My 2014 Holiday Letter

December 2014

5 Alban Mews
New Albany, Ohio 43054

Email me at: roderickchu@att.net
Friend me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/rodchu

My blogs: http://rchu.wordpress.com. http://www.choosygourmand.com 

A holiday note to my family, friends, and colleagues —

What a difference a year makes! Last year at this time, my mother Frances was in the hospital with what turned out to be a serious blood infection. It took three admissions to the hospital and 6 weeks of intravenous antibiotics to diagnose and cure her and months to nurse her back to health. I’m delighted that she has regained the weight she had lost and her health is now the best it’s been in years. We’re grateful to her doctors and to Michael Richardson and other friends for all they did to restore her health and spirits. I’ve had great pleasure in carrying out her doctors’ instructions to “fatten her up” from her “all skin & bones” condition -- you all know how I love good food -- and am glad that a return to my low carbohydrate diet helped me reduce the impact on my own body.

With Mom better, I’ve been able to spend more time in my own home. I was even been able to clean my house a bit so I could have house guests come to visit! It’s been nice to share the pleasures of America’s Heartland with family and friends and I hope more of you will take the time to visit this coming year. If traveling to Ohio isn’t within your sights, please join me in NYC for an opera at the Met!

As busy as I’ve been with fun activities -- I share some of more notable ones in this letter -- I continue to aspire to write down my thoughts on education and public policy. I’ve recognized the devastating impact that short-term thinking in business and government have on our collective and individual health and futures. An important way we can change this situation is to better educate ourselves and our children so we can each take greater personal responsibility for decisions that affect the quality of our lives.

I am truly grateful to my wonderful family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues for continuing to fill my life with such rich experiences and joy. My thanks and best wishes go to you and yours for a joyous holiday season and a happy and fulfilling 2015.

 Sincerely,

 Rod

Mom’s Visits to New Albany

JUL-AUG: Mom came to relax, see friends, and eat well. Buffet brunch with our OCA-Columbus friends at New Albany C.C. Weekly visits to Hollywood Casino & Scioto Downs Racino. Dinners with Pastor Kai & Patty Nilsen & family and my Int’l Wine & Food Society group. Joined my Alban Mews neighbors at our monthly Gathering on the Green - we made pan-fried wontons.

NOV: Happy to have Mom visit again. Back to the casinos for Scioto Downs’ $7 AYCE prime rib Senior Dinners and their penny slots. Lunch with her Shanghai classmate Lucy Chu and BalletMet artistic director Edwaard Liang. New Albany C.C. made a banana split just for her (she ate the whole thing). Joined by Tally & Midge Krumm and Roger & Sherran Blair for a unique reserved table at Skillet (won at a charity silent auction), with Chef/Owner Kevin Caskey; Mom had the lusciously locavore Pig & Grits. Still, nothing beats home cooking, especially the pot luck dinner at Ping & Virginia Chen’s with Stella & Warren Woo, Irene & Ambrose Ng, and Theresa & S.L. Lee, where I offered my famed poached bass with Cha Gua sauce. 

Thanksgiving in Bolton

NOV: For a snowy Thanksgiving at Laura & David’s home, we dry brined & spatchcocked the local organic turkey (delicious!); Alexandra helped cook! My family photos: Mom, me, Laura; David and his Mom Ruth; Karen, A.J., Gian. The newest Fabbri: the adorable Goldendoodle Gus. Looking forward to Steven and his fiancée Shari joining us all in Bolton for Christmas. 

Weddings and A Monumental Birthday

JUN: Drove down to Isle of Palms, SC for Tom & Marby Senker’s son Chris & Kim’s wedding. Uncle Rod took 2000+ photos of the 4-day event (I’m still editing them!), happily attended by the Senker/McNamara clan. Celebrated with Mary Beth Sullivan and Randy & Margy Hatch.

JUN: The Senkers, Hatches, and I flew out to Sonoma, CA for Cornell classmate Bob Crane & Lucy Weiger’s wedding

at Chateau St. Jean winery (I took 650 photos). Enjoyed an outdoor performance at Jack London State Park and private wine tastings at V Madrone and Nickel & Nickel wineries. 

SEP: Mom & I were among Auntie Juliana Koo’s family and close friends gathered to celebrate her 109th birthday at a festive dinner-dance at NYC’s Pierre Hotel as guests of her daughters Gene & Shirley Young and son-in-law Oscar Tang & his bride Agnes. Always the highlight of the NYC Chinese social season, enjoying seeing her dancing were Juliana’s godson Michael & Winnie Feng and Mom & Laurette Feng. 

New Albany House Guests

JAN: The Cornell Glee Club came through Ohio on their Southern Tour for a performance at Denison University. Members of the Cornell Alumni Association of Central Ohio hosted them overnight in our homes. I was delighted to have Jacob Cohen ‘15 and Ben Feinson ‘14 as my guests and deliver them the next morning to continue on their tour.

MAY-JUN: Amina Richardson took a summer medical internship at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, staying with Dr. Andrew & Rebecca Schamess & family. Her Dad Michael and sister Adassa came for visits and they all stayed with me, experiencing: country club living; America’s best ice cream (Jeni’s), best zoo, best science center (CoSI), and unique topiary park (of Seurat’s Island of La Grande Jatte). Saw George Takei in the Pride Parade. We ate very well.

OCT: Delighted to show recent Univ. of Leeds graduate Augusta Riddy the American Heartland on her Grand
Tour of the U.S. Brunch at New Albany C.C. then watched croquet. Shared 2 dozen oysters at Rigsby’s, where owner/ chef Kent stopped to greet us. Enjoyed Chilhulys among the plants at Franklin Park Conservatory. A huge cream puff
at Schmidt’s. Toured Yoder’s Amish Home and had a buggy ride before seeing Longerberger’s world’s largest basket. 

