Party Recipe: Earthquake Commemoration

Party Recipe: Earthquake Commemoration

The first year we lived in San Francisco was also the 1906 earthquake centennial. The whole city planned commemorations, documentary specials and other events. And Rob and I had our first earthquake blackout party. Macabre? A little. But also a nice way to celebrate our fair city’s resilience.

This year, the earthquake anniversary is on Saturday and we’re having another party with friends. Here’s the recipe:

Appetizer: Mixed “sundries” including nuts and dried fruit.

Dinner: A big pot of cioppino will be the star of the show (light on the clams and mussels, heavy on the crab). The hearty stew originated with San Francisco’s Portuguese fishermen. Sourdough bread and a green salad on the side.

Dessert: Irish coffee, another San Francisco classic. Layered trifle with strawberries will be very “geology.”

Decoration: A plain table set with a white tablecloth, silver flatware and lots of candles. No electricity allowed.

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There are 11 comments for this article
  1. Sara at 2:50 pm

    when i was a little kid going to the museum in San Fran to the earthquake exhibit was a popular pastime in my family(maybe Cal Academy of Sciences? I can’t remember which one). They had a interactive video where you stand on a shake platform and watch footage from the quake

  2. Anna at 3:02 pm

    What a fun party idea! My great-grandmother was a 21-year-old Finnish immigrant in San Francisco in 1906, working at her aunt and uncle’s candy shop and she (obviously) survived the earthquake. But she decided California wasn’t for her so she left. San Francisco must have been in her blood though because both my great aunts ended up moving to the area and spent their lives there. I like to have hurricane parties (I’m in Dallas) so I see nothing strange about “celebrating” natural disasters – any excuse for a themed party is good for me.

  3. Nancyd at 3:23 pm

    We will be commemorating the Earthquake by staying near the Presidio at the Monte Cristo Inn – a building that survived the quake & was used as a refuge. We plan to stay with activities & food that that are as theme orientaed as possible.

  4. Lynne at 7:22 pm

    I think it sounds fab. A no-electricity party – brilliant! Although I wouldn’t be too good at cooking without it!

  5. Haley v. at 9:35 pm

    I’ve been craving some good cioppino…crab is so darn expensive here! I think I might just have to splurge.

  6. syleegurl at 9:30 pm

    I’m sad to be missing it. But, i’m bringing back some goodies for you from Hawaii! (PS – they just had a 6 point something earthquake here a few months ago!)