Thanks for yet another great day in the park!

For anyone who's interested, here are the recipes I made today. Both quite simple as well.

http://laylita.com/recipes/2008/01/14/p ... pan-queso/
http://laylita.com/recipes/2014/01/16/p ... hot-sauce/

Thanks for another great picnic! I printed out the menu and thought between the two of us we'd do a bang-up job, but it appears we only got through about 20–25% of the chow. Sad.

There was still some of my banana cream pie & sloppy joes there when we left, so I left my serving stuff with it; did anyone pick up a Roeser's plastic pie server, a small metal ice cream scoop and a yellowish towel? If so, feel free to keep them, but I can also come pick them up. Let me know.

It was nice to visit with so many people, but if I snubbed anybody it was not intentional! It's hard to keep track of where everyone goes. Hi/'Bye/Good to see ya!

As always, the picnic was fabulous and once again we had great weather. I was a little hampered this year due to my 7 year old's sudden extreme bee/wasp phobia (stung once under the eye 4 weeks ago, then by 3 wasps a week later, and so now will not leave my side when outside lol), so sorry if I didn't get to say hi to many people this year. The food was all amazing as usual. It was probably the first time I can remember in forever that I actually was not able to eat dinner later.

As a quick request, does anyone know who brought the foccacia- like bread with roasted garlic and salt crystals on it? If they made it, I would absolutely love that recipe! If it was not homemade, then I would love to know who sells it!

My Turkish bulgur salad, aka kısır, comes from the UK Guardian newspaper New Vegetarian column by Yotam Ottolenghi (doubled).
I've got a bone to pick with Mr. Ottolenghi: That's waaaay more than 8 servings, even as a main course.

The chiles came from my garden, but nothing else.
Only changes from the recipe are the inclusion of about a cup and a half of toasted, chopped walnuts and almonds (for the doubled recipe) to match what I had at Haz restaurant in London, and garnishing with cucumber.

The foccacia came from Chouxfly.

borborigmy wrote:As always, the picnic was fabulous and once again we had great weather. I was a little hampered this year due to my 7 year old's sudden extreme bee/wasp phobia (stung once under the eye 4 weeks ago, then by 3 wasps a week later, and so now will not leave my side when outside lol), so sorry if I didn't get to say hi to many people this year. The food was all amazing as usual. It was probably the first time I can remember in forever that I actually was not able to eat dinner later.

As a quick request, does anyone know who brought the foccacia- like bread with roasted garlic and salt crystals on it? If they made it, I would absolutely love that recipe! If it was not homemade, then I would love to know who sells it!

chouxfly (bill) made/brought it. i believe the recipe is in the LTH recipe file (but i don't have time now to check)

chouxfly (bill) made/brought it. i believe the recipe is in the LTH recipe file (but i don't have time now to check)

I did find the recipe, and it looks great. Can't wait to try and make it.

Pie Lady wrote:There was still some of my banana cream pie & sloppy joes there when we left, so I left my serving stuff with it; did anyone pick up a Roeser's plastic pie server, a small metal ice cream scoop and a yellowish towel? If so, feel free to keep them, but I can also come pick them up. Let me know.

Hi,

I have the scoop and yellow towel. I might have the plastic pie server, though I am not 100% sure. I didn't finish unpacking the car last night. If I had known you were leaving these things, I would have suggested taking them. We can always find something else to serve with.

There was a woven wood basket, a red/white towel with a kitchen utensil motif and woman's glasses. Who is the owner?

Box cutter is with Hammond.

Regards,

I can pick them up next time I see you. No worries, the server was free and the scoop was from the dollar store! Pretty nice for a buck.

Cathy2 wrote:[
There was a woven wood basket, a red/white towel with a kitchen utensil motif and woman's glasses. Who is the owner?

the basket and towel are mine. the glasses are not. how convenient; you can put my basket and towel in my bucket and return them all together. thanks for grabbing them- i didn't mean to leave them behind.

HI,

Great!

We are down to two mystery objects: stylish women's sunglasses and a box cutter.

Did anyone take a picture of the Burmese ginger salad? Someone who wasn't there wanted to see what it looked like.

Thanks!

Regards,

I've just gotta give a shout out and a round of applause for Cathy2. She does this year after year. She gets the permit, gets to the site before anyone else, sets up, signs us all in, manages to somehow enjoy herself (laughing most of the time--it's infectious!), picks up after us and keeps track of who lost what. She's got boundless energy, a magical quality about her and is like the world's best den mother. I wish I had a bit of her tonic.

Thanks, Cathy, for putting together another epic picnic!

bean wrote:I've just gotta give a shout out and a round of applause for Cathy2. She does this year after year. She gets the permit, gets to the site before anyone else, sets up, signs us all in, manages to somehow enjoy herself (laughing most of the time--it's infectious!), picks up after us and keeps track of who lost what. She's got boundless energy, a magical quality about her and is like the world's best den mother. I wish I had a bit of her tonic.

Thanks, Cathy, for putting together another epic picnic!

Seconded with enthusiasm.

Box cutter is mine, I left it in case the pinata needed some encouragement. You'll see me or Fifille at an IMA meeting for sure.

What a wonderful picnic! Thank you all for the hard work, before, during and after. It was great seeing old friends and making new ones. Thank you!

bean wrote:I've just gotta give a shout out and a round of applause for Cathy2. She does this year after year. She gets the permit, gets to the site before anyone else, sets up, signs us all in, manages to somehow enjoy herself (laughing most of the time--it's infectious!), picks up after us and keeps track of who lost what. She's got boundless energy, a magical quality about her and is like the world's best den mother. I wish I had a bit of her tonic.

