I guess it's about time to stake a dish claim. I'll make chicken tikka kabobs. Do we have enough grills? I can bring a Weber kettle, especially if I can get d4v3 to haul it.

HI,

Weber Grills are being offer by Germuska, Gary, Mike G and d4v3. I may be bringing my WSM as well as Gary. I have the sense we have quite a bit of grilling power without requiring Bruce to bring his smoker from South Bend.

Please comment if you think I am underestimating our grill requirements.

Regards,

kafein wrote:Steve, I offered to bring one of these as well. Maybe we should mix lemonade in one?

Sure, if you want. Mine will contain ice water, since that is my drink of choice.

Cathy2 wrote:HI,

Weber Grills are being offer by Germuska, Gary, Mike G and d4v3. I may be bringing my WSM as well as Gary. I have the sense we have quite a bit of grilling power without requiring Bruce to bring his smoker from South Bend.

Please comment if you think I am underestimating our grill requirements.

Regards,

Sounds like I don't have to be concerned about bringing smoker. Most of the cooking seems to be sausage which can be easily stacked. I'm also on call and won't be able to leave the area. I was going to try and switch at the last minute, but since the pit isn't needed I'm going to stick around home. I cana use the extra money.

Hope everyone has a great time. I know the food and company will be outstanding as it is at every LTH event.

If there's room for one more, I eagerly look forward to meeting those whose taste buds I live vicariously through!

At this point I believe I'll bring mein kam, but I'm not 100% sure. Maybe I'll bring a delectable gluten-free baked good. I'll report back if that's okay.

Veloute who's thrilled to be meeting everyone

I have an idea for a meat dish I may bring, in addition to a stuffed mushroom.

OK, so I'll be bringing Hummos (made at my home by me) and an apple pie. As long as no one dips his/her pita into the stuff directly, it should be gluten free (chickpeas, garlic, olive oil, lemon, sesame tahini). The tahini ingredients say "ground sesame seeds" - made in a facility that may handle peanuts and tree nuts.

The pie, not so much with the gluten free.

Mhays is helping maintain order by updating the spreadsheet, these are the people attending and what they intend to bring. Please review before submitting your ideas.

For the undecided: MHays did point out we are a bit a light on the paper and plastic supplies. Definitely need some garbage bags and baby wipes.

Drove past the picnic grove today to find the parking lot in good shape. The shelter was filled with new picnic tables made of wook and metal. Much more sturdy than last years wobbly group. There was a port a potty near the picnic area. A bricks and mortar toilet was open for use.

