Small Household Food Exchange February 21, 2011 7:30 p.m.

Looking over the responses, it seems that the majority of the "regulars" have weighed in and the consensus seems to be that the 21st will work for most.

So...

Our February SHFE will venture north--to Barnaby's of Northbrook (the best of the locations if I do say so myself ). Barnaby's has a fairly eclectic menu for those not desiring pizza. And you won't want to miss the very best pimento cheese spread and ritz cracker amuse anywhere

Important info:

Barnaby's of Northbrook
960 Skokie Blvd.
Northbrook, IL 60062
(847) 498.3900
http://www.barnabysofnorthbrook.com

Dinner attendees: (to be updated over time with priority offered to exchangers)
Boudreaulicious
Cathy2 (maybe)
nr706
moetchandon
Lougord99
petite_gourmande
Wendy
Pairs4life +1
Jygach

Exchange: [9 exchangers = bring 8 servings]
Boudreaulicious - Something utilizing red beans since I am absolutely overloaded with them!
Cathy2--Cabbage Soup
nr706--Mystery Arancini
Lougord99- Tinga Poblana
Leek
Wendy-- Pork Loin in Chipotle Sauce
Jygach
Pairs4life--SKO pasta

Number in the group: We will cap attendance at each gathering at 12 and food exchange participants at 10 so that participants are never making more than 10 servings of anything. Couples can be counted as one serving, or two - if you come as a couple, please specify whether you're bringing one or two dishes to exchange.

The food: The food exchange started so that those of us in 1-2 person households who love to cook aren't stuck eating that big pot of chili we made for a whole week. Instead, we make 6-10 servings of one dish, and bring back 6-10 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. For soup, it may be two cups say; for pastrami, 4 oz. (or more if you make more generous sandwiches). The priority will be for entrees, meats, soups, salad, stews, pastas, grains, etc. One dessert is OK each month, we just didn’t want 6-7 dessert offerings as everyone was mostly interested in main meals (and there is a fabulous LTH dessert exchange the first Monday of each month). There will be no restrictions on the food – we’re an omnivorous bunch. WE DO HAVE ONE MUSHROOM ALLERGY IN THE GROUP SO IF YOU MAKE SOMETHING WITH MUSHROOMS, PLEASE INFORM THE GROUP WHEN YOU POST WHAT YOU ARE BRINGING. IF ANYONE ELSE HAS ANY ALLERGIES, PLEASE LET US KNOW. Again, that doesn’t mean that the ingredient is off limits, it just means to let everyone know if you are using it that month. We decided we don’t want to start running any list of off-limit foods or ingredients.

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 a blue 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.

Several 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 dinner 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 dinner, even if they are not bringing food to exchange.

We’re all pretty relaxed and flexible with the exchange as there will likely be some bumps here and there and questions we will continue to come up. Remember that the core purpose of the exchange is for a group of LTHers to exchange good food they’ve made with minimal hassle and restrictions.

HI,

Actually when I suggested north, I was hoping northside. I never expected Northbrook, though that is alright with me. I will go with the flow.

I was going to suggest moving to the first Monday, then I checked it is Super Bowl Sunday. I know that won't work. Valentine's would not be good. I could do 15th. I may not be able to make the 21st, though I could send a surrogate if it is in Northbrook.

Regards,

I'm out for February regardless of date.

Either the 15th or the 21st works for me.

Either date should work for me.

I'll give it til tomorrow for folks to weigh in then go with the majority-preferred date/time/place.

I amend my original statement. The 21st is okay. It's President's Day, so not quite the same conflict as Valentine's Day.

I wouldn't want to go out to eat on V-Day just because places are generally packed; some people find pizza romantic, I'm sure. Plus, management usually wants high turnover on holidays like that; LTH tends to linger. But this is just an opinion since I'll have to bow out of this one; I'm saving my pizza pigout for Oscar nite. But I'm looking forward to reading reports and seeing some pictures.

I've edited the Thread title and the opening post but didn't want anyone to miss it so here is a repeat of the beginning...

Looking over the responses, it seems that the majority of the "regulars" have weighed in and the consensus seems to be that the 21st will work for most.

So...

Our February SHFE will venture north--to Barnaby's of Northbrook (the best of the locations if I do say so myself ). Barnaby's has a fairly eclectic menu for those not desiring pizza. And you won't want to miss the very best pimento cheese spread and ritz cracker amuse anywhere

Please respond if you are attending, even if you gave your "vote" on date earlier just to confirm you do, indeed, want to attend. See you all soon!

jen

Hi,

I will participate in the exchange, even if a friend has to bring my stuff over. I will confirm for dinner once I know myself.

I will make Bess Feigenbaum’s Cabbage Soup from the New York Times. Inspired by a link by eatchicago's wife, I made this for dinner this evening. Wonderful!

Regards,

I'll be exchanging ... maybe even bringing something palatable.

In for the exchange and dinner plus one. I'll dust off the TBD again.

I'm in for dinner and exchange. I'm making a similar version of the TBD that GP is bringing. Maybe a side-by-side tasting is in order.

I would like to attend dinner with my wife and 1 exchange. Dish TBD.

Updating the list as the replies come in--welcome Lougord99 and better half! Just let us know when you decide what your contribution will be.

May I join for 'za 'za only?

petite_gourmande wrote:May I join for 'za 'za only?

but of course

My wife will not be able to attend, so it will just be me for dinner. I will be making Tinga Poblana, a pork, chorizo and tomato stew from Rick Bayless.

I can't be there, but would like to do the exchange. Any possibility of arranging to drop off or have someone pick up my offering in advance?

Please sign me up for dinner and exchange (TBD)

Lee - I'm in Logan Square - let me know if I can help to get your food to the exchange.

Two spots left for exchange and three for dinner. Guess the trek northward isn't hurting participation!

I would like to do dinner but I don't want to prevent anyone else from attending so let me know.

In for dinner and exchange.

ava--you and I will be in perfect sync--cheese only Barnaby's is the paragon of the species

*edited to correct Blackberry typos!

Okay. Count me in for dinner & the exchange. I'm thinking about pasta.

Welcome P4L! Your entry marks the start of the wait list--one more spot for dinner only.

Actually, since Cathy2 is a maybe and I'm guessing that we'll be able to reserve our spot at Barnaby's, I'll take up to 2 more for dinner only. Waitlist available for the exchange.

Shoot. I should have stuck with my first response. We can't make it on the 21st now. Sorry!

-Mary

One spot left for exchange, a few for dinner.

I'm making Patricia Quintana's Pork Loin in Chipotle Sauce.
I was thinking of including cabbage/apple/ginger slaw (homage to Brown Sack) as a side. This would complicate the reheating and wouldn't be ideal for freezing. But will be a cooling counterpoint to the pork heat.

Question: Skip the side or instruct to separate when re-heating or freezing?