Foodies Unite!

[woodnymph]

OH MY GOD IT TURNED OUT HEAVENLY!!! I made a reeeeeal basic batch with just the squash, bouillon, potatoes, carrots, and a dash of nutmeg and it's already perfection.... I'm gonna make another batch for a birthday party tomorrow, and maybe I'll add the fresh garlic then and see how that goes but I got the mom's approval, and I am prooouudddd of the result!! nom

[the_wizzard]

For the last 2 days I have been in absolute coffee heaven!  I gave the hubs a coffee syphon for Christmas...best idea EVER!

[ALady]

If Ruckus doesn't post in here soon about his family's delectable Christmas dinner, then I will, 'cause that meal sounded absolutely mindblowingly delicious!   :D

[wolof7]

Sorry for the length but my fiancee and I just finalized our wedding menu for next Oct. and figured this would be a good place to post to get some objective feedback. Nothing is set in stone and the caterers are awesome and willing to do whatever we want and work with us on the price! They basically said what do you guys eat? I am Portuguese, my fiancee is Armenian so we wanted to represent each side and we live in RI so there are a few selections custom to the Ocean State! Thoughts, suggestions please...we have already tasted tested last weekend and it was frigging delicious! Oh yeah and they forgot to mention a butternut squash dish with a smoked apple glaze drizzled on top during the main course


Stationary Appetizers
Middle Eastern Tapas
Fresh Tahini Hummus and Tabouli presented with Fire Roasted Peppers,  Bermuda onions, thinly sliced cucumbers, Calamata Olives, Plum Tomatoes, Homemade Pita Crisps and Garden Fresh Mint

European Cheese & Fruit Display
Fresh Baked Brie wrapped in puff paste with raspberry preserves and brown sugar. Accompanied by a selection of hard and soft cheese's to include:
Creamy Gorgonzola, Smoked Gouda, Horseradish Cheddar, Maytag Bleu, Herbed Goat Cheese a selection of sun-dried fruits, toasted spiced pecans and candied walnuts. Presented with fresh sliced seasonal fruits, berries, stone ground crackers, and artisan breads

Passed Appetizers

Pumpkin Bisque Shooter
Finished with fresh chopped chives

Kibbee Balls
With tahini dipping sauce

Miniature Cuban Sandwiches
With slow roasted pulled pork, Swiss cheese, garlic mustard and fried dill pickle chips
All grilled to perfection

Miniature Rhode Island Hot Weiners
Miniature Beef Franks with Rhode Island Meat Sauce hand rolled in a croissant style pastry

Hand Rolled Steak & Cheese Egg Rolls
Presented with Ancho barbeque sauce for dipping

Fresh Sea Scallops wrapped in Hickory Smoked Bacon

A Rhode Island Stuffie!
A fresh stuffed clam with imported Parmesan, chopped onions and garlic and a blend or seasoned bread crumbs

Fall Salad
Plated & Served Individually
Grilled Bosc Pears with Cabot cheddar on a bed of fresh field greens with sun dried cranberries and finished with a balsamic glaze

Dinner Service, Family Style

Grilled Lemon & Rosemary Statler Chicken Breast
First press olive oil, fresh garlic, lemon and rosemary infused chicken breast
Presented with traditional rice pilaf and fire grilled asparagus

Bife Com Um Ovo A Cavalo
"Portuguese Style Sirloin Steak with an egg on horse back"
An 8oz Sirloin Strip prepared in the Portuguese Style with garlic, red wine and a dash of hot pepper sauce reduction, topped with a sunny-side egg and a slice of black forest ham
Presented with pomme frits
(Thinly sliced Fried Potatoes)

Vegetarian Meal
Baby Spinach& Cornbread Stuffed Portabello  Mushroom
Fresh Baked Corn Bread mixed with fresh baby spinach, garlic and a hint of Parmesan

Childrens Meals

Hand Breaded Panko Encrusted Chicken Fingers
With Fresh Baked Macaroni & Cheese

Dessert & Coffee Bar
Chocolate Fondue
With an assortment of fresh berries, pumpkin and chocolate whoopie pies, and Italian Biscotti for dipping!
"Shots " Of Ice Cold Coffee Milk to be served with dessert bar
Regular, Decaf and Seasonal Flavored Coffees

[ALady]

That sounds really good, I love when couples incorporate local or ethnic foods into the wedding menu!

[wolof7]

That sounds really good, I love when couples incorporate local or ethnic foods into the wedding menu!

Thanks, would of really loved to of added another seafood plate but my fiancee and her family really are not into it and prob only half of my family and friends are so we decided to stick to the tasty chicken dish and the Portuguese steak dish. They said we could trade off a sirloin with another better cut without too much of a price increase. Do not know too much about what cut to chose but some say that a tenderloin may have less fat?

[bluesky]

heading to marin and san francisco tomorrow, have been before but was wondering if there are any faves that i should check out food wise while i'm there.... :P

[Ruckus]

heading to marin and san francisco tomorrow, have been before but was wondering if there are any faves that i should check out food wise while i'm there.... :P

If nothin' is posted here, ya better pm lucylew and bbill.  They are Bay area encyclopedias.

[ALady]

I had this awesome curried lentil soup over the weekend so I tried to replicate it myself. Turned out really surprisingly good.  Secret ingredient was a can of pumpkin left over from Thanksgiving - gave it a really nice velvety texture.

