Dinners for 12 Strangers!

I've written about being ridiculously proud of being a Bruin sporadically in the past. One of the best activities I have participated in has been Dinners for 12 Strangers. I haven't missed a dinner since 2007, have attended a Dinner in London and have had the opportunity to host my own the last two years with Anthony.


A Dinner for 12 Strangers is essentially a smattering of 12 individuals: students, alumni, faculty, grad students, etc. Someone signs up to host (i.e. me) and then invitations are sent out to students and others who would like to participate/eat home-cooked food. We had such a wonderfully energetic and fun group of students last night and Anthony and I planned and executed a rather delicious menu:

• Bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with blue cheese
• Caprese salad 
• Quinoa Salad with roasted Brussels and sweet potatoes with a honey-lemon dressing
• Cheese plate with brie, pecorino, prosciutto, salami and grapes
• Various flatbreads with mozzarella and herbed goat cheese, andouille sausage, caramelized onions and thyme mushrooms with pesto and a vodka cream sauce
• Lemon Bars
• Chocolate and Vanilla Macarons 

This event allows students to interact with alumni, young and old, and become a part of the broader UCLA network. In addition, it allows psychotically enthusiastic alumni like myself to keep in touch with my youth. (Dude, I felt so old.) And I had guinea pigs for my new recipes (i.e. the quinoa salad.)

I had an amazing time and I hope the attendees did as well :)

GO BRUINS
P.S. How great is my sorority squat in that first photo? Be jealous.

Dinners for 12 Strangers

OMG last night was amazinggggg. So every year, UCLA facilitates mini-networking events for students, alumni and professors. While I was at UCLA and even when I was in  London, I attended these dinners, called Dinners for 12 Strangers. Last night, however, was my very first time hosting and I had a great time.

The Menu:
Paige made Brie, Honey, Pecan, Pear-Filled Puff Pastry.
I made arugula, prosciutto, goat cheese pizza, a veg pizza and a fennel sausage and sundried tomato pizza.
Anthony made a delish chocolate espresso cake for dessert.

We watched the Oscars, laughed a lot, I cried over a commercial, we gasped when Jennifer Lawrence fell and I was extremely nostalgic about UCLA and college and the fact that I'm turning 25 in three weeks. Cray Cray times.

I can't wait to host again next year :-)