[su_dropcap style=”flat”]F[/su_dropcap]riday night, we met daughter Claire’s train from Detroit at Chicago Union Station, its Great Hall pictured here. Sunday morning, daughter Laurel drove in from Milwaukee. After many, many years of traveling to our parents’ homes for the holidays, we are the destination. Have been for a while now—and it feels good.
One holiday tradition we’ve spoken of here before is Christmas Eve dinner in Chinatown. We’ve been doing it for at least 20 years now. Sometimes, it’s been intimate. Marion, the girls, Marion’s sister and me. Other times, it’s been a changing group of family, extended family and friends. This Christmas Eve, it was that—a giant table for 13, including two high chairs. Loud and lively, with many conversations going on at once, dishes arriving as the kitchen finished making them and being passed around the table, too many bottles of wine being opened.
We’ve eaten Christmas Eve dinner in many places in Chinatown over the years. But Marion realized that three of the restaurants had all been in this space. Different restaurants, different regional cuisines in the same building. It’s currently MCCB (Modern Chinese Cook Book), offering contemporary takes on traditional Chinese cooking.
Whatever your holiday traditions, I hope they keep changing and growing for you, while remaining comfortably constant. See you next year.
Happy holidays, Terry. It’s fun to imagine you and your extended family celebrating over Chinese food every year. I can see and hear the joy.
I hope 2019 is off to a great start for you.
Christina, it was a particularly boisterous celebration this year. Happy new year to you!