I'll be there +1. I will probably bring an appetizer and a side dish. But will let you know more closer to the date.

See you all then

Heather

David Hammond wrote:The Wife and I are in. I'll be preparing Aerofood, a signature dish from Marinetti's La Cucina Futurista:

Pieces of olive, fennel, and kumquat are eaten with the right hand while the left hand caresses various swatches of sandpaper, velvet, and silk. At the same time, the diner is blasted with a giant fan and nimble waiters spray him with the scent of carnation while wild jazz and Wagner play in the background.

Impressive!

Our life is particularly uncertain at the present moment but please put me and RheS on the list.

Right now I'm thinking of pasta salad or some other cold noodle dish.

Husband and I are looking forward to being there. I will bring a Mexican-style black bean and corn salad. It works on it's own, but also makes a nice relish. -Lynn

David Hammond wrote:The Wife and I are in. I'll be preparing Aerofood, a signature dish from Marinetti's La Cucina Futurista:

Pieces of olive, fennel, and kumquat are eaten with the right hand while the left hand caresses various swatches of sandpaper, velvet, and silk. At the same time, the diner is blasted with a giant fan and nimble waiters spray him with the scent of carnation while wild jazz and Wagner play in the background.

My used copy of Delizia! arrived just today, and opened to a description of this restaurant and this meal . . . nice coincidence.

I wll NOT be bringing this dish.

I will be there . . . took the day off of work . . . will decide what deliciousness I'll bring as the day comes nearer.

Giovanna

I'll be there +3 or 4. We'll probably bring way too much food, including my family recipe polish sausage. I'll update when i decide on what else to bring.

OK, hope this works - I've been keeping a spreadsheet to help keep track of everything. Please check this over and make sure all the information is accurate - also, if you're bringing a +1 that has a screen name, let me know and I'll add them to your info, so Cathy has an easier time with nametags. Feel free to PM me with updates or corrections as well as posting here.

Edited - see later posts for accurate spreadsheet

i'm bringing a friend, taissa, who will bring food but i don't know what she's bringing. justjoan

I really wanted to come to this event last year but felt uneasy about not knowing
any of you--after reading faithfully this past year, I can't wait to meet you and share
great eats! I will bring shrimp remoulade and a peach/blueberry tart. How many should we aim
to serve? I have 1+2 little kids

Welcome, Nancy! This is, indeed, a great way to get started with the social side of LTH - it was my second event of many, these long two years ago! I'll defer to wiser folk than I for your question, but I usually guestimate for about eight and don't have hurt feelings if I take some home.

Forgot to give totals - adding the last two posts, we have 67 guests who are bringing:
6 appetizers,
2 beverages,
1 condiment,
5 desserts,
4 main/meat courses,
4 salads,
4 side dishes,
1 cups/plates etc,
and about 14 dishes TBA.

I plan on attending with +1 1/2 (spouse and 14 month old). We had a fabulous time last year, and can't wait for this year's festivities.

In regards to what I will bring, I am not sure yet. I have thought about bringing some Miracle Fruit to the party as an end of the meal acid trip for the taste buds, but it now seems somewhat hard to find and definitely on the expensive side ($3 for one berry), which could get awfully pricey if I were to try and supply every person with a berry. I will have to think about some other options.

MikeLM wrote:Joined the forum 1-1/2 years ago, haven't been to any get-togethers; this sounds like a good time to start to get to know people.

nancy wrote:I really wanted to come to this event last year but felt uneasy about not knowing any of you--after reading faithfully this past year, I can't wait to meet you and share great eats!

Please add me to the list! I'm very much looking forward to this.... and still considering what to bring....

It's great to see the above posts. Not to get all sappy--but I wanted to add, for the benefit of MikeLM and nancy and others who haven't attended an LTH event yet but who may be considering this one (or any other event on the LTH calendar): Last year's picnic was my first LTH event. I have to admit I was hesitant about attending--like you guys, I didn't know anyone, except through their posts on this board. (Full disclosure: Months and months earlier, I had very, very briefly spoken with Cathy2, nr706, and GWiv at an Evanston restaurant, where Cathy--ever the ardent LTH proselytizer--told me about LTH.) I knew I would be walking--by myself--into a gathering of 100+ people, most of whom appeared to know each other pretty well, and that can be intimidating for anyone!

Long story short, everyone at the picnic was warm, friendly, and extremely welcoming, the food was awesome, fantastic, exceptional.... all in all, a great day. I hate to think of the dining experiences I would have missed over the past year and the great people I might not have met if I hadn't taken that first (as it turned out, easy) plunge last September.

So, to all you "lurkers" out there, I highly recommend un-lurking and joining the fun! See you at the picnic!

Agreed, tarte tatin. I remember many years ago* the first (I think) such party (pre-LTH, chowhound days) when Mike "risk preferring" G says, "We're having this party at our house. Total strangers I've met over the internet are going to come to our house because the place that prepares this Indian food these total strangers want to taste only provides it for catering, no sit down." I was uneasy, but it turned out great! Everyone was (and is) so nice and friendly, even to a non-foodie like me. Don't hesitate to come, as long as you bring food.

King's "risk averse" Thursday

*December 6, 2002, to be precise.

"King's Thursday"]Agreed, tarte tatin. I remember many years ago* the first (I think) such party (pre-LTH, chowhound days) when Mike "risk preferring" G says, "We're having this party at our house. Total strangers I've met over the internet are going to come to our house because the place that prepares this Indian food these total strangers want to taste only provides it for catering, no sit down." I was uneasy, but it turned out great! Everyone was (and is) so nice and friendly, even to a non-foodie like me. Don't hesitate to come, as long as you bring food.

that was an unforgettable party. those enormous pans of spicy keralan food were memorable. i didnt really appreciate the trepidation you might have felt hosting all us strangers, kings thursday, so let me say 5 years on, thank you again. justjoan

LTH Forum: We don't bite...unless your hands are too close to the pork belly.

Finally, having extracted the recipe from my mother, I have decided I will be bringing Patitas de cerdo al estilo de Abuelita Elena Yup, you heard me - pig's feet. To continue the offal-y goodness, I also plan to bring Bridgestone's Leverpastej (tho I can't guarantee I'll be able to shop for Swedish-style anchovies)

I also started a recipe thread for this picnic here:

With crushing regret to the picnic and you kind folks, I am now singing in a last-minute wedding in Michigan on the 6th. I'll write a lucrative short story about the wedding couple in the near future. I may still find a way to send my one-bite salad, but will be absent in person. I look forward to seeing many of you at other September events and can't wait to read the GNR nominations.

The piñata is now purchased and dangles above me. I am pleasantly pleased by its form. At the moment I have no plans to stuff it with anything exotic, but there is still time for me to change my mind.

I will be making grilled Thai steak, something simple, but definitely of my own concoction. I could use grill time if it is available, but I will have my own small grill with me no matter what. I will undoubtedly have other food and supplies to be determined.

Despite repeated requests, I will not, I repeat NOT, be performing my interpretive dance routine this year. Well ... unless someone brings absinthe again.

-ramon

I'd like to come and bring my world-famous tzatziki.

Think I'll bring hot Italian sausage from Joseph's, some roasted peppers and rolls to go with them, and, if I can find the small Italian plums, a plum cake. [anybody seen those plums around yet? I haven't . . . .] Sausage will require grill time.

And Ramon, please, do your interpretive dance . . . to uphold the cultural reputation of our neighborhood.

Giovanna

Kennyz's delicious tomato tartlets (Ronnie Suburban) look terrific. Was the recipe ever posted? I searched, but couldn't find it. Would love to have the recipe!

razbry wrote:Kennyz's delicious tomato tartlets (Ronnie Suburban) look terrific. Was the recipe ever posted? I searched, but couldn't find it. Would love to have the recipe!

Thanks, razbry. Here you go. I make this with homemade puff pastry, but the frozen works well too.

Put me down for 2 adults/2 kidz.

I will make kefta with a Salam-esque spicy green sauce. I will need grill space.

I'm planning to bring a relatively classic chilled Vichyssoise and a chilled version of Spicy Roasted Cauliflower Soup.

Thank you kennyz. Now that I can see how you made them....I really want them! Lucky for me my cherry tomatoes are just coming in!

I'll be bringing Will Specials from the Riviera again this year. Put 'em on your mental short list, my friends--they disappeared rather quickly last year.

Also, I plan to bring my daughter again, as well.

--Matt

OK, I have updated the spreadsheet (I edited my original post) Please click the link below and double-check your screen name, number of guests, guest screen names if applicable (and/or if they want a name tag of their own; guests get a "your-screen-name+1" tag unless we hear from you) your dish, and your grill needs are listed correctly. If not, please PM me and I'll make changes.

Spreadsheet is here

Stats: 76 total guests:
7 appetizers, 2 beverages, 2 soups, 2 condiments, 4 salads, 4 side dishes, 9 main dishes, 6 desserts and 1 collection of tableware.
If you're not sure what to bring, coolers of ice, breads, beverages, seasonings and condiments, and cleanup supplies are always appreciated.

Mr. X and I look forward to joining the picnic again this year. Our contributions will include a couple of pies, most likely cherry, and a case of water. I'll be watching the list and can fill in some of the table ware as needed.

-The GP (and Mr. X)

The hubs brought back some interesting tea from Kenya,
so you can put me down for a big cooler of ice tea,
and spicy sausage-cheese balls-
they were supposed to look like footballs
they turned out much more-"free form" but they still taste good...
they are safely tucked in the freezer for now.
if I get very ambitious over the weekend
perhaps my fabled Jambalaya will get made as well...
E

edited to reflect actual baking

We finally decided:

The Lovely Dining Companion will bring fried wontons (appetizer) and Gypsy Boy will bring an entree variously known as varza a la Cluj, varza clujeana,kolozsvari rakott kaposzta or--for those who are Eastern European language-ly challenged, cabbbage casserole with smoked pork (trust me, it's infinitely better than it sounds!)