Food Club: Dinners of a lifetime
One Saturday night in May 1964, a group of friends from UCLA and their wives gathered for a dinner that whimsically celebrated the French Revolution. There were crepes, fromages, French wines and true Champagne.
It was so much fun they decided to do it again the following month. And the month after that. Next month, they’ll celebrate 45 years together.
Here, Mary Lou Samuelson, right, greets fellow Food Club member Jim Anderson upon arriving for dinner at the home of Paul and Nancy Iffrig in San Gabriel last month. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
Food Club members Jerry Samuelson, left, and David Jay enjoy before-dinner drinks. (Christina House / For The Times)
A portrait of Food Club members taken years ago shows that the times -- and fashions -- have certainly changed for these friends, many of whom met in college. But their affection for one another hasn’t changed. (Christina House / For The Times)
Every good story involves a mystery, and Food Club has a whopper. Several years ago, the Iffrigs were cleaning up after their dinner and found, of all things, sparerib bones discarded behind the couch.
But who would have done such a thing?
No one ever confessed. And, in truth, it could have been the result of a plate tipped over by accident by a culprit who remained unawares.
In some ways, it’s better that the mystery has never been solved: Nearly every Food Club dinner ends with someone reminding the hosts to check behind the couch. (Christina House / For The Times)
This ungainly object is given to members when they turn 70. Members can’t wait to get rid of it -- it’s even more hideous-looking in person -- but they must hang on to it until the next member turns 70. (Christina House / For The Times)
Nancy Iffrig removes potato pancakes from the oven on the night she and her husband, Paul, host Food Club. (Christina House / For The Times)
Paul Iffrig grabs plates from the kitchen. (Christina House / For The Times)
This night’s meal is loosely German in theme. There are handcrafted German cheeses served with crackers, two types of gougères, and kielbasa sliced on the bias and simmered in a stout barbecue sauce. For the main course: sauerbraten and potato pancakes served with braised red cabbage and apples. An impressive Bavarian cream tops it all off. (Christina House / For The Times)
Nancy Iffrig rings a silver bell to invite Food Club members into the dining room to begin the sit-down feast. (Christina House / For The Times)
There was talk awhile back of starting dinner earlier, say, at 4:30 or 5 p.m., or opting instead for Sunday brunch. Votes were taken, but decisions are made unanimously, and these changes didn’t fly. Certainly there have been some subtle concessions to age. Once in a while, salad is served in a bowl at the table, instead of the host plating 11 servings in the kitchen. And the alcohol consumption certainly isn’t what it used to be. (Christina House / For The Times)
