Empanadas Fagiole

"Sometimes you just need a home-cooked meal," says Raul.

"Amen," says Drew who is just back from an exhausting rehearsal.

"And it practically cooks itself," explains Raul. "Just leave it on low for three and a half hours or until you finally get home." Drew confesses to a beer and a shot of Red Stag but his praise of Raul's astounding concoction smooths over any hunger pang-induced annoyance at the dinner delay.

Raul has made a fagiole sauce - a can of tomato paste, a can of Romano beans, a can of kidney beans, chopped onions, celery and red peppers, a handful of Greek oregano, and two slices of pre-fried pork belly ("basically everything in the fridge," he says disingenuously) - that he ladles over the leftover empanadas that are heated on the bbq because it is still too hot to turn on the oven. A layer of mozzarella cheese cushions the empanadas and it melts under the influence of the bubbling fagiole sauce.

Fresh chives from the balcony garden are sprinkled on a side of sour cream to add a spark of pizzaz to the proceedings. "It's just tacos," shrugs Raul.

"But amazing ones," raves Drew. "Sometimes a home-cooked meal is just the perfect thing after a long, sweaty rehearsal." 

"Or a long, sweaty afternoon in the kitchen," notes Raul.

Couscous with BBQ'ed Chicken

An early breakfast to prep for a busy day is a mini-cheese omelette, prosciutto and avocado on a bagel - Raul's gussied-up gourmet variation on Park Snack's notorious Bundalicious Bundle of Joy breakfast sandwich or, his own invention and Justin's favourite, Heart Attack on a Plate. Full stomachs naturally lead to a discussion of dinner. "What do you feel like eating before rehearsal?" queries Raul. "You'll need your energy to rock. And you'll need a full stomach to keep up with Patricia. There may very well be shots."

"She did get a fresh bottle of Red Stag," agrees Drew. There is salmon in the freezer, it would be great bbqed."

"No fish on the bbq," interjects Raul. "We don't have a hose so I'd never be able to get it completely cleaned. It will smell."

"Then we could have burgers. Very summery."

"We just had burgers and I'm not totally happy with those ones we bought."

"We can disguise them with multiple toppings."

"Your topping combinations are the best but I was thinking chicken."

"I like chicken. Especially bbq'ed."

"With pasta or rice?"

"Rice sounds delicious."

"I'll make couscous then."

Raul makes the dressing first. In a mason jar he mixes a squirt of chili sauce, a bit of green Thai curry, a tablespoon of honey, two tablespoons of olive oil, juice of a lemon and a quarter cup of orange juice, and then shakes vigorously. He adds a cup of couscous to a cup of boiling water, slaps on a lid and turns the burner off. When the water is absorbed, it is ready. In a large salad bowl he mixes chopped celery, onion, olives, mango and red pepper, and the half can of garbanzo beans left from yesterday's salad. The couscous is fluffed with a fork and added to the vegetables and legumes. He stirs, adds the dressing, stirs again and lets it sit so the medley of flavours can blend. Just before serving he mixes in a handful of chopped basil, mint, chives, coriander and parsley from the balcony garden.

Because the couscous is so packed with taste, the chicken breast is simply sprinkled with salt and pepper before going on the grill.

While Raul is plating, the dog vomits; not out of criticism of the kitchen aromas, but out of excitement and for having basked in the sun amongst the herbs until he was overheated. Drew quickly removes the minute offending puddle but the damage is done.

"I think the couscous tastes of summer," says Raul. "It would be a light vegetarian meal all on its own."

"It would," agrees Drew as he digs in, even the olives he was skeptical about have blended in deliciously. "I think I'm going to add some cashews."

"I meant to do that," laments Raul. "It was the sick dog that threw me off."

"He's not sick, he's just a dog," shrugs Drew. "They puke. Look he's already begging for bits of chicken. It's a miraculous recovery."