SERVINGS COUNT UPDAT-Small Household Food Exchange Tues 3/12

Details:
Date: March 12, 2013

Time: 7:15 PM

Location :
Parthenon (where they make their own GYROS!)
314 S Halsted
Chicago, IL 60661
312-726-2407
"Free" valet

Dinner attendees:
Cathy2
Pie Lady
nr706
moetchandon (tentative)
prairieclover
Food Nut +1
GAF
lazygal09

Exchange participants: BRING SIX (6) SERVINGS
Cathy2--Hungarian mushroom soup
Pie Lady - Israeli Couscous Salad with Feta and Apples
nr706 - Scallop Scallopini
prairieclover - Lasagna
Food Nut - Chicken Korma
GAF - American Macaroni and Cheese
lazygal09 - Spiced Chicken with Dried Fruit

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 (I do it so I don't have to have a sandwich for lunch every day!). 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,

I will be there with Hungarian mushroom soup. Really!

Regards,

Count me in for my first trip to Greektown.

I'm in - no idea what I'll be making.

I'm in for dinner and exchange.

Sharon

I should be able to make it. Looking forward to some delicious Greek fare!
-Carolyn

I will join for both. However, I need to leave Evanston at 6:30 and so I might be somewhat late to Parthenon.

I'm in please - dinner and exchange.

I'm making Spiced Chicken with Dried Fruit.

Thanks.

Hi,

There are two exchange positions left. If you are thinking about, please sign up before the weekend when people are likely preparing their food.

Regards,

I'm making Chicken Korma with rice.

I'm making Israeli Couscous Salad with Feta and Apples.

I'm bringing "American Macaroni and Cheese" made with all-American Ziti Pasta!

I thought about coming and then checked the date - City Council night. That will no longer be a problem come May, so I may join you after that. Enjoy your evening.

I'm making Scallop Scallopini.

I'm going to make lasagna. See you Tuesday!

Did someone ask me for cookbooks last time we were together? Perhaps on Italian cooking?

Since we haven't heard from moetchandon should we assume she's only attending the dinner and not participating in the exchange?

I know it says to mention if something we are bringing has mushrooms in it... I made sausage, mushroom, and spinach lasagna.

Although I mentioned this upthread, I need to leave Evanston at 6:30, which is likely to make me late to arrive, but I will be there (barring the unexpected). But please start ordering without me, but don't start having a good time until I arrive.

I apologize for the last notice, but I have to drop out of the exchange portion of the dinner. I'm not sure if I will be able to attend the dinner portion at this time but I will try. Tom (nr706) is still in the exchange and dinner, he is not changing his status.

Sharon

Hi,

I will likely have an extra, I will know once it is made tonight.

Regards,
Cathy

We need to make six portions, yes?

Pie Lady wrote:We need to make six portions, yes?

Yes. I will bring one extra, too.

Regards,

I'm adding a +1 for dinner, hope that is OK. I called and made a reservation for 9 people at 7:15p under Sharon. He said 7-715-7:30 is fine. I'll be in the bar, I hope, by 6:30p, so you can find us there before 7:15p.
Oompah!

Oh, that was nice. I still prefer greasy spoon gyros but everything was delicious, especially the sweetbreads and roe spread and that fabulous pita. I ate mostly bread, and I did not care.

Glad Gary & I could talk others at the table to try sweetbreads. It was one of the better meals I've had in Greektown ... not quite as good as GNR Avli, but still very good.

I really liked the pita (really delicious) and the sweetbreads. And the other dishes were quite good. I found the gyros overcooked. Perhaps they should remain streetfood.

I tried some new things and enjoyed some old favorites! I think the moussaka was better at Parthenon than I have had at Pegasus.
I have already eaten the couscous salad and scallop scallopini, both delicious!