Baklava update/retraction

I'm updating my previous post on one person's bold move to take a giant step towards danger's outstretched arms. The project in question was a baklava for a very well attended and scrutinized Christmas party. I had expressed my grave concern for the chef's reputation if, as was likely, the procedure was a failure.

This was a classic case of threading the needle. After an auspicious start, the chef's attention was, as is usually the case, (and the reason I cast doubt on the project) drawn away from the task at hand by one or two needy colleagues. This brief lapse in attention resulted in a near disaster. The water/sugar/honey mixture that is quite literally the glue that holds everything together, resembled something you'd apply to a leaky roof. I'm sure it tasted better than tar, but the consistency was similar.

I tried to be supportive. I feigned conifdance in giving it another shot. But inside, my opinion of the likely outcome was as stuck as that goo which was still cooling in it's pan, trying to pass itself off as delightfully buoyant, but in fact would be, if ingested, the cause of much discomfort for quite a while.

As I said, I was outwardly supportive. And this lead to a vow of vigilance on the chef's part, who, while not monogomous in her attentions, did her best.

And that was good enough.

Take two was the success that a fully realized recovery should be. We should all learn from our mistakes, and not be deterred by them. This will be the unintended gift of Christmas that I receive this year. And this statement is what I'm giving back.

Note that it's not after the weather, or sports, or some backside of the second half of the show. Here, we issue our retractions/apologies as the headline.

That was some screamin' good Baklava!

Well done.