Course - Screen name - Dish - # of people
Appetizer borborigmy prosciutto and figs 2.5
Appetizer eggplant interesting appetizer 2
Appetizer jygach as yet unnamed appetizer 1
Appetizer Mhays Lengua a la vinagreta 3
Appetizer Ramon Isaan sausage and crudites 3
Appetizer Saint Pizza Salsa, crema and chips 5
Appetizer Villamickey Dragon Turds 4
Appetizer velute mein kam 1
Appetizer SGFoxe Chui Quon Bao 1
Appetizer Leek homemade hummous 2
Beverages jpschust 2-3 cocktails 2
Beverages Kennyz Home-infused vodka and mixers 2
Beverages Saint Pizza Grapefruit soda
Beverages Pucca Bottled Water 2
Beverages Stevez cooler of water
Beverages Kasia Austrian Almdudler soda 3.5
Bread Hellodali Argo bakery bread
Condiment Cathy2 Sorghum
Condiment JoelF Roasted tomatillo salsa 1
Dessert JoelF Pecan Pie
Dessert Amata namoorah 2
Dessert David Hammond world's greatest cookie II 2
Dessert eatchicago ice cream sandwiches 2
Dessert Fleurdesel tbd 2
Dessert gleam Ice cream and old fashioned chocolate chip cookies 2
Dessert GypsyBoy chocolate dessert
Dessert happy_stomach brownies 2
Dessert
Dessert justjoan Brownies 1
Dessert RomanticCynic zuppa inglese 2
Dessert sdritz pecan tarts 4
Dessert Stevez Baylor watermelons 2
Dessert Suzy Creamcheese Brownies, cookies or ? 2
Dessert Leek apple
Dessert Cookie Monster "brownies, lemon bars, cream cheese brownies,
raspberry squares & Congo Bars"
Entertainment Josephine Parachute
Main Cathy2 SonofaBitch Stew 4
Main d4v3 hot dogs and polish garlic dogs from Romanian Kosher 1
Main mhl Will Specials 2
Main Ronnie_Suburban Charcuterie 3
Main sdritz Italian sausages
Main Josephine undetermined 1
Main Trixie Pea Tamale-Corn dog casserole surprise 1
Main nr706 meat dish
Main germuska Chicken Tikka Kabobs 1
Salad dicksond Roasted potato, mint and garlic salas 2
Salad Foodie1 Chopped salad with balsamic chicken 2
Salad Foodie1 Strawberry chicken chopped salad with cinnamon vinaigrette
Salad Giovanna Potato? Beet and Feta? Salad 2
Salad Saint Pizza Taffy Apple Salad
Salad Kafein Pasta salad with feta and pine nuts/sweet and sour cole slaw 3.5
Salad Cookie Monster 7-layer Salad/Mozzarella and tomato 4
Side dish GypsyBoy World's best baked beans 2
Side dish nr706 stuffed mushroom 1
Side dish sdritz Rice salad
Supplies dicksond 40 plastic cups
Supplies happy_stomach paper plates and (good) napkins
Supplies Saint Pizza 40 foam plates
Undecided Freakin'Korican 3
Undecided gp60004 1
Undecided Gwiv 2
Undecided Jazzfood 2
Undecided King's Thursday 3
Undecided Cynthia 1
Undecided The GP 2
Undecided Louisa Chu 2
Undecided m'th'su 1
People coming so far: 104.5
Regards,

Veloute wrote:If there's room for one more, I eagerly look forward to meeting those whose taste buds I live vicariously through!

At this point I believe I'll bring mein kam, but I'm not 100% sure. Maybe I'll bring a delectable gluten-free baked good. I'll report back if that's okay.

Veloute who's thrilled to be meeting everyone

Ah, another who is gluten-free! I will bring GF buns for you, too, should you decide you want to participate in sausages, etc.

leek wrote:OK, so I'll be bringing Hummos (made at my home by me) and an apple pie. As long as no one dips his/her pita into the stuff directly, it should be gluten free (chickpeas, garlic, olive oil, lemon, sesame tahini). The tahini ingredients say "ground sesame seeds" - made in a facility that may handle peanuts and tree nuts.

The pie, not so much with the gluten free.

Leek - great point! It's so easy to accidentally "contaminate" something that was perfectly fine in terms of dairy, gluten, nuts, whatever, simply by using a spoon that was used in something else, dipping with a nut cracker, etc.

It would be great if we could all try to bring utensils that stayed in their respective places and all "dipping" would be done only with that utensil.

I realize this isn't a foolproof system and that accidents can happen. But, trying to remember would be great.

Alternately, those with any allergies/intolerances - they may want to sort of get there first and take theirs - they can set the plate to the side, but that might help them be a little more sure of the safety of the food should they want to take the chance.

Mr Views has asked for a GF apple pie - so deep dish GF apple pie is on the list of things I will bring. I'll make it nut and dairy free just in case.

I have reviewed the list trying to see any "holes" in coverage. Looks like we don't yet have too much (or any) of the following:

-wine
-non-beer beverages in general (considering how many are coming)
-buns - I can't say I see any - am I missing them?
-cups - looks like about 40 cups
-silverware - I don't see any - again, am I missing them somewhere?
-cleanup items - don't see these, either

Also, not sure on how many plates - or what size - and how many napkins.

