Memorial Day Menus

What are you cooking for your crowd this year? We are thinking up menus more interesting than americana; maybe a grilled pork roast; maybe a nicoise platter; maybe taco bar. Inspiration?

I'm interested in how you will do a nicoise platter, annak. Our Memorial Day includes a family birthdays celebration, so ribs on the smoker for my rib-loving brother are a must. I was thinking of kabobs for the non-rib eaters (yes, it's complicated) because it may rain on Sunday when we are partying, and I can do them in the broiler. We can manage the smoker in the rain but not the grill too. Add a few salads--potato, fruit, green--and we're done for the main meal. Starters and dessert are yet to be determined, so I too am curious about others' ideas.

When I do the platter I make sure that the traditional elements are there - haricot vert, tomatoes, capers, olives, anchovies, hard-cooked egg, some kind of potato - and try to make them as elevated as possible, like roasting baby yukon golds, sous-vide-ing the eggs, sprinkling tomatoes with fleur de sel etc, and adding some untraditional elements like watercress, glazed carrots. Then arrange everything in clusters on the largest possible platter, and drizzle everything with a strong garlicy dijon sherry vinaigrette, and let guests build their own plates. The protein looks impressive if you grill a whole loin of tuna and slice. But you can also do a roasted or grilled side of salmon, or even grilled chicken.

Sounds great. Thanks!

ok, here's a question: what's the best cocktail using tart cherry juice?

annak wrote:ok, here's a question: what's the best cocktail using tart cherry juice?

A little gin, a little lime juice, some of that tart cherry juice and some club soda, and you've got a nice Rickey.

=R=

ronnie_suburban wrote:

annak wrote:ok, here's a question: what's the best cocktail using tart cherry juice?

A little gin, a little lime juice, some of that tart cherry juice and some club soda, and you've got a nice Rickey.

=R=

I was midway thru typing the same combo

I also like adding tart cherry juice to a combo of gin, Aperol and soda. Another I like is bourbon, cherry juice and a touch of ginger beer. Have fun!!

Homemade carnitas, salsa verde & tortillas. Watermelon for dessert with lime and salt. Can't get Chicago by way of Michoacan out of this STL girl and guy!

Homemade Indian tacos, which I will do again because I rarely get to pow wows.

German apple cake, because it was a family member's birthday.

Cherywood grilled rib eye, caramelized onions and shiitake mushrooms, Kishka from Romanian <--- Hey, the italics are working!

stevez wrote:Cherywood grilled rib eye, caramelized onions and shiitake mushrooms, Kishka from Romanian

As good, and I do mean very good, onions, mushrooms and perfectly grilled rib eye look its the kishka that has my heart skipping a beat!
Did you grill the kishka?
Who stole the kishka

G Wiv wrote:Did you grill the kishka?

Yes. Grilled Kishke is something I do often. It takes the smoke very well.

We have no crowd. We are staying home with our newish cat because of the fireworks.

Yesterday we ate at Dusek's. Today we are making homemade pizza on the grill.

Despite this abysmal cold, we are envisioning yard party weather, getting invites out and inspiration fueling for Memorial Day. We will do something on the Big Green Egg, probably ribs, but I'm working on side ideas that are oblique to traditional BBQ. Maybe roasted potato salad with creme fraiche and shallots; maybe miso slaw, etc. Definitely some coconut cream pie. What's on