Thanks, Cathy, for putting together another epic picnic!

Thirded!! Cathy2 does her job so well that a lot of people don't notice how seamless this event runs. A big round of applause to Cathy!

A big thanks from me too!! And her weather karma is magnificent !!!!

Well said, bean! I am chiming in with my kudos as well. Thanks for another ver delicious and fun picnic. So grat to catch up with everyone!

A wonderful picnic. Cathy2...you are amazing! I did take a photo of your ginger salad. I will give a shot at posting it. By the way, I also loved your Boston Baked Beans and steamed brown bread. Such delicious dark flavors!

mbh wrote:

bean wrote:I've just gotta give a shout out and a round of applause for Cathy2. She does this year after year. She gets the permit, gets to the site before anyone else, sets up, signs us all in, manages to somehow enjoy herself (laughing most of the time--it's infectious!), picks up after us and keeps track of who lost what. She's got boundless energy, a magical quality about her and is like the world's best den mother. I wish I had a bit of her tonic.

Thanks, Cathy, for putting together another epic picnic!

Thirded!! Cathy2 does her job so well that a lot of people don't notice how seamless this event runs. A big round of applause to Cathy!

I agree - and also to the weather Karma!

Will there be a separate thread for asking about dishes and posting photos? I won't have any photos, but I rely on them to help me remember everything I ate! Plus there are recipes I'd love to know. Fortunately, JazzFood's chickpeas are already on the site, in his series on "Cool Yiayia." I suspect both the duck fried rice was purchased, but I'd love to know where, because it was fabulous. There are a load of other dishes I loved, but I thought I'd wait to find out if that discussion will be here or elsewhere.

And, as the others have done, I too wish to extend my gratitude to Cathy for her unfailing efforts in regards to all things food.

Does anyone know the name of the green leafy herb that someone brought to share?

razbry wrote:Does anyone know the name of the green leafy herb that someone brought to share?

shiso

Thanks Cathy for all of your hard work in pulling off another fantastic picnic, and yes, the weather could not have been better. I left very full and yet there was still plenty of food I didn't get to taste. But some things I do recall trying, and loving:

JoelF's terrific take on Kisir

Pairs4Life's wonderful pickles - so crisp and great flavor

Cynthia's sorghum cake - not only delicious but pretty unique

Foodie1's duck fried rice - loved it -- was this homemade or where did it come from?

Hellodali's terrific ice creams

Boudreaulicious' pork belly bo ssam, and in particular the kimchi and candied anchovies . . . yes, candied anchovies!

Stevez's pork chili with hatch chiles

Bean's wife's purple basil jelly - unique and delicious

Attrill's crostini, particularly the tomato bread that had great char-grilled flavor

Cathy2's Burmese ginger salad - all of my favorite flavors

Eating while walking's chicken boti -- Teresa made a version of this dish for one of the Montrose BBQs this summer . . . the two versions were different, but both were fantastic.

Jazzfood's Lenten chickpeas -- I loved his latest article, and he really brought the story's subject to life with this fantastic dish . . . the chickpeas were cooked so perfectly.

Turkob, Snap123 and Gastro Gnome's friekah-stuffed grape leaves

Petite-Gourmande - did you bring Vietnamese beef stew, and if so, how did I miss that???


Plenty of other items I missed but at some point I just couldn't eat any more. Thanks to everyone for the fantastic efforts. I also enjoyed the wonderful conversations and the opportunity to put a few more faces with LTH screen names. Until next year . . .

I'll second everything on BR's list -- outstanding goodies. (Well, maybe not the candied anchovies. I'm sure they were the best of what they were, but I'm not big on fishy sweets.)

I'd add to the list irisarbor's amazing mushroom-topped grilled polenta. I also finally scored one of Helen's egg rolls. Yum. There was a Thai (I think) fried rice with ham in it that was great -- don't remember seeing the sign identifying it or naming the maker. The grilled corn was great, too, but then I really love good corn.

Someday, I'll think to bring notepaper, so I can write things down. I'm certain that as other people post, I'll be saying, "yeah, that too."

But the strongest and most vivid impressions were created by that mushroom-topped grilled polenta, Jazzfood's chickpeas, the duck fried rice, the Thai fried rice, the pork belly, Pairs4Life's pickles, the basil jam -- and the event as a whole. Oh, and the very good cheese served with the basil jam.

Loved it all -- but if I had to pick only one thing, it would probably be the mushroom-topped polenta. (But glad I didn't have to pick just one thing.)

I also want to say thank you to whomever brought the Korean cucumber pickles. I suspect they might not have been homemade -- though if they were, I'd love to know how. But wherever they were created, I can eat those all day, every day. Even took some home with me.

Thank so much Cynthia,
I know you must have liked it as you mentioned it three times (blush)

<edited to remove my mistaken info...>

Three cheers for Cathy2! Thanks so much for your hard work... we all had a lovely time!

Pretty sure that Pigmon and Trixie Pea brought it--and it's the Naem Khao Tod from Rainbow. It was delicious and exactly like what they serve at the restaurant so you can have it any time

boudreaulicious wrote:Pretty sure that Pigmon and Trixie Pea brought it--and it's the Naem Khao Tod from Rainbow. It was delicious and exactly like what they serve at the restaurant so you can have it any time

Mike Sula was also in with Pigmon and Trixie Pea on the Naem Khao Tod from Rainbow.

--
edc

boudreaulicious wrote:Pretty sure that Pigmon and Trixie Pea brought it--and it's the Naem Khao Tod from Rainbow. It was delicious and exactly like what they serve at the restaurant so you can have it any time

Good to know -- as it was definitely something worth tracking down.