I'm with Tarte Tatin
WHAT???!!! No DTs this year???

I was so looking forward to them and kept scanning the spreadsheet to see if they had been added.
Well Gary, we will all miss you and Ellen and, in your honor, I would like to bring some Dragon Turds if:

a) There is room on the smoker for this item
b) I can get some more advice from Gary regarding cooking them (only on step 3 Gary!!)

Are there any thrill seekers who would like Habaneros? If so, I can add some of these.

Mmmm, the picnic is really heating up! Can't wait!

Jyoti

Hi,

I am comiing early. I can make a few batches of Dragon Turds to keep some people from weeping with regret.

SteveZ observed one more bench by the brick and mortar toilets that I did. If they are still way over yonder, then we will need a group of people to lug them over. They are too heavy for just two people.

Regards,

I'll make them Cathy - not a problem.

You have more than enough on your hands - I know we all appreciate the behind-the scenes efforts you have been involved in to make the picnic run smoothly!!!

Jyoti

Hello all,

it's been a tough summer for Antonius and me, which has precluded posting and many other activities. I was hoping we could get to the picnic and see old friends but our own logistical issues make it impossible. Too bad! Have a great time, everyone, and hope to see you next time...

Amata

Sparky will be sad to miss his Batman partner from last year...

Because of my daughter's soccer game, we cannot come until later in the afternoon. I am still willing to make/bring kefta, but do people really want meat at that point in the day? Is there anything specifically that needs bringing?

I can bring some of my wife's spiced peaches/peach chutney, but I am also not so sure relishes are needed late either. Local cheese? I considered local black walnuts but I am not sure I can afford enough for the picnic. Help.

Hi, Cathy and other wonderful LTHers.

RAB and I have a busy morning scheduled for Saturday and had initially thought we wouldn't be able to make the picnic. The good news is that we've found a way to make it work. We will probably still arrive late - - but we'd rather be tardy than miss the festivities.

We will be bringing salata de vineta (Romanian eggplant salad) and Jamaican spicy meat patties.

Thanks for organizing. We can't wait to enjoy our first LTH picnic.

OK, I'm starting to get a little bit dizzy... 1 day 15 hours 31 minutes and 52 seconds to go!

Again, check this over, please - I've been trying to keep abreast of all the changes and corrections, but I apparently haven't had enough caffeine today...

Here's the spreadsheet, prepare to scroll down a lot:


VI, I've yet to see an hour in the day when I wouldn't eat meat . Knowing what I went through last year, I'm not making any promises, though. Maybe late arrivals should bring Alka-Seltzer?

(as I said) I’m bringing the polish sausage. It’s my great grandparents recipe (which they brought from Poland with them), plus I invented my own variation using red wine to marinate it. I’ve been eating my whole life and I’ve never tried smoking it! I was wondering: could I throw some of it in a smoker? If not, no biggie, I’ll be bringing a grill too just in case. If so, anyone know what time I should be there to throw it in?
Some updates on my food/people status too:
There will be 7 of us.
We’ll be bringing
1. Polish Sausage,
2. Biryani, mutton and chicken, it will be coming from my secret sources in Indiana and I swear to you guys it’s the best you’ll have ever tasted!
3. Rhubarb pie OR Zucchini cake - wife doesn't want to do both
5. Bulgogi and/or Kalbi
6. Maybe Some kind of sides or snacks, bbq dried squid and/or banchan.

Let me know about the smoker status.

Oh, and sorry - statistics, counting everything up to and including laikom's post:

107 Total Picnickers

18 bringing appetizers:
Deviled Eggs, fried wontons, Leverpastej, Chopped liver and crackers, Dragon Turds, Brined sage/garlic pork crostini, charcuterie, spicy sausage cheese balls, sun dried tomato-pine nut-mint dip and homemade crackers, Chips, salsa & guacamole, ceviche and maybe surprises, Remarkable Cheese, banchan/snacks, Olives With Fennel & Orange/ Olives With Wild Herbs, Chip-type thing, Jamaican meat patties and two TBD

10 bringing beverages:
(2)Water, Pellegrino, Iced Vietnamese Coffee, Kenyan ice tea, pineapple coconut concoction/ almond milk, rose water & crushed pistachios, Keg, sodas, (2)wine.