I'll bring some mint iced tea, but don't have a huge container. It holds maybe a gallon. I'd bring some wine, but don't have any that aren't in glass containers. Does anyone make decent tasting wine in boxes these days?

Sometime in the next few days, I'll make it to storage and see what stuff I have that is on this list that I can bring - I know I have extra plates, cups, maybe even some silverware. Once I know what I have, I can decide what to go buy to help reduce this deficit.

ViewsAskew wrote:Does anyone make decent tasting wine in boxes these days?

Some of the Australian boxed wines aren't too bad, as is Black Box out of California. My rough rule of thumb is that if it comes in a three liter box, it should be reasonable to drink.

Viewsaskew,

Thanks for highlighting the paper/plastics/silverware situation. Don't rush out to buy yet, because I know people will be checking their party supplies, too, for excess stuff. On Saturday, I brought dinosaur birthday party plates to a picnic to just get rid of them.

Regards,

Mr Views just said to me,"It's great that several people have offered to help ensure I can safely eat. . .but how are you going to find them among over 100 people?"

No clue, I thought.

Are there usually nametags? Food separately by type, or all over? Do people label their food?

Not trying to complicate this, just figure out how to ensure all the hard work by those helping make GF (or other "free" food) isn't for naught.

I think he's just going to have to ask around. This may seem daunting but a lot of us have an excellent memory for food and asking hey, who made the dumpling salad will usually get a direct and immediate answer and a finger pointed in the right direction.

It's a potluck, not a commercial operation, there isn't going to be consistent labeling-- and even if there was, I wouldn't trust it 100%.

We have a couple dozen extra largish paper plates we'll bring, also. We'll probably also bring dixie cups or something for our sorbets.

HI,

People will have nametags, though not every person wears their nametag. If people announce in advance their intended food, then a dish nametag is made. Unless people voluntarily list ingredients, the only information you might have is the nametag. The food's nametage may not even be on the right dish. There are no guarantees.

The only way to guarantee the food will meet your dietary criteria is to bring your own. Please don't make people responsible for your situation, because they can still innocently mess up. It is my understanding a simple ingredient like vinegar is an issue for celiacs. Who knew some vinegars have gluten in them? I didn't until a year ago when another celiac came to the picnic.

This is a come as you are, do-it-yourself picnic shared by an excess of 100 people. People arrive with their food, find a location to platz it, then invite others to join in. It is just that uncomplicated.

Regards,

Cathy2 wrote:HI,

The only way to guarantee the food will meet your dietary criteria is to bring your own. Please don't make people responsible for your situation, because they can still innocently mess up. It is my understanding a simple ingredient like vinegar is an issue for celiacs. Who knew some vinegars have gluten in them? I didn't until a year ago when another celiac came to the picnic.

Regards,

Cathy, I think I, of everyone here, understand that. I have never asked anyone here to be responsible for Mr Views food or safety. Should he decided to partake in anyone's food it will only be after asking a lot of questions and then. . .taking a leap of faith that everything is understood. You are certainly correct in that there are many nuances to a gluten-free diet!

I'm simply asking if people have nametags or otherwise identify food. And they don't consistently, so that's all I needed to know. I will be responsible for finding a way to make this work.

As I said in a previous post, anyone with an allergy or intolerance completely understands (or is very inexperienced) that they cannot completely trust any situation other than making their own food. I also made clear that life isn't always fun lived in a bubble. This event is about the food. . .and the people. You have a way to enjoy the food; all I want to figure out what this normally looks like so I can make the best decisions I and Mr Views can. Just looking for information, not for you to be responsible for his safety. In my experience, there is almost always an easy, and painless, resolution if we talk about things ahead of time.

