"A man may be a pessimistic determinist before lunch and an optimistic believer in the will's freedom after it." - Aldous Huxley

The opportunity to enjoy free lunches with summer associates is one of the main perks of law firm life during the summer time.  Interestingly, these summer lunches often include appetizers and/or desserts - even when dining with attorneys who usually reserve lunch for a simple salad.  Last week, for example, I attended a summer lunch at Hoolihan's.  Despite the fact that we were all relatively full after our soup and half a sandwich meals, we decided to order not one but two mammoth desserts - caramel apple pie with vanilla ice cream and a chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce - between the three of us.

Needless to say we were in somewhat of a food coma for the reminder of the afternoon.

There is, however, one lunch that a partner in my firm organizes every summer which tops all others - the P.F. Chang's lunch.  Each year a group of 6 or so attorneys takes the summer class to P.F. Chang's for what is inevitably a 2 or 3 hour eating extravaganza.  The partner in charge orders a variety of appetizers, entrees, and desserts for the group - the only requirement is that you come with an appetite.  Among the multitude of plates sampled this year were lettuce wraps, the appetizer sampler, crispy honey shrimp, dan dan noodles, kung pao chicken, mongolian beef, the great wall of chocolate, and the banana spring rolls.

Although there were additional dishes on the table, the plates were passing too quickly for me to get a shot of everything.  That said, I think you get the gist - yum, yum and more yum.  P.F. Chang's may not be "high-end" but for a chain restaurant they do a pretty great job.  Can't wait until next summer.