Front Cover Summer 2019

Tummy Rub! It was a Dandie sight to behold!

JD’S BIRTHDAY PARTY

By Joan Rezzolla

Meanwhile, back in the kitchen, while I was sheepishly try-

I drove into the parking lot of my local Publix grocery store

ing to dispose of the oil… the fire crew chief was watching

early on the Sunday morning of Superbowl Sunday ready to

me. At first, he asked me routine questions about what hap-

pick up those last few items I needed in order to produce my

pened and then he asked me what I was cooking when the

casserole for our condo’s Super Bowl Party. As I pulled into

incident occurred. When I told him Steak Marchand de Vin,

the parking lot, I spotted one of Boca Raton’s giant fire trucks

his eyes absolutely lit up like stars! He asked me how I made

parked in a remote corner of the parking lot. I knew that the

it; he asked for the ingredients that I was using and how I put

firemen were inside getting the provisions for their duty. I

everything together. Wait a minute…this guy looks really

smiled as I passed it and I chuckled to myself as I remembered

familiar… Holy Cow, it’s Chief Andy, Mr. Firefighter, the

the involvement of my Dandies with our local fire station and

winner of numerous statewide and regional “Fireman Cook-

Bastille Day, 2014.

Offs!” Holy Buckets, or should I say, Holy Steak Marchant de

Vin!!!! While his men were trouping around my condo, mak-

It all began when I rescued JD in 2012. I have always cele-

ing sure that everything was okay, Chief Andy was extracting

brated the birthdays of my Dandies but JD was born on July

all the information that he could about Steak Marchant de

14, Bastille Day. The Numero Uno Food Holiday in the French

Vin. Why does he seem to be more interested in getting the

calendar! I adore eating French baguettes, French cheeses and

steak Marchand de Vin recipe from me then making sure that

just about any French food and wine, so JD’s birthday has

my house isn’t burning down? Could it be that he might be

been a really Big Deal in our house. But his birthday celebra-

planning to use it for his next “Fireman Cook-off?” If that’s

tion in July of 2014 took Dandie birthday celebrations to an

so, the Dandies and I want a commission!

entirely new level.

JD, Sally, Giacomo and Toby were ABSOLUTELY drunk on

I had invited my dear friend, Christie, and her Rat Terrier,

all the attention that they were getting from the firemen!

Giacomo, a doggie pal of Sally, JD and mother’s Havanese,

Countless tummy rubs were had and each and every fireman

Toby, to JD’s Birthday Party. The menu for the evening was

got a personal escort out the door when they left, including

Steak Marchand de Vin, the Wine Merchant’s Steak, with sal-

Chief Andy!

ad and steamed veggies plus wine for the humans and carrot

cupcakes for dessert. Christie and Giacomo arrived, we ate

Well, JD and I were in bed together the other night and JD

bruschetta and drank wine while the salads were plated, the

looked at me as if to say, “Mommy, you knows that I gonna

four-legged kids got treats and we sat down to eat our salads.

be “TWELVSIES” this year……. are da Firemen coming to help

Before we did so, I just happened to pour the olive oil in the

me celebrate my Birthday?” I know that JD would love to

pan to heat on low in order to warm the oil up for the Steaks

have the firemen come and celebrate his birthday…I just need

Marchand de Vin while we were eating our salads….and the

to find a way where I DO NOT accidently burn down my

rest is part of Dandie History in South Florida.

house in order to do it!

Just as Christy and I were finishing our salads and enjoying

our conversation and our wine, the main smoke detector in

my condo went off!!! Holy Smoke!!!! We raced into the kitch-

en, saw the oil in the sauté pan smoking up a storm and we

immediately threw windows open, turned on the ceiling

fan...anything to shut the darned thing off! No such luck. The

phone rang, “Hello, this is the Boca Raton Fire Department,

are you Okay?” I told the dispatcher that yes, we were fine. It

was all a big mistake, everything was A-Okay, just please

turn the darned thing off!!! The dispatcher said, “I am so hap-

py that everything is okay, but I still have to send a fire crew

out.” Oh boy, I looked out and there was a giant fire truck

from Station 4 pulling into the parking lot, lights flashing.

And before I knew it, six young firefighters in waders, boots

and with their helmets on were traipsing through my condo.

The Dandies and Giacomo were ecstatic! “You brought all

these people for me, Mommy?” JD seemed to say. My Dan-

die girl, Sally, who loves men, was ALL over those firemen

like a cheap suit! JD and Giacomo were laid out in front of

Sure you don’t need some help in the kitchen?

the smoke detector making sure that they DID NOT miss a

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