Dinner Plans? (5 Viewers)

[T_Chan]

Nope, needed to use the crackers.

 

[links_slayer]

Chicken sausage, Brussels sprouts, pesto pasta.

 

[justsomedude]

I’m coming over.

 

[Mrs Poker Zombie]

I'm all too familiar with a kitchen that looks like that! But in this case, the labor would be worth it.

Yes, totally worth it. PZ and I have had a deal for years. He cooks. I clean the kitchen. For my birthday dinner a few years ago, the kitchen was even worse. I cleaned in three separate rounds to keep my back from hurting. This year, I did a few before bed (cleared out easy volume) and then the rest in the morning. That made it better.

 

[SWEATER]

 

[Max D]

Made a Cassoulet over the weekend

 

[Old State]

Mussels! Quite possibly the greatest flavor to dollar ratio in the culinary world. Most recipes are similar but I do it basically this way I use vermouth instead of white wine though for an even better broth. Good bread it a must.

 

[Ellasdaddy]

View attachment 160184 Mussels! Quite possibly the greatest flavor to dollar ratio in the culinary world. Most recipes are similar but I do it basically this way I use vermouth instead of white wine though for an even better broth. Good bread it a must.

Looking fantastic! I could eat my wife’s mussels in white wine and garlic broth every day... Thick, crusty Italian bread... yessir!

 

[Ellasdaddy]

Yesterday’s dinner, first time making a pernil (Puerto Rican style pork shoulder)... My first wife was Puerto Rican and her mom could cooooooook! That trait did not transfer genetically, however lol I did get her recipe years ago, which isn’t at all complex but does differ from what many online recipes detail.

Scored the skin and gave it a good poking (oh baby), inserted garlic cloves and oregano, marinated it (basically brined) overnight in a healthy dose of white vinegar and fresh squeezed orange juice, and hit it liberally with adobo and sazon. Slathered it in sofrito, covered it in foil and roasted it low and slow for 3 hours, then raised the heat a bit and left it another 2 hours. Final 20 mins at 500 degrees crisped the skin and fat perfectly. So pleased with it. Even made a damn fine side of Spanish rice and beans from scratch. Tasted like our favorite mom and pop Spanish takeout spots. Pretty authentic for a gringo’s first time!

I fed 5 adults and a child for 2 days with a 10lb roast. The other roast is in the freezer waiting for a rainy day

 

[Old State]

This is from a few weeks ago. We had a former White House chef come to our house and cook for some of my close friends I grew up with. He is from Lancaster PA and will travel ~2hrs. The food and stories were awesome! I highly recommend him. Here are some pics:

 

[Poker Zombie]

We had a dinner like that once, and while the food was great, I was disappointed.

The cooking was done primarily off site. I got to see the plating, but not the magic happening with the pots and pans that I have access too. It was more like an excellent restaurant in the comfort of my home.

Was yours actually cooked in house, or was it just plated and served (with some, albeit limited, prep)?

 

[Old State]

We had a dinner like that once, and while the food was great, I was disappointed.

The cooking was done primarily off site. I got to see the plating, but not the magic happening with the pots and pans that I have access too. It was more like an excellent restaurant in the comfort of my home.

Was yours actually cooked in house, or was it just plated and served (with some, albeit limited, prep)?

He prepared a few things but it was 80% in-house. We could have participated more but my boozehound friends made their way downstairs to the Old State Club for cocktails and stayed until he called us up. He had a server who brought us apps.

I had chef nights before but this was unique in that he left as the Head Chef at the WH and had a story for every course. For example, salad is served European style after the main meal at the WH. This was started by Jackie Kennedy. He had a whole story about the salad dressing and how he learned to make it in France from a very famous chef who just died. The desert was something put together on short notice (whole story on that) for Laura Bush and they received a standby ovation for it. He talked about being at the WH for 9/11, Hillary’s foul mouth, meeting Julia Child, cooking at Camp David, etc. of course with much more color and detail. The stories were very entertaining.

