NEW DATE Veg Dinner Exchange - 6/20/10 @ Delicious Cafe

Date: Sunday June 20, 2010

Time: 7pm

Location:
Delicious Cafe Chicago
3827 North Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, IL 60613
(773) 477-9840
http://www.deliciouscafechicago.com/

We'll cap lunch at 10 (preference given to exchange participants)

Dinner (8):
lemoneater & mr. lemoneater
IndianBadger
pairs4life +2
Cathy2
veghound

Exchange (7):
lemoneater - eskili corba
jami
ecs - Mchuzi Wa Mbaazi with a maize pudding
IndianBadger - Hyderabadi Dum Biryani
pairs4life - Gazpacho
Cathy2 - eggplant with peppers
veghound - CSA surprise

This month we're dining at a newer place, Delicious Cafe Chicago, a vegan & vegetarian cafe in the North Center neighborhood.

Number in the group: We will cap attendance at each gathering at 11 so that participants are never making more than 10 servings of anything. Couples will be counted as one serving.

The food: There are great omnivore dinner and dessert exchanges that happen monthly. This is for people interested in doing a vegetarian dinner exchange (without meat or meat stock etc, but can include eggs and dairy). We make 5-10 servings of one dish, and bring back 5-10 different dishes. Participants bring one pre-portioned serving of their food for everyone who has RSVP’d to come that month. A serving is whatever you think it is for your food item. The priority will be for entrees, soups, salad, stews, legumes, grains, etc. There's a preference for healthy dishes.

The containers/delivery system: Everyone in the group should use the Gladware 3 1/8 cup plastic containers (it’s the approximately 7” x 7” square with the pop-up lid). You’ll portion your food into those containers to bring and hand out at the gathering. You can freeze them or not depending on your schedule and when you make your food. There is no need to fill the container, just put in whatever is a serving to you. If you use something else to deliver your food that month (Ziploc bags, plastic wrap, etc.) you should also return the empty containers from the last round so that everyone always has a stash of these containers for the exchange and doesn’t have to run out and buy more.

The process:

Each of us will take turns being the organizer each month. Each time we meet, someone will offer to organize the next month’s gathering.

Approximately two weeks before the next gathering, the organizer will post a new thread to the events page announcing the date and the location for that month and asking for RSVP’s.

Participants will need to RSVP their attendance by one week before the monthly gathering. They will then need to post what they are bringing by three days before the gathering. This is to help make sure we get some balance in the food so that we’re not all bringing something that has to be eaten in the next 2-3 days; that there’s a balance of stuff that can be frozen for later, or eaten sooner.

The organizer will monitor the thread to see what people are bringing. The organizer will also make reservations for the group at the restaurant where we will be gathering. People can choose to stay for the meal or just come and exchange food and leave. Just let the organizer know so they can get an accurate count for the reservation. Other LTHers are welcome to join us for the meal, even if they are not bringing food to exchange.

Can do! See you there!

Thanks for organizing!

I am in and most likely a friend of mine, who will be visiting, will be joining us for brunch.

Update: Mr. lemoneater and I did an advance reconnaissance at the biweekly Sunday dinner. There's a back patio! I hope we will be able to take advantage of it. Also, the vegan Sunday dinner was quite good. This week's menu was fried pickles with ranch dressing, a kale veggie burger (how did they get it browned, and also tender and succulent) with potato salad, and chocolate shakes for dessert. I've never had such a good veggie burger before, and being a pickle lover, the first course was spot on. I look forward to our visit.

Count me in for exchange and brunch.


Victor

Have family in town that week- won't be able to make it this month.

I still would like to participate in the exchange but unfortunately have to skip dinner. I was thinking maybe I would stop by around 7.15 or 7.30 for the exchange as that gives everyone time to arrive. I could come a little earlier or later, if that would be better - just let me know.

Count me in. I should be back by then.

Sounds good, ecs.

Pairs, are you plus 1 for dinner?

Just saw the date has changed. I will be able to make it now. YEAH!

Hi,

While it is Father's Day, I can be finished by then. If you don't mind, I will join in the veg group this month.

Regards,

Unfortunately, my father is gone now. It will be an especially hard Father's Day, I think, for my sister since it's also her birthday. The day of her birth was also Father's Day that year so it has always had extra special meaning in our family.

See you on 6-20.

I'm definitely in for the exchange and 90% sure I'll be there for dinner, possibly with a friend if if we don't have too many people signed up.

Looking forward to it and I'm glad we're picking up more people from the omnivore exchange!

since i have already decided what i am making while procrastinating at work, i figured why not post it: Mchuzi Wa Mbaazi (which sounds much fancier than stewed beans) with a maize pudding. i have never made either so I will keep my fingers crossed that they are actually tasty!

looking forward to see the exchange while disappointed that i am missing all the company at dinner!

HI,

I made recently eggplants with peppers, which I thought were pretty good. Unless I come up with a better idea, eggplant with peppers will be my contribution.

Regards,

I'll have to miss out on the dinner, unfortunately, but I will be there for the exchange.

Glad you can still make the exchange, jami. Could I get a final count from everyone, so I can confirm the reservation? Thanks!

pairs4life, dinner & exchange +2( dinner only) confirming. I'm bringing Gazpacho.

I am bringing Hyderabadi Dum Biryani.

I will be able to attend the dinner (my friend cannot). I will likely make something out of the first CSA box of the year! It may be a grain salad with roasted vegetables.

Here's the menu for Sunday night (all vegan):

Corn Chowder Soup/ Fresh Dinner rolls
Panko un-chicken with steamed veggies
Brownie Sundae with sprinkles

Also, it will be an all-LTH affair, since they usually only seat 10 for dinner.

lemoneater wrote: Also, it will be an all-LTH affair, since they usually only seat 10 for dinner.

sounds fantastic...i am sorry that i have to miss the dinner!

i will plan to arrive around 7:15 for the exchange in hopes of giving people time to arrive but not interrupt dinner.

Sorry to bail at the last minute- something has come up and won't be able to make it. See everyone next month!

I've decided on eskili corba. Who would have guessed that wheat berries are a pantry item at my place?

HI,

We are bringing six portions, right?

Regards,

Yes, 6 portions - I see that msoma can't make it.

Folks, looking forward to tomorrow night! Just FYI, this isn't the usual restaurant situation where it doesn't matter much the number of guests that show up. The cafe Sunday dinner series prepares a set number of portions for the event, and they only seat 10.

I had a great time seeing everyone. I thought I'd post this for those who missed it:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/23/dinin ... xdQbwAnetA

If they're doing it in Brooklyn, we must be trendy!

veghound wrote:I had a great time seeing everyone. I thought I'd post this for those who missed it:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/23/dinin ... xdQbwAnetA

If they're doing it in Brooklyn, we must be trendy!

Kismet! I put this on the board earlier today. I don't think I could do weekly, but twice a month is intriguing, no?