When you’re feeling under the weather, having a friend make you a nice bowl of soup can be a godsend. But when you’re three months into recovering from life-threatening brain surgery that removed an apple-sized tumor from your head, you may need a very special soup from a very special friend. For comedian Jim Gaffigan’s family, that special friend just happens to be celebrity chef Mario Batali.
Earlier this year, Gaffigan’s wife and long-time writing partner/co-producer, Jeannie, revealed that she had been diagnosed with a brain tumor. Three months of recovery and one feeding tube later, Jeannie has regained the ability to swallow food. So Jim, being the food-loving and caring husband that he is, went on the hunt for the perfect meal the two of them could share. On Wednesday night, Gaffigan posted the menu from the custom-designed 14th-anniversary meal he and his wife shared at friend Mario Batali’s restaurant Del Posto that pretty much puts all other “Get Well Soon” meals to shame.
“I was trying to find a nice place for us to celebrate but given Jeannie can not comfortably eat solids I was hoping to find a place that did amazing soups,” wrote Gaffigan. “Mario responded insisting that we come to @delposto and that he would make sure we were well taken care of.” The resulting meal consisted of a custom tasting menu of gourmet soups paired with various wines and cocktails—the perfect restorative meal. Gaffigan noted that, while the meal was of course delicious, “the generosity of kindness and compassion by Mario was most moving.” The couple are no doubt looking forward to many more meals together, perhaps even with solids next time.