Dinner Party with Rochelle!
Sunday March 31st
My sister Juliette, me (Ellie), Rochelle, my mom Jodi and my dad Matt at our dinner!
I am so thrilled to post about our wonderful dinner with Rochelle. I met Rochelle through Cantor Jenna at Woodlands Community Temple. She has been living in Westchester for decades and has been a temple member for 57 years, since the year after its founding!
Rochelle has wonderful family of her own which she told us all about during dinner, but unfortunately they live far away. She was excited to meet some new friends and spend time with me and my family as part of my Gold Award Project to foster intergenerational connections.
We had the pleasure of spending several hours with Rochelle at her lovely apartment. It's right on the water and has a gorgeous view of the bridge! Rochelle has an amazing decorating style and a lovely art collection curated by her late husband—my whole family was so impressed.
As part of the “Meals with Memories” program, I am hoping to cook a favorite meal or recipe that brings back memories from the past. Rochelle requested the famous “Chicken Marbella” from the Silver Palate Cookbook. She used to do a lot of cooking when she was younger but unfortunately she no longer cooks. Chicken Marbella was one of her favorite recipes and she used to make it for dinner parties. I thought this was perfect –so we could create a dinner party for her – just like the ones from her past, except now with new friends to cherish!
Over our delicious dinner of Chicken Marbella, chocolate chip bundt cake (one of my mom’s favorite childhood cakes) and fruit salad, we learned all about Rochelle’s life and about her children and grandchildren. They are doctors, teachers, psychiatrists, and world travelers and she absolutely adores them all. Rochelle grew up in Brooklyn, NY, just like my grandparents and she was a proud NY City teacher and staff in Brooklyn and the Bronx for almost 27 years.
My whole family loved meeting Rochelle and sharing this special meal with her. It was truly an evening we will never forget. This was an incredible start to my Gold Award project, and gives me hope for many more amazing meals with other community members!
