances of our culture; engage Dennis of Fusion Theater in talk which might make me more prone to expose myself to “The Stage”. Indeed, Jen delighted us with “a Guest” who gave us a chance to learn firsthand about our resident-guests at Kirtland, The Ospreys, in addition to doing a great job of being our table’s bouquet! All in all, while only briefly touching base with others, t’was a most relaxing evening with Folks while I learned I blab as much as I write and Folks are patiently polite!
Bob is organizing the next FOG? That means it’ll either be foot longs from the Dog House or edible body lotion demonstrations from some seedy joint on Central.
Bob’s doing the next one?? I await this spectacle with bated breath… 🙂
So much great food and camaraderie – a thoroughly delightful night! I enjoyed reconnecting with all of you and meeting new people, and I sincerely hope we can do it again soon… with new folks in the mix. Thank you, Gil, Jim and Janet for pulling this wonderful evening together!
Count us in! – 2 for dinner!
Oh my goodness! I wish I could be there!
I’ll be there!
Kay and I will there.
There will be four of us: me, Marjorie, and the Chase girls Barb and Linda.
M’Tucci’s is one of the great ones.
Count me in, with a plus one!