 

[Poker Zombie]

Part trip report, part dinner plans. Because nobody really wants a full trip report about Seattle, Mission, Victoria, and Ucluelet... do they

Dinner in Seattle started with a very interesting app...

That's salmon, on mashed potato, on a cracker. Unfortunately, a number of the people we were visiting in the area are Celiac (cannot eat gluten), so they missed out.

So the next day, Mrs Zombie and I went here...

It's kind of a Mecca for foodies. They call it "Pikes Place" but obviously, they never read their big sign out front.

I had no plans, other than to buy things I cannot find in Tennessee. I was cooking for @Mrs Poker Zombie 's "Aunt" Betty, and their family. She last visited with Betty 10 years ago, and the rest of the family ~35 years ago. Basically, I'm cooking for complete strangers. The only thing I know is that a number of them can't eat gluten, which is my wheelhouse :coffee:.

Oh, and it's a strange kitchen. And the people that own it... have probably never used it. Really, I had to use a skillet, and took it out of it's cellophane wrapper. The cooking utensils, pots and pans... well, not a chef's dream. More like a Cutthroat Kitchen episode. You try cooking for 7, when the largest skillet is just 9 inches... and you did your shopping before you knew this wrench was being thrown into the mix.

Plating...

The work area was so small, 7 saucers would not fit on the counter. The last one (and a half) was balanced on that little lip between the floor and the sink. I guess that counts as a well balanced diet?

My final version of the appetizer I had the night before

That is (from the bottom up) Crisped Prosciutto, Golden Potato quenelle, Crisped prosciutto (because bacon is better than crackers, thus a 2nd layer is in order), Peruvian Purple Potatoes, Halibut Cheek. Garnished with Arugula.

 

[Lil Tuna]

Part trip report, part dinner plans. Because nobody really wants a full trip report about Seattle, Mission, Victoria, and Ucluelet... do they

Dinner in Seattle started with a very interesting app...
View attachment 174511

That's salmon, on mashed potato, on a cracker. Unfortunately, a number of the people we were visiting in the area are Celiac (cannot eat gluten), so they missed out.

So the next day, Mrs Zombie and I went here...
View attachment 174514

It's kind of a Mecca for foodies. They call it "Pikes Place" but obviously, they never read their big sign out front.

I had no plans, other than to buy things I cannot find in Tennessee. I was cooking for @Mrs Poker Zombie 's "Aunt" Betty, and their family. She last visited with Betty 10 years ago, and the rest of the family ~35 years ago. Basically, I'm cooking for complete strangers. The only thing I know is that a number of them can't eat gluten, which is my wheelhouse :coffee:.

View attachment 174515

Oh, and it's a strange kitchen. And the people that own it... have probably never used it. Really, I had to use a skillet, and took it out of it's cellophane wrapper. The cooking utensils, pots and pans... well, not a chef's dream. More like a Cutthroat Kitchen episode. You try cooking for 7, when the largest skillet is just 9 inches... and you did your shopping before you knew this wrench was being thrown into the mix.

Plating...
View attachment 174518

The work area was so small, 7 saucers would not fit on the counter. The last one (and a half) was balanced on that little lip between the floor and the sink. I guess that counts as a well balanced diet?

My final version of the appetizer I had the night before
View attachment 174523

That is (from the bottom up) Crisped Prosciutto, Golden Potato quenelle, Crisped prosciutto (because bacon is better than crackers, thus a 2nd layer is in order), Peruvian Purple Potatoes, Halibut Cheek. Garnished with Arugula.

That looks delicious @Poker Zombie!

 

[slisk250]

Part trip report, part dinner plans. Because nobody really wants a full trip report about Seattle, Mission, Victoria, and Ucluelet... do they

Dinner in Seattle started with a very interesting app...
View attachment 174511

That's salmon, on mashed potato, on a cracker. Unfortunately, a number of the people we were visiting in the area are Celiac (cannot eat gluten), so they missed out.

So the next day, Mrs Zombie and I went here...
View attachment 174514

It's kind of a Mecca for foodies. They call it "Pikes Place" but obviously, they never read their big sign out front.

I had no plans, other than to buy things I cannot find in Tennessee. I was cooking for @Mrs Poker Zombie 's "Aunt" Betty, and their family. She last visited with Betty 10 years ago, and the rest of the family ~35 years ago. Basically, I'm cooking for complete strangers. The only thing I know is that a number of them can't eat gluten, which is my wheelhouse :coffee:.

View attachment 174515

Oh, and it's a strange kitchen. And the people that own it... have probably never used it. Really, I had to use a skillet, and took it out of it's cellophane wrapper. The cooking utensils, pots and pans... well, not a chef's dream. More like a Cutthroat Kitchen episode. You try cooking for 7, when the largest skillet is just 9 inches... and you did your shopping before you knew this wrench was being thrown into the mix.

Plating...
View attachment 174518

The work area was so small, 7 saucers would not fit on the counter. The last one (and a half) was balanced on that little lip between the floor and the sink. I guess that counts as a well balanced diet?

My final version of the appetizer I had the night before
View attachment 174523

That is (from the bottom up) Crisped Prosciutto, Golden Potato quenelle, Crisped prosciutto (because bacon is better than crackers, thus a 2nd layer is in order), Peruvian Purple Potatoes, Halibut Cheek. Garnished with Arugula.

How much for cheeks at Pikes? Also, you cannot miss getting a bunch of their huge razor clams. Holy crap!

 

[Poker Zombie]

How much for cheeks at Pikes? Also, you cannot miss getting a bunch of their huge razor clams. Holy crap!

I would have to check the receipt for the price. Since they were one of the items that simply not available in Nashville, I didn't have any clue if the price was good or not. Also did a squid ink risotto with the biggest damn scallops I've ever seen, prawns, and another fish (don't remember what currently). All but the risotto is not available in Nashville.

 

[slisk250]

I would have to check the receipt for the price. Since they were one of the items that simply not available in Nashville, I didn't have any clue if the price was good or not. Also did a squid ink risotto with the biggest damn scallops I've ever seen, prawns, and another fish (don't remember what currently). All but the risotto is not available in Nashville.

It would not surprise me if big halibut cheeks were more than 30 bucks a pounds.

 

[k9dr]

Memorial Day BBQ - ribs, pulled pork, & corn the cob with banana pudding for dessert

 

[FlushBlack]

Brazilian Picanha on the Komodo Kamado with a chimichurri sauce....finely chopped not blended.

 

[links_slayer]

Garlic chicken stir fry

 

[jja412]

Sous Vide Tri-tip, finished on the Weber Kettle, Baked Potato, Corn on the Cob. Not pictured: Orange Dreamsicle Cupcakes.

Rubbed and bagged tri-tip

• jja412
• Jun 10, 2018

In the water

• jja412
• Jun 10, 2018

Sous vide tri-tip

• jja412
• Jun 10, 2018

Tri-tip dinner

• jja412
• Jun 10, 2018

 

[jja412]

Brazilian Picanha on the Komodo Kamado with a chimichurri sauce....finely chopped not blended.
View attachment 177260 View attachment 177261 View attachment 177262

Been keeping an eye out for picanha, no one ever offers it in Missouri. Going to have a talk with my butcher and see what all the fuss is about.

 

[FlushBlack]

Been keeping an eye out for picanha, no one ever offers it in Missouri. Going to have a talk with my butcher and see what all the fuss is about.

Its called rump cap here in Aus.....you only get 2 pieces off each beast, a left and a right side.

Also a fan of the Meat Church rubs....good stuff (y) :thumbsup:

 

[mattduck]

 

[links_slayer]

 

[SWEATER]

Wife got me a smoker for my birthday... I’ll call the inaugural meal a success!

 

[k9dr]

BBQ chicken & corn on the cob

 

[FlushBlack]

Found some nice meaty ribs with a new butcher.

With a pineapple chipotle glaze slapped on for the last half hour (y) :thumbsup:

 

[SWEATER]

+1 on the ribs, @FlushBlack
Here’s a teaser of tomorrow’s meal:

 

[pltrgyst]

Mise en place. Braised lamb pseudo-shanks coming up...