The Romero's House for a Dinner Reunion

Last weekend the Romero family invited some old friends over to their home for an outdoor gathering with plenty of food.  Robert Jr. organized the evening for us while Elaine and Robert Sr. supplied the food and beverages.  We were joined on the back patio by Hannah and Jesse Romero, Bret Blackmon, Sandra Hebert, Kevin Hebert,  Kevin's buddy Shawn from Chicago, and my brother Eric.  The Romero's back yard patio area is a great place to hang out and enjoy the Baton Rouge Fall weather.  They have an outdoor kitchen area, a bar, TVs, and a great covered porch area with ceiling fans to make the hang out space truly great.  I made it over there in time to catch the end of the Saints and Dolphins game, so I naturally started off with a black and gold Bud Light.

Black and Gold Bud Light

The evening's food started with a homemade mango salsa that mixed fantastic fruit flavors to create the perfect combination of sweetness and texture to scoop up on a salty chip.  The mango salsa served as a great appetizer to snack on while we watched the end yet another Saints victory!

Mango Salsa

Robert Jr. cooked a smorgasbord of meats on the backyard smoker.  He started with some pork loins and tuna steaks, then went on to do several varieties of ribs including a baby backs and whole racks of pork spare ribs.  Everything tasted really good but my favorite were the sauced up spare ribs.  They were large, tender to the bone, meaty ribs that made me remember why ribs are one of my favorite foods ever!

Smoked Pork Loins and Tuna Steaks

Smoked and Sauced Baby Back Ribs, Pork Spare Ribs, and Beef Ribs

There were also a couple of desserts available to the diners.  Hannah convinced me to try a chocolate cupcake with a peppermint topping.  It was a great cupcake that doubled as both a sweet treat and a breath mint!

Chocolate Cupcake with Peppermint Topping

The evening at the Romero's house reminded me of all the good friends I have and the true blessings that they are in my life.  We caught up with the crew in one place at the same time for the first time in several years.  The night also served as a bit of a sendoff for Robert as he readies himself for his journey to New Zealand!  I enjoy reunions among friends from out of town or that I don't get to see too often, so I'm really happy that we got a chance to catch up.  I only wish we could do it more often.