203 replies to this topic

[nenadaves]

Indeed was a nice evening. Glad both of you enjoyed the Orange salad.

BTW... this is my first time reading about the "Dinner Party or Parties, rather," topic, and wow!! There is challenge.. Perhaps I should team up with Barbara and do more dinner parties! ! or some "Tasting Parties"!
Nena

[zoramargolis]

It has been a long time since I had the stamina to put in the hours in the kitchen for a dinner party. (A year ago I couldn't stand up for more than 15 minutes at a time.) So being able to do a blow-out meal was a testament to the hours of rehab I have put in and a vast improvement in my circumstances.

Dinner for eight:
verduras en escabeche (spicy pickled carrots, celery, cauliflower, young onions, garlic scapes, jalapeños, baby squash, Asian radish, baby golden beets)
guacamole and chips
tres salsas: serrano and roasted tomato; roasted tomatillo and poblano; tomato and red chile adobo
Herencia tequila blanco
Monte Alban mezcal

sopes de lengua (twice-cooked Eco-friendly veal tongue; refried beans; jicama slaw; radishes) in homemade masa boats

herb-brined, cherrywood smoked free range turkey
scratch-made molé negro de Oaxaca
refried beans
saffron rice
semi-homemade tortillas (made with home-ground commercial dried nixtamal)

meyer lemon cheesecake with mulberry marble, whipped cream and mulberry coulis

Carta Blanca
Pacifico
Negra Modelo
Hell or High Watermelon

Selection of fruit brandies and armagnac

[qwertyy]

It has been a long time since I had the stamina to put in the hours in the kitchen for a dinner party. (A year ago I couldn't stand up for more than 15 minutes at a time.) So being able to do a blow-out meal was a testament to the hours of rehab I have put in and a vast improvement in my circumstances.

I wouldn't even know where to start putting on a dinner party like this, and I haven't anything near your excuse. Congrats on the rehab and many happy meals to come!

[bettyjoan]

Did a little something different for last night's dinner party - we called it an "Improvisational Dinner Party." Ground rules: each guest had to provide 3 secret ingredients (one protein, one produce, and one wild card). As the hosts, we provided basic spices/vinegars/oils. Then, after some cocktails and munchies, we all got together in the kitchen and started spitting out ideas. Everyone chipped in - prepping, cooking, cleaning, etc. - and we had nice little breaks between courses to let more ideas flow. Most folks brought pretty tame ingredients, but we wound up with: sausage stuffed mushrooms, sesame seared ahi tuna, bok choi sauteed with pancetta and red pepper flakes, shrimp stir-fry with broccoli and mushrooms, and caramelized bananas with crunchy granola topping and fresh raspberries.

It was great for me as the hostess, because I didn't have to spend hours planning and shopping and prepping - I just bought some beer and wine and was able to actually have fun with my guests. And I figure, everyone hangs out in the kitchen during parties anyway, so why not put them to work? I love the fact that I could repeat the concept next week with totally different people and have a totally different experience.