Also my house smells awesome right now  :D

[bluesky]

pumpkin + curry = yum

I had this awesome curried lentil soup over the weekend so I tried to replicate it myself. Turned out really surprisingly good.  Secret ingredient was a can of pumpkin left over from Thanksgiving - gave it a really nice velvety texture.

Also my house smells awesome right now  :D

[woodnymph]

pumpkin + curry = yum

I had this awesome curried lentil soup over the weekend so I tried to replicate it myself. Turned out really surprisingly good.  Secret ingredient was a can of pumpkin left over from Thanksgiving - gave it a really nice velvety texture.

Also my house smells awesome right now  :D

^^^^^^^ nommmmmmmm to all of the abooooveee! I love lentil soup, curried lentil soup, pumpkin curry anythinggg!  I just replicated a gluten-free noodle salad I get from the Co-op out here all the time... it's rice noodles in grapeseed oil, sauteed garlic and green onion, then mix them all together and top with chopped (or in my case ripped up) fresh mint leaves, raw sunflower seeds, and sprouted pea shoots... mmmmmmmm and a dash of my Herbamare seasalt/herb seasoning. Fresh peas make it a real delight too, when ya have 'em.

I usually have an aversion to mint, with the exception of some ethnic foods that use it, but this turned out just like it does from the co-op! Woop woop alright now I'm hungry  :-X

[ALady]

Oooooohmmm that noodle salad sounds delish!  All those textures and fresh flavors...what a treat for the tastebuds! :o

[bluesky]

Had the most fantastic dish with pumpkin last week when I was in San Francisco. I believe at a Cambodian restaurant, can't remember. It was coconut curry with vegetables and shrimp served in a half of baked pumpkin. Most amazing pumpkin thing I have ever eaten!

[Ruckus]

Yum!  Everything above sounds yum!  Y'all gotta take pictures or something. 

I just pulled out some beef that I'd been braising for the last 4 hours and it worked...very well.  Mmmmmm...I meant to make proper tacos out of this but it tastes so good by itself I think I'm going low carb at two in the morning.  I think I got enough sugar from the vodka.

nomnom :)

[weeniebeenie]

I didn't want to start a new thread about it but I was wondering what some of you thought of Jamie Oliver in this article:

http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/california-scraps-jamie-oliver-20110112-19nmk.html

I personally think that what he is trying to do is a good thing so I can't understand why they would knock him back. What do you think?


Just to keep more in theme with the thread:
I had gnocchi with roasted pumkin and garlic, ricotta and sage for dinner. Yea-uh!!! :)

[ALady]

Mmm, pumpkin...

weenie, I only caught a few episodes of the West Virginia show, but it was amazing the kind of push-back he got from everyone from administrators to the lunchroom cooks.  It does seem like his heart is in the right place, so I don't really understand it either.  There must have been more at work than the viewers were shown.

[Ruckus]

I didn't want to start a new thread about it but I was wondering what some of you thought of Jamie Oliver in this article:

http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/california-scraps-jamie-oliver-20110112-19nmk.html

I personally think that what he is trying to do is a good thing so I can't understand why they would knock him back. What do you think?


Just to keep more in theme with the thread:
I had gnocchi with roasted pumkin and garlic, ricotta and sage for dinner. Yea-uh!!! :)

I guess his intent and my perception are two different things.  I've never liked Jamie Oliver nor his cooking.  Obviously I'm in the minority because dude has been successful as all hell.  I watched the 1st episode and a half of the show in Huntington, WVA and I have to admit that I disliked it.  He clearly meant well but the show production was so unbalanced.  At times horribly patronizing to a unique community and at times overly soap opera emotional.  I just couldn't take it.  I can also understand why the LAPSD  would not be interested.  There is just too much to lose politically and image wise by whatever else would have been exposed about the school district I attended through elementary school.   :-X  Nonetheless, I wish him the best with his new endeavor.  More than anything, best to the residents of Queensland in their recovery.

[ALady]

Just curious, Ruckus - what don't you like about his cooking?  I like the focus on fresh ingredients prepared simply, though sometimes it looks like he throws things together in a pretty haphazard fashion.

I agree he came into the West Virginia project like a bulldozer, but I'm not sure I agree it was soap-opera material...food and health can be pretty emotional topics, and I thought it reflected that. 

[bowl of soup]

"Jamie the Patronizing Bulldozer" would have been a better name for that show.  Those simple West Virginia folk couldn't have possibly found answers to their problems from within.  I always doubt altruism decorated with reality television cameras and a celebrity attempting to build a bigger platform.  Maybe Mr. Oliver's a fantastic guy who endlessly gives time and energy to worthy causes around the globe, I don't know.  But couldn't he have consulted and offered solutions without the cameras rolling?

[Ruckus]

 ;D ;D ;D Jamie the Patronizing Bulldozer

Hey Lady.  I recognize Jamie as a pioneer in the food tv industry and somewhat ahead of his time in the emphasis of simple, local, fresh, organic.  BUT he was a mediocre to crap chef just like Emeril.  Hey more power to 'em but I enjoy chefs that are cutting edge or at least multifaceted I think.  Viewing food as art, he was merely the equivalent of a watered down, radio rock band.  I have no formal food training but I knew enough to not copy what he was doing. ;D ;)

Plus there is that other thing...most straight dudes can't stand him