The Metropolitan Opera & the Opera Club

DEC ’13-MAY: I caught only 15 performances at the Met this year, but they were notable ones with terrific guests, including: a new production of Verdi’s Falstaff with James Levine back in the pit; Renée Fleming in Dvořák’s Rusalka; with Joe & Marney Thomas for Anna Netrebko in Donazetti’s L’Elisir d’Amore; Michael & Adassa Richardson for the new Prince Igor by Borodin; Jonas Kaufmann in the new Werther by Massenet; Tom & Pat Shiah for Levine’s inspired conducting of Berg’s Wozzeck; the new Arabella by Strauss; Carolyn & Kevin McEnery and Margy & Randy Hatch for Puccini’s La Bohème; Joyce DiDonato in Rossini’s La Cenerentola; Newman & Sandy Marsilius for Puccini’s Madama Butterfly.

SEP-NOV: The new season began with only a couple of interesting operas because of a threatened strike. Strike averted,
I got to invite Dominie & Adrian Tanovic, in from Copenhagen, with Michael Richardson for the new Le Nozze di Figaro by Mozart with Levine again at the helm; with the Shiahs again for Netrebko in the new Macbeth by Verdi; in white tie & tails with Augusta Riddy and Emily & Richy Petrina for Puccini’s La Bohème again -- always a pleasure, though to see the Met’s last remaining grand Franco Zeffirelli production; Gina & K.S. Liu for Bizet’s Carmen. Operas to get interesting again in 2015. 

Guest for Memorable Meals In & Around NYC

Mom joined me for many wonderful meals with friends. Some highlights: FEB: Roast suckling pig at James & Elizabeth Wong’s family Chinese New Year celebration. APR: Grilled Octopus Antipasto with Tom & Pat Shiah at Marea. MAY: With Laurette Feng & family at Peking Duck House. MAY: Pan-seared Foie Gras with Elaine Lai at Aureole. SEP: Braised Sea Cucumber at Michael Tong’s Luna New Year Celebration at his Shun Lee West. OCT: Another 2 suckling pigs at Hamburg & Miranda Tang’s dinner & dance party at Rogers Dance Center in NJ. Cacciucco at C.C. & Harriet Tung’s Antonucci dinner with Karen Hsu, Pat & Tom Shiah. Buccatelli at the Shiah’s Morini dinner with Helene Chiang. NOV: Mom’s table with Mona So, Michael Tong & Julie Chu at her Rotary District Banquet at Golden Unicorn honoring Rotary International President Gary Huang from Taiwan, who surprised us by calling Mom up to the podium and recognizing her achievements in and contributions to Rotary. 

Lisa Lu & the Golden Globe Awards

JAN: Mom’s friend, actress and Hollywood Foreign Press Association member Lisa Lu, invited me to escort her to the Golden Globe Awards & parties in Hollywood! Auntie Lisa continues to add to her 50 years of acting and is one of only 84 votes that determine the Golden Globe Awards (covering both television & film), so many stars stopped by to greet her. At the CBS pre-party, met many celebrities, including: Liev Schreiber (X-Men Origins: Wolverine) & Naomi Watts (King Kong); LL Cool J (NCIS: Los Angeles); Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife; ER); Miguel Ferrer (NCIS: L.A.). 

JAN: On the Red Carpet at the Golden Globes Awards, the Ceremony, and post-parties. Auntie Lisa with: John Voight (won Best Supporting Actor for Ray Donovan); Leonardo DiCaprio (won Best Actor for The Wolf of Wall Street); Robert Redford (nominee for Best Actor for All is Lost). Chris Hemsworth (Thor; The Avengers). I had a good view from my seat: Jennifer Lawrence winning Best Supporting Actress for American Hustle. Kevin Bacon at the table in the tier just below us, where many award presenters were seated. Tom Hanks at one of many post-parties (nominee for Best Actor for Captain Phillips). What an experience! 

Helped Feed Homeless Adults an Families

JUN & Monthly: At our final annual Picnic of H.O.P.E. at Vets Memorial (to be torn down) we served 2000 meals to homeless adults. And once each month, our IHN team from Peace Lutheran Church in Gahanna joyfully prepared and served 250-330 meals at the YWCA Family Center. 

Other Notable Events

DEC. ‘13: I received my 9th honorary degree and gave the Address at Urbana University’s 122nd Commencement. Ambrose Ng and Steve Wilson braved the snow to join me for the ceremonies and provide photo and moral support.

FEB & SEP: Michael Richardson came in from Chicago to join me for Zang Toi’s Fashion Week shows at Lincoln Center, celebrating Shanghai in the 1930s and his 25th Anniversary of designing fashions in America. As usual, stunning gowns and Michael was stopped by paparazzi before post-show parties and suppers, with Lucia Hwong Gordon and Adassa.

JAN-FEB: Cornell events in NYC. Johnson Alumni Awards Dinner with Dean Soumitra &; Lourdes Dutta and Joe & Marney Thomas at Guastavino’s. Joe & Marney’s lavish wine & food pairing lunch at Perry St. hosted by Richy Petrina
of Moët Hennessy USA. Cornell Asian Alumni Association’s Annual Banquet in Flushing with my host Henry Shum, Cornell V.P. Susan Murphy, and Congresswoman Grace Meng. 

JUN: On my drive to and from Charleston for Chris & Kim’s wedding, had wonderful meals -- including Shrimp & Grits at Husk -- and tours of the Biltmore Estate in Ashville, NC. 

Printed 2014 Letter

I fit all the above into one double-sided legal sheet to include with my Christmas cards. I used Adobe InDesign to lay it out. If you'd like a hard copy, I'd be happy to mail you one - just send an email with your mailing address to me at roderick.chu@att.net.