In an earlier post I indicated I would contact some people ahead of time and check ingredients. And, be sure that if someone listed vinegar, I'd ask if it were malt or flavored after distillation (most vinegars are just fine). I've done that. I wouldn't begin to expect anyone to tell me the day of what was in it and hope for the best or then be annoyed or sad that he couldn't eat. Either I find a way to figure it out ahead of time or I don't come. Nor would I expect anyone I contacted to change anything in their recipe. Of course, I only contacted a few people who I felt were bringing items likely to already be safe.

So, I'd hate for all of that to be wasted simply because I couldn't find them or that others had dunked their pita in the dip before I could find them

I am thrilled to report that everyone I've contacted has been forthcoming with ingredient lists and willing to answer questions. Some people have gone so far to do their own internet research to determine if an ingredient is GF or even buy a substitute, as in the case of offering to buy GF San-J tamari instead of using the glutenous Kikkoman's soy sauce.

So, in advance, thank you to those of you who voluntarily contacted me or responded to my questions. I appreciate it. Since there normally isn't a way to identify food and people, I'll contact each of you privately and ask how I might identify you and how we might share food to ensure there are no accidents regarding flying pita chips or errant spoons.

Generally, bugs, with one sniff, declare me inedible. I could take insult but don't have the time.

I've been in the woods of late, even today, for a potential culinary aim, and let me tell you the skeeters are fierce. Bring repellent.

I've considered fogging the grove the day before, citronella candles, or those new lanterns.

Any ideas from somebody with more experience? I dread the thought of eating with everything smelling of bug spray ...

-ramon

Ramon wrote:I've been in the woods of late, even today, for a potential culinary aim, and let me tell you the skeeters are fierce. Bring repellent.

FWIW, they just came through the neighborhood and sprayed for mosquitoes. Hopefully that will cut down the population by the weekend.

Okay -- no chance I'll have unpacked my kitchen enough to be cooking for this year's picnic, so I'll choose "supplies" as my category.

I've just bought 200 plastic cups and one case of bottled water.

Anything else in this arena that we're missing?

Last weekend's activities got me off to a late start with vodka infusing, so I'll need to alter my plan a bit. I'll still bring spirits and a homemade mixer or two, but no infusions. I'm also bringing roasted tomato mini-tarts

My mom will be bringing some roast peppers and onions to go with the sausages. And some diet soda, because.

Am I correct in thinking that dogs aren't invited? She wants to bring my youngest "brother", Vinnie, but I thought I remembered that canine relatives weren't going to be feasible....?

Giovanna

It seems like dogs and unattended tables of homemade food are a pretty predictable disaster in the making...

Hi,

For the undecided, please consider bringing: ice, soda pop, plastic silverware, paper plates and napkins. We are fine on plastic cups and water. We only need some garbage bags. Bring your container from home, use what is needed and take the rest home.

Tomorrow evening is my opportunity to go to Costco. Please solidify your offer before I feel compelled to buy it myself.

Please advise if you can come on the early side to help set up. I am bringing a portable table. Some people may want to bring tables and a few camp chairs. In the equal but opposite side the spectrum, people need to plan to help clean up afterwards.

While this is definitely a rain or shine event. The chances for rain over the next two days are 60%. Saturday is predicted to be sunny in the mid 70's.

Regards,

I have decided on my appetizer - I will be bringing Caponata
I will be happy to help with clean up.

Looking forward to seeing everyone on Saturday.

Jyoti

I'm coming. I will bring two large portable tables; paper plates and plastic ware for 150; a couple of cases of pop, and a couple bags of ice.

Cathy,
I'll get the garbage bags and stay for the cleanup. I've got a flashlight in the car, but who's bringing the jumper cables?

I'll also bring a package of napkins and 2 packages of Baby Wipes.

(I buy wipes by the case anyway. For anyone else who cares - they are in the Costco Coupon Book this month.)

Yikes. The paper and plastic product categories got covered quickly! We'll bring ice, a big plastic bin to put ice, drinks, etc., in. I will also bring a couple of pies, flavors TBD. We will also chip in on the keg option that was mentioned upthread.

-The GP (Mary) and Mr. X