2 bringing breads:
Georgian Bakery breads, crackers

3 bringing condiments:
Giardinera, tomato jam, tzatziki

13 bringing dessert:
Quadrados de l'Oranja, Saffron-Rosemary Tart, peach mint muscat sorbet, ice cream base, thyme grape jelly, Sacher Torte, Homemade Smores, plum cake, zucchini cake OR rhubarb pie, peach/blueberry tart, Cherry pies, 1 TBD

18 bringing a main course:
Raccoon, KC Style Burnt Ends, Hangar steak, Mystery Meat dish, varza a la Cluj, patitas de cerdo, Chickpea Panelle with Goat Cheese and Salsa Rustica, grilled Thai steak, Jambalaya, Hot Italian sausage, rolls, peppers, polish sausage, mutton and chicken Biryani, bulgogi, shrimp remoulade, Kefta with Salam-esque spicy green sauce, Will's Specials, Award-winning chili, pork loin sandwiches with peach chutney

9 bringing a salad:
watermelon salad, Goi Ga (Vietnamese Chicken Salad),Chef Dave's Seared Ham Steak Salad with Bibb Lettuce, Warm Sweet Potato-Bourbon Dressing and Candied Pecans, Fresh Fruit with Rose Water Syrup
Potato salad, Mexican-style black bean and corn salad, Thai melon salad, thai cole slaw, salata de vineta (Romanian eggplant salad)

5 bringing a side dish:
Baylor Melons, salad or veg, Bombay Potatoes, elotes casserole, Collard Greens

6 bringing supplies:
cups, leftover containers and mystery items, plates, cups etc.,garbage bags & wipes, Coolers of ice & tableware, blue recycling bags, ziplocs and garbage bags

We still have a couple folks TBD on what they're bringing - just let me know so I can make sure the spreadsheet info is correct, for whatever happens with it after it leaves my desktop ...

Hi,

Unless someone is doing this: I will pick up box of Costco silverware (120 sets) and another package of paper plates as a safety net. I can return the plates later if they are not needed.

For those who need start a cook early, I will be there around 9 AM. For those who can come early to set-up tables etc, come around 10:30.

Everything on the following time table are rough estimates except when they expect us to get out of there.

Time:
- 9 AM (or earlier by arrangement): I will arrive to reconfirm our picnic permit. Smokers and grillers may arrive to begin their cooks.
- 10:30 AM: Help with tidying up, arranging tables and supplies.
- 11:30 AM: Appetizers
- 1:00 PM: Lunch (Note food will be coming out in waves as they are cooked or as people arrive)
- 3:30 PM: Desserts
- 5:30ish - Begin tidying up - please assume this is everyone's effort.
- 7:15 PM: Sunset - party over followed by the Park District chaining the driveway.

FYI - Name tags and food tags will be printed Friday evening.

Laikom - Smoker will be making Dragon Turds, burnt ends and your sausage. I think the one smoker will do. Since people come and go, food comes out in waves as they finish cooking or as people arrive. FYI - As a point of reference, hot links on the WSM take 90-120 minutes

REB - RAB: we look forward to seeing you!

Vital INformation - Do what you feel is best. Peach chutney and cheese certainly would fit in nicely. Maybe a box of crackers, too?

EvA - I like the way you think.

Ramon - I will bring 40 pounds of wood charcoal to get the ball rolling. Your 40 pounds will be there just in case. I'll bring along some hickory for the smoker as well.

Jyoti - the Dragon Turds take roughly an hour to make. If you will be there by 10:30, then I will have the WSM ready to chug. We can make an appetizer batch, followed by another later in the day after the sausage and brisket cooks. A little afternoon picker upper.

Gary wrote:Either I figure out how to be in Madison Wisconsin and Chicago at the same time or choose between the LTHForum Tailgate Picnic and my nieces wedding.

Family first, you won't regret your decision.

Recycling At The LTH Tailgate Picnic

At 107 folks and counting, we will, in our revelry, generate a staggering amount of garbage at this picnic, a lot of which is recyclable. Unfortunately, while the County has instituted recycling programs at various Forest Preserves, our does not have one.

After discussing this with several others, it appears that our best option is to place "blue bags" at several trash points around the grove to collect plastic bottles, cans, paper goods and other recyclables. While we're still working out the details, please be mindful that, if you see a blue bag, use that when you're tossing out recyclable goods at the picnic. Regardless of how you feel about Blue Bag recycling, the Blue Bags are, at a minimum, markers to signal people to isolate recyclables into those particular bags.*

I have volunteered to take as many of these blue bags after the picnic to be recycled back in the City. To the extent that I cannot take any more, I request that any City-dwelling volunteers step forward to do the same. A good method might be, as people are leaving, to grab a full bag or two, and take it with them. That would go a long way towards easing this burden.

Your cooperation is much appreciated!

* I realize that the Chicago Blue Bag program is imperfect, but it's better than the alternative, which is to leave all of our garbage for the County to collect. In my case, however, the recyclable material will be carted back to the 1st Ward, to be recycled in the pilot Blue Cart program.

aschie30 wrote:To the extent that I cannot take any more, I request that any volunteers step forward to do the same.

We are faithful blue baggers and will bring some bags. We'll be happy to take some full ones back with us to the very unprogressive 50th ward where the blue bags still go in the regular trash.

EvA

EvA wrote:

aschie30 wrote:To the extent that I cannot take any more, I request that any volunteers step forward to do the same.

We are faithful blue baggers and will bring some bags. We'll be happy to take some full ones back with us to the very unprogressive 50th ward where the blue bags still go in the regular trash.

EvA

Thank you!

Or just swing by my alley, where they delivered approximately 17 blue barrels for each house, making it nearly impossible to get through on trash-- whoops, recycling–- day.

Sorry for the late response, but we've been trying to figure out what to bring... Myself (mtyf) and my husband (hasn't posted, but he says if he does his screenname would be BY) will be coming.

We will bring 1 dessert: Butter tart bars (reminiscent of the yummy pecan butter tarts we grew up with in Canada) and 1 bread: scratch-made cheesy rolls.

We've just started participating in the LTH community so we're looking forward to our first event/picnic and to meeting everyone!

Michelle and Brian

mtyf wrote:Sorry for the late response, but we've been trying to figure out what to bring... Myself (mtyf) and my husband (hasn't posted, but he says if he does his screenname would be BY) will be coming.

We will bring 1 dessert: Butter tart bars (reminiscent of the yummy pecan butter tarts we grew up with in Canada) and 1 bread: scratch-made cheesy rolls.

We've just started participating in the LTH community so we're looking forward to our first event/picnic and to meeting everyone!

Michelle and Brian

It is never too late to join the fray.

We look forward to seeing you both.

Regards,

It seems like we're light on sides, so I will bring a couple. I'm thinking Provencal vegetable dishes--stuffed onions and a tomato-potato-leek gratin.

See you there.

jygach wrote:Well Gary, we will all miss you and Ellen and, in your honor, I would like to bring some Dragon Turds....

Are there any thrill seekers who would like Habaneros? If so, I can add some of these.

Hurrah, Jyoti!!! You and Cathy2 are my heroes!

Habaneros or jalapenos.... I'm a happy camper!

Although I've tried to juggle things, it looks like I won't be coming on Saturday. Family obligations got in the way. Hope everyone has a great time!

Having attended the first 2 picnics (so much fun!), we are going to try our best to attend despite our neighborhood (The Villa) having our picnic the same time. With any luck, 6 of us will arrive with tasty side - perhaps short stacks of tomato/mozzarella/basil.

I drove by the picnic grove this morning on my way to work. I counted 9 tables and can confirm that puddle dipping will be among the possible activity for kids of all ages. I also ran into Ramon, who was doing some pre-rigging for the piñata festivities.

Hi,

I talked to the Forest Preserve this morning. They were going to drag over the tables by the toilets over to the shelter. I told them of our plans to bluebag and take away recycleables. They were delighted and offered a grade of A+ to this plan.

Regards,

Hey guys.

I'll plan to attend and will bring some rib tips and pork n beans from the restaurant (Woody's).

See you there!

Can't wait to see everybody tomorrow. I think I will now be +3. I know cooking is underway in my house.

See you tomorrow!
Heather

my friend taissa will be bringing an asian salad WITH CASHEWS.. ARE DOGS ALLOWED? her dog is extremely well behaved and can stay in the car for much of the time if necessary. any forest preserve rules? justjoan
(EDITED to include cashews, in case cathy hasn't yet made to the food labels)

Due to some fortunate scheduling errors, I'm not away this weekend as prior plans indicated and able to attend. I have plans this evening and it appears I'll be showing up dishless. Could I be made useful by showing up early and providing labor? I live very close and presumably the tables, piñata fly apparatus, etc will need some fine tuning. Consider me willing, able and there in the morning.

-Brendan

justjoan, regarding dogs:

This is from the Forest Preserve's website:

"Picnic Permit Rules and Regulations
"13. All ordinances and regulations in effect of the Forest Preserve District must be observed and the instructions of its representatives obeyed."

One of its regulations is: "The Forest Preserve District of Cook County provides the Beck Lake Dog Friendly Area for visitors to unleash their dogs. This is the ONLY location within the District's holdings where dogs may be unleashed."

Therefore, it seems dogs are allowed but have to be leashed and, I think this is understood, a human holding the leash at all times. As the mother of children who will be present, I know that a dog may be extremely well behaved, but I would appreciate it being leashed and kept away from the food. Cathy2, you are in charge, so I'll let you have the final word if I mispoke.

Thanks,

Susan

Hi,

You did not mis-speak. We have not encouraged people to bring dogs. There will be lots of noise, people, fire, food, liquor and kids

I'm leaving my cat at home. She has been promised lots of love and attention when I get back. It's a good thing. I have suggested the very same to everyone who has suggested bringing a dog informally. Yes, I know my cat is not a dog, just don't tell her.

Regards,

Is there an actual address for this place?
Thanks.

Jyoti