Kennyz wrote:

JimTheBeerGuy wrote:...I will not be bringing a keg again this year...

Jim,

For putting you on the spot, I will bring a few pub cans of Boddingtons and and a hard plastic pint glass for you

Kenny

I love this spirit of cooperation!

Maybe I'll have to bring a 5L mini-keg ... the Oberon that Josephine brought last year was great.

Another good, unusual canned beer option is Wittekerke.

Going by the data in Mhays wonderful spreadsheet, we do not have enough grill space. MikeLM has volunteered to bring a table top grill if necessary, and I will be bringing one of those little portable Weber kettles, because it travels with me all summer anyway. While this maybe enough for the six people who have requested grilling space, it certainly doesn’t resemble the past two years. Then again, I worried about grill space last year, and that proved to be no problem.

I will also have a two burner camping grill so that Mrs Ramon can crisp her panelle at service. This could be useful for helping to keep others’ hot dishes hot. I’ve been carrying around the stove in the car for some time anyway. Gee, I wonder what else I got in there?

-ramon

I also have a two burner propane camping stove that I can bring,
and I may have a small portable charcoal grill-
I'll have to rummage in the garage.
I'll need a small bit of "keep warm" space for my Jambalaya
but I'm afraid my propane stove will be too intense a heat
and will burn the bottom layer of rice.
It would be better on a slower grill.

I think I will be making a s'mores pie or homemade marshmallows and graham crackers for s'mores. If I bring the latter, will there be enough grill space to roast marshmallows? Thanks!

Would there be any interest if I were to make Iced Vietnamese Coffee or Red Bean Ice (depends on my mom's availability to help me w/the latter)?

I can bring my XL Weber grill, though since I'm not actually grilling anything myself (as yet, anyway), and I just opened a 40-lb. bag of charcoal and really don't want to haul it too, I don't plan to fuel it and fire it myself. So someone should acknowledge that they want me to bring it and plan to fuel and use it, otherwise I won't.

I also just laid in a supply of water from the crystal shores of beautiful Lake Kirkland, so I'll run a water station (aka a large cooler full of water), though it never hurts to have more.

Pucca wrote:I think I will be making a s'mores pie or homemade marshmallows and graham crackers for s'mores. If I bring the latter, will there be enough grill space to roast marshmallows? Thanks!

Would there be any interest if I were to make Iced Vietnamese Coffee or Red Bean Ice (depends on my mom's availability to help me w/the latter)?

Pucca, the 'spouse loves Vietnamese Coffee, though we've never had it iced at home, and haven't had it out for years. I've also been meaning to make marshmallows all summer and never got around to it, look forward to yours!

Working on the spreadsheet, will update shortly. Thanks to everyone for your PMs and posts to make it work!

Mike G wrote:
I also just laid in a supply of water from the crystal shores of beautiful Lake Kirkland, so I'll run a water station (aka a large cooler full of water), though it never hurts to have more.

Mike,

I'm already bringing a large Gatorade sideline cooler, 25 lbs of ice and 10 gallons of Hinkley Springs water, so I'm pretty sure we're covered on that front.

Not sure what else I'm bringing (still mulling), but I will bring a case of Pellegrino (large bottles), if that's not already covered along with a few sleeves of plastic cups.

=R=

Do I remember right that the site has bathrooms? If so, I say the more water the better.

Today's update: First of all, as of this posting, we are 3 days OR 93 hours OR 5627 minutes OR 337643 seconds away!

Thus far, 89 people are confirmed, bringing
14 appetizers, 5 beverages (I didn't include the alcohol at this time, as nobody seemed certain) 1 breads, 2 condiments, 9 desserts, 12 Main courses, 5 salads, 6 side dishes, 2 groups of tableware, 2 coolers, 3 grills (2 tabletop) we also have some kid's games and activities, thanks to Ramon. I think at this time, if you're wondering what you could bring - we seem to need grills and fuel, seasonings, alcoholic beverages, and soft drinks.

Again, please check that your information is right (the longer this spreadsheet gets, the more likely I missed something) if your guest would like a personalized name tag, please let me know, as we'll be going off the spreadsheet - otherwise guests get a yourscreenname +1 tag. If you want to add yourself or a dish, please post here but PM me as well.

Ramon wrote:Going by the data in Mhays wonderful spreadsheet, we do not have enough grill space. MikeLM has volunteered to bring a table top grill if necessary, and I will be bringing one of those little portable Weber kettles, because it travels with me all summer anyway. While this maybe enough for the six people who have requested grilling space, it certainly doesn’t resemble the past two years. Then again, I worried about grill space last year, and that proved to be no problem.

I will also have a two burner camping grill so that Mrs Ramon can crisp her panelle at service. This could be useful for helping to keep others’ hot dishes hot. I’ve been carrying around the stove in the car for some time anyway. Gee, I wonder what else I got in there?

-ramon

Hi,

There are plans for two 22-inch Weber grills and WSM plus 40 pounds of wood charcoal. Will this be suitable?

A few years ago, I had a charcoal grill on a Forest Preserve picnic table. The ranger came to check our documents, then asked the grill be moved to the ground. Not too fun to do when it was blazing hot.

If somebody is in the area of the picnic grove, could you advise back how many tables there are? Thanks

Regards,

I was just PMming with irisarbor, and another option for hot food is a sterno setup; we have a little sterno camp stove that we usually use on the provided picnic table that works well for morning coffee - disposable chafing dishes available at party stores use sterno.

The park rangers may not allow this on the picnic tables, however - but what if somebody brought a folding table? I have one, but it's not sturdy enough to hold heavy foods...

I'll be doing an elotes casserole.

Buddy

A benefactor, whom I shall leave unnamed but who may step forward if he/she wishes, has offered via PM to underwrite a keg for the event if I will procure said keg. So it looks like I will be bringing some beer after all.

JimTheBeerGuy wrote:A benefactor, whom I shall leave unnamed but who may step forward if he/she wishes, has offered via PM to underwrite a keg for the event if I will procure said keg. So it looks like I will be bringing some beer after all.

sounds like another Oprah Winfrey publicity stunt. either way, I'll bring some cash and sincere thanks for lugging the keg to the picnic.

Mhays wrote:I was just PMming with irisarbor, and another option for hot food is a sterno setup; we have a little sterno camp stove that we usually use on the provided picnic table that works well for morning coffee - disposable chafing dishes available at party stores use sterno.

The park rangers may not allow this on the picnic tables, however - but what if somebody brought a folding table? I have one, but it's not sturdy enough to hold heavy foods...

I have three small metal folding tables - 18" diameter. They are intended as end tables so are lower in height than a regular table. The height may make cooking/heating a little more cumbersome, but they are small enough, that I could throw all three into my car.

Let me know.

Jyoti

HI,

Fire and shaky tables one might trip over does not seem like a good mix.

I talked to the Forest Preserve today. They didn't know how many tables are at the shelter presently, though they advised there are usually 5-10 picnic benches. I will stop by early this evening on my way to Mushroom Club to see how many picnic tables are present now.

I am bringing a card table and at least one banquet size table. There will be several banquet tables from Gary as well as at least one from Steve. What we put on these will not concern the Forest Preserve. How we use their picnic tables does interest them.

There is a brick and mortar toilet and usually a port-a-potty as well.

Regards,

It's looking quite likely that I'll be able to make the picnic this year. I won't have a lot of prep time (or space) to whip up a home-cooked concoction, but I'll keep an eye out here for what I ought to bring.

Mhays, when you say we're light on "seasonings" what does that mean?

It looks like one hell of a menu to date. I can't wait.

FWIW, my grill time request is minimal - just a few minutes - less than 1 sq. foot.

Giovanna said:

if I can find the small Italian plums, a plum cake. [anybody seen those plums around yet? I haven't . . . .]

Kennyz replied:

do you mean these?

If so, Mick Klug has had them at Green City Market and Daley Plaza for at least a week.

It is a little early for local Italian prune plums, late September is more realistic for all but the earliest European prune plums with October being the peak season. The ones Mick Klug has are not what Giovanna is seeking but are very nice for munching.

ekreider wrote:It is a little early for local Italian prune plums, late September is more realistic for all but the earliest European prune plums with October being the peak season. The ones Mick Klug has are not what Giovanna is seeking but are very nice for munching.

Giovanna thinks otherwise.

Cathy2 wrote:There will be several banquet tables from Gary as well as at least one from Steve.

So, I guess that means that you want to use my 8' table. Does anyone have a truck or van to pick up and drop off this table at my house (only 3 blocks or so from the picnic site)? If need be, I could try to bring it in the back of my SUV, but it's much too long to do it "legally" and I'm pretty sure I'll have to leave before the end of the picnic.

stevez wrote:

Cathy2 wrote:There will be several banquet tables from Gary as well as at least one from Steve.

So, I guess that means that you want to use my 8' table. Does anyone have a truck or van to pick up and drop off this table at my house (only 3 blocks or so from the picnic site)? If need be, I could try to bring it in the back of my SUV, but it's much too long to do it "legally" and I'm pretty sure I'll have to leave before the end of the picnic.

D4V3 will help ferry tables, grills and smokers. I will talk to him.

I just took a survey of the plastic tablewear I have (courtesy of last year's picnic, potluck and leftovers from various organizations I belong to):

84 cups sized 16 ounces
4 foam cups

Approx 80 paper bowls
4 medium paper bowls

Chinette:
6 – dinner plates
51 – lunch plates
34 – dessert plates

Costco style plastic (from the pack of 120 sets)
18 knives
17 spoons
85 forks

Napkins – more than enough

White plastic
- knives: 47
- Diamond dailyware: 48 spoons
- 16 – fork, knives, spoons

Six banquet plastic tableclothes

One black garbage bag

Huggies wipes: approx 150

I know Cynthia has 100 plates and 100 cups, so we are doing fine there. I always assume people loose track of their cups and plates, or at least I do!

TarteTatin - I would buy 2-liter bottles because overall it is cheaper than cans.

Regards,

Hi,

MHay;s has been doing a terrific job of maintaining the spreadsheet. Below is sorted by courses:

Appetizer dansch charcuterie 1
Appetizer David Hammond Aerofood 2
Appetizer gp60004 ? 1
Appetizer happy_stomach sun dried tomato-pine nut-mint dip and homemade crackers 1
Appetizer Heather22 ? 2
Appetizer irisarbor spicy sausage cheese balls 0
Appetizer JimTheBeerGuy Chips, salsa & guacamole 4
Appetizer jimwdavis Olives With Fennel & Orange/ Olives With Wild Herbs 1
Appetizer JoelF ? 0
Appetizer Kennyz Brined sage/garlic pork crostini 2
Appetizer Kerensa Chip-type thing 0
Appetizer Mhays Leverpastej 0
Appetizer Nr706 Deviled Eggs 2
Appetizer Saint Pizza ceviche and maybe surprises 0
Appetizer The Lovely Dining Companion fried wontons 0
Beverage Chow Poodle Water 0
Beverage happy_stomach pineapple coconut concoction/ almond milk, rose water & crushed pistachios 0
Beverage irisarbor Kenyan ice tea 4
Beverage Mr. X Water 0
Beverage Pucca Iced Vietnamese Coffee/ Red Bean Ice ? 0
Beverage tarte tatin Soda pop 1
Bread Hellodali Georgian Bakery breads 0
Condiment Cathy2 Bread and butter pickles 0
Condiment Fresser tzatziki 1
Condiment SteveZ giardinera 2
Dessert EvA Sacher Torte ? 3
Dessert Giovanna plum cake 0
Dessert Jean Blanchard ? 2
Dessert JoelF thyme grape jelly 3
Dessert justjoan Quadrados de l'Oranja 2
Dessert Mike G Saffron-Rosemary Tart 4
Dessert nancy peach/blueberry tart 4
Dessert Pucca Marshmallows, chocolate and graham crackers in some format 2
Dessert The GP Couple pies (cherry) 2
Dessert/game Mhays Ice-cream making ball (with help from MikeG) 0
Grill D4V3 Grill, WSM 1
Main Cathy2 Racoon 3
Main Giovanna Hot Italian sausage, rolls, peppers 1
Main GypsyBoy varza a la Cluj, 2
Main irisarbor Jambalaya 0
Main laikom polish sausage 5
Main Mhays patitas de cerdo 3
Main mhl Will's Specials 2
Main Mrs. Ramon Chickpea Panelle with Goat Cheese and Salsa Rustica 0
Main nancy shrimp remoulade 0
Main Nr706 Meat dish 0
Main Vital Information Kefta with Salam-esque spicy green sauce 4
Main YourPalWill Award-winning chili and ? 1
Salad Hellodali fruit salad 1
Salad Jean Blanchard Watermelon Salad 0
Salad Jyoti Goi Ga (Vietnamese Chicken Salad) 1
Salad LAZ pasta salad or cold noodle dish 2
Salad Lynn B Mexican-style black bean and corn salad 2
Side Dish BuddyRoadhouse ? 1
Side Dish Heather22 ? 0
Side Dish Jyoti Bombay Potatoes 0
Side Dish SteveZ Baylor Melons 0
Side Dish taissa salad or veg 0
Tableware Cynthia plates, cups etc. 1
Tableware Seth Zurer Coolers of ice & tableware 2
B Pinata and various games 0
borborigmy ? 2
King's Thursday
MikeLM Chef Dave's Seared Ham Steak Salad with Bibb Lettuce, Warm Sweet Potato-Bourbon Dressing and Candied Pecans 2
M'Th'Su 4
Ramon grilled Thai steak 5
Rene G 1
RheS 0
Ronnie_Suburban ? 3
Trixie-Pea 1

96

Hi C2 - I think you may have posted a sort of an old version of the spreadsheet. At a minimum, my dish is wrong. Not sure about the rest. -KZ

Mine's a dessert, fyi. I'm also making ice cream base for Mhays' ice cream maker.

Kennyz wrote:Hi C2 - I think you may have posted a sort of an old version of the spreadsheet. At a minimum, my dish is wrong. Not sure about the rest. -KZ

I know you are no longer making soup. Are you still making Brined sage/garlic pork crostini? It is an appetizer, right?

MikeG - you are now bringing a dessert

Regards,

I have a few portable burners. I was going to bring one to keep the collard greens I plan on bringing warm, will this be plausible? I will just need table space and electricity. Will we have access to electricity? Otherwise they can be served at room temp I guess. I plan on getting there early to help set up as I will have to leave early as I have to be at work at 4.

See you all soon