The Shop Tart occasionally has dreams that exceed her time and ability. Last night, she invited her family over for a Bon Voyage Birthday dinner for her mother, who is leaving for Alaska this morning and celebrates her actual birthday on Thursday. Her father was invited, too, and he’s going on the trip, but it wasn’t his birthday, so he was just a guest. Ten people - all family, she reasoned, how hard can it be? Well, it isn’t hard at all if you know where to shop.

The Shop Tart had lunch at DiPrato’s yesterday - yes, she was busy, but a lady has to eat, yo - and knew the deli was the perfect dinner solution. She planned to make a dinner of appetizers like their fried cauliflower, deviled crab, pimento cheese, roasted asparagus and broccolini, but she spotted something new - tomato pies. Do tomato pies exist out of the south? If so, do they go by names like “quiche” or “frittata”? Around these parts, the tomato pie is an iconic dish, filled with loads of cheese and tomatoes, usually topped with a combination of mayonnaise and more cheese, often accented with fresh basil. She bought one and resolved to make a few other dishes to go with it. She also bought roasted asparagus and pimento cheese. She decided she didn’t need the delicious pita chips. Silly girl.

At home, she chose a salad to go with the pie and asparagus. She realized two things:

1. Pimento cheese is a lame appetizer for tomato pie, which is topped with pimento cheese.

2. She had no intention of making anything more than a salad and needed to reserve another tomato pie. And maybe some more roasted vegetables.

Problem solving ensued.

1. She made a phone call to her sister and begged her to bring baba ganouj from the newly-opened Al Amir on South Main.

2. She called DiPrato’s and asked them to reserve another tomato pie and a pound of roasted broccolini.

She knew the pimento cheese would go to good use, even if she didn’t serve it that evening.

The countdown was on and the Shop Tart started verifying details. Mr. Shop Tart was assigned to pick up a case of wine at Cloud Nine. No, they weren’t planning to drink the whole thing, but a case discount is always nice, n’est-ce pas? The Barefoot Bubbly is only $10 a bottle there, $9 with a case discount. Mr. Shop Tart wanted nine bottles of the bubbly and three of something else. He wasn’t sure what else and asked Russell (the new creator of brilliant lunch specials at Cloud Nine who also happens to work at Baan Sawan),

“If Sam* isn’t drinking beer or bubbly, what would he drink?”

Does anyone sense a bracelet here? WWSD? Russell recommended three wines and the Shop Tart can’t wait to try them. She stuck to bubbly last night, because it seemed more bon voyage-y. Mr. Shop Tart was also assigned to pick up a dozen cupcakes from Cupcake. His wife fielded an illegal cell phone call at the pediatrician’s office during her child’s check-up to find out what flavors were available for the day. She didn’t trust her husband to choose on his own. She is a control freak. Surprised?

After the pediatrician, she made a quick trip to Rosewood Market for salad ingredients - greens, corn, quinoa and pine nuts. Recipe to come. She went by DiPrato’s to pick up the second pie and broccolini. As she turned into the parking lot, she realized no meal from DiPrato’s would be complete without the house-made pita chips. Also, her son was begging for them from the back seat and he is such a good boy, she hates to say no. She called from the parking lot to add the chips to her order. Enfin, the shopping was done.

At home, she plopped the toddler in front of a movie, shooed the oldest child out the door to soccer practice and hoped the middle child would entertain the toddler. She made a salad. She made a vinaigrette. Ha, ha. you know she didn’t make no vinaigrette; she used oil, vinegar, water and a seasoning packet from Rosewood Market. She loves salad at parties because it gives her a chance to use her cool salad server from Portfolio. These make wonderful hostess gifts; they work like chopsticks for kids. You know, the ones attached at the top with a rubber band? They fold flat for storage. Très chic!

The baba ganouj arrived and was served in a favorite dish - also from Portfolio - with the famous pita chips. The pita bread that came with the baba was reserved for DiPrato’s pimento cheese sandwiches for the children’s lunches the next day. the little bowl behind the dish is filled with hummus from Trader Joe’s. Shop Tart Tip: Add olive oil to packaged hummus to make it seem fresh.

Corks were popped, a table was set and a toddler was put in front of another movie. When the soccer player arrived from practice, dinner was served. The cool salad was a lovely complement to the hot roasted vegetables and tomato pie. Before dinner, the Shop Tart and her mother enjoyed an appetizer of the little bits of pie crust and cheese that fell out of the pie as it was baking. They tasted like really delicious cheese biscuits. The tomato pie, dear reader, is not a pretty dish, but the taste is divine!

And it was huge. She almost didn’t need the second one. At $9.95, this pie is a great deal. Need to take a meal to a friend who had a new baby? Too busy or lazy to cook? Be a first responder with this pie, a salad and some muffins for breakfast. After dinner, the toddler went nuts when it was time for “PUPCAKE! PUPCAKE! PUPCAKE!” No, they were not eating treats from Pupcakes**. Toddlers get confused. They enjoyed an assortment from Cupcake - mandarin orange chocolate, mocha chip, white chocolate raspberry, red velvet, chocolate, vanilla, watermelon - pretty much everything they had that day.

Mr. Shop Tart wore a Southern Tide polo from Britton’s and narrowly avoided stepping on the over-enthusiastic toddler underneath the cupcakes.

Bon Voyage, Mimi and Top! Hope your actual birthday is super-special, Mimi!

Happy Shopping and don’t forget to tell them you read it on the Shop Tart!

* Co-owner of Baan Sawan and the Shop Tart’s oeno-therapist.

** Sorry, Eloise!

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