Special Tasting Dinners

DEC’23, JAN, FEB, APR, JUN, AUG, SEP, OCT, NOV: I managed to get seats at 9 of Andrew Smith and Devoney Mills’ monthly Roys Ave Supper Club tasting dinners this year and introduced guests – Doug Preisse, Megan Kilgore, David Webb, Karen Jennings, Avishar Barua, Hope Wolman, Rich Stoff, and Lara & Doug Warburton – to these fabulous gustatory events, each with 9 exciting courses accompanied by wines from my cellar. JUN&AUG: At James Beard Award nominee Avishar Barua’s Agni for his globally eclectic dishes with Sherran Blair and Vivian Davis. DEC’23&FEB: Silas Caeton’s pop-up Mexican dinners at The Lox Bagel Shop with Shaun Yoder and David Glisson. NOV: Pop-up Peruvian-Japanese dinner by Chefs Kent Rigsby and Manny Castillo at the High Line Car House showcasing Nikkei Cuisine. OCT&DEC: Lavish dinners of the newly reconstituted Bailliage de Columbus Chaîne des Rôtisseurs at the Columbus Club and Scioto Country Club. Thanks to The Refectory’s Kamal Boulos for letting me know of the return of this fine dining group to central Ohio after 24 years.

Other Activities Around Town

MAY: Our NEW ALBANY Senior Connections group was given a private tour of Ohio Village’s re-creation of 1890s life; it closes for 2025 for renovation. OCT: Tally, Midge, & Eric Krumm invited me to join them for the Columbus Crew's playoff game vs. the NY Red Bulls at Lower.com Stadium with dinner at the Huntington Field Club. (Alas, the Crew lost.) NOV: One of our Crichton Club speakers, historical interpreter Joseph Ziarko, gave a masterful portrayal of George Mason at the Columbus Museum of Art. Vivian Davis invited me to join her to cheer on the Buckeyes from the President’s Box at Ohio Stadium, where we joined Gov. Bob Taft and others with great views of OSU’s victory against Indiana. (Glad I wasn’t there, though, the week after for OSU’s shocking loss to my alma mater Michigan! Though Columbus was in a major funk with the loss, spirits have since picked up with hopes of running the board of football playoff games to the National Championship!)

Printed 2024 Letter

I fit all the above into one double-sided legal sheet to include with my Christmas cards. Since Adobe stopped supporting its InDesign app except on a monthly subscription basis, I bought Affinity Publisher at a reasonable one-time purchase cost and made the easy switch to it to lay out this year's letter. 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 roderickgwchu@gmail.com.

My 2023 Holiday Letter

December 2023

5 Alban Mews

New Albany, Ohio 43054
Email: roderickchu@att.net

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

My 2023 has pretty much gone as predicted for this Year of the Rabbit: ”Our life style will be languid and leisurely as we allow ourselves the luxuries we have always craved for. A temperate year with unhurried pace. For once, it may seem possible for us to be carefree and happy without too many annoyances.” I’ve spent most of my year enjoying life in Central Ohio – and over 100 new and creative food dishes – with just a few trips to see family and friends and savoring time with those who came to visit me.

In February, my sister Laura Burke and I finally cleared out and sold our late Mom’s house. Now facing having to sort through and dispose of 3 garages filled with two lifetimes of accumulated stuff, I’ve recognized the wisdom of the advice to “collect experiences instead of stuff.” So I’ve been focused on indulging my love of good food and drink and been enjoying the great talents of my chef friends & neighbors. I look to the upcoming propitiousYear of the Dragon helping me tackle clearing out the stuff.

Sadly, this year also saw more of my family and friends tackle illnesses. I pray for their speedy recovery and look forward to seeing them soon and to sharing the good things in life with all.

My very best wishes to you and yours for a joyous holiday season and a healthy and happy 2024! Here’s hoping we’ll get to be together in the new year! 

Sincerely,
Rod

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

Friend me on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/rodchu

My Travels

DEC’22: A lovely Christmas & NOV: Thanksgiving at Laura & David’s in Bolton, MA with Karen, Gianni, A.J. & Alexandra and Laura’s feasts, but we missed having Steven & Shari with us. JAN: Cornell Asian Alumni Assn. Banquet with Pres. Martha Pollock in NYC. Visit to Yeh-Yeh’s buildings at 73-77 Mott St. (all the heirs later sold & liquidated the 90+ year partnership). FEB: Moved the last boxes from Mom’s house in Briarcliff Manor and closed its sale. APR: NY Yankees’ Opening Week games with Bob & Linda Gorman & siblings in the Owners’ Box.

OCT: At Cornell for my Trustee-Council Annual Meeting with the Big Red Bear and iconic McGraw Tower under renovation. Update from Johnson College of Business Dean Andrew Karoli. Again luxuriated in being the houseguest of Joe & Marney Thomas, enjoying their Night Blooming Cereus (grown from Mom’s cutting), open access to their famed wine cellar, and lovely sunset dinners. Visited I.M. Pei’s iconic Johnson Museum of Art on its 50th Anniversary. Celebrated the induction of this year’s Frank H. T. Rhodes Exemplary Alumni Award winners David Moriah & others with Dan Tillemans, Ezra Cornell, Ginger So, Harriet & Jay Waks, and other fellow prior awardees. Attended my first meeting as a member of the Cornell Botanic Gardens Advisory Board, looking forward to its planned Asian Summer Garden.

OCT: Between meetings at Cornell, I drove to Albany to visit friends & colleagues from my years as NY State’s Tax Commissioner: My Exec. Deputy Commissioner Pat & Midge Bulgaro, NY State Budget Director Wayne & Carole Diesel (who hosted my stay), and Deputy Comm. Bill Collins. Paid my respects to current Tax Commissioner Amanda Hiller & Exec. Deputy Michael Shollar. Dec.’22: Visited Doug Preisse’s further restorations on his Somerset, OH property. JUL: Steve George & Jeff Gatwood’s Open House of their restored Mt. Vernon, OH home.

Bounteous Chinese Dinners

 

DEC’22: At Ming Flower Restaurant – which resumed offering its 12-course Cantonese banquets – were John Kuijper, Edwaard Liang, Stella & Warren Woo, Virginia & Ping Chen, Ambrose & Irene Ng, Kent Rigsby & Sylvia Fergus. Nice wines from my cellar for the tasty dinner.

JUN: Also re-commencing for the first time since COVID: a Chinese Pot Luck Dinner. Theresa & S.L. Lee made their wondrous Winter Melon Soup – chicken, Chinese mushrooms & other ingredients steamed for hours in a whole melon. Irene’s Stir-fried Shrimp, Peas, & Scallion. My Poached Sea Bass with Scallion, Ginger, & Preserved White Cucumber in Soy Sauce & Oil. Stella & Warren Woo’s Won Ton Noodle Soup. Thanks to Ambrose & Irene for hosting this feast with many other delicious dishes prepared by Virginia & Ping Chen! 

Entertaining at New Albany Country Club

APR: Celebrated Easter and the Club’s lavish Buffet Brunch with Katie & Adam Einhorn and their kids, who were delighted to greet the big Easter Bunny. JUN: Another huge buffet for Father’s Day, with Virginia & Ping Chen, Michael Richardson, and Ambrose & Irene Ng. 

 

So easy to share New Albany Country Club’s delicious and elegant dining and event offerings throughout the year with fellow members and guests: Don & Lisal Gorman and Vivian Davis; Bob & Linda Gorman back from their vacation home; David Goodman at the Spring Wine Expo; Bob & Linda introduced me to Jaime Lemon & her son Jason Davis; fellow Cornell alumnus Erik Lehmann; Katie, Athena, & Adam Einhorn; Jon & Sandy Tafel; Sean & Cally Meers; Cornell’s Brock Buffum; Michael Lester; Jim Miller; Rich Stoff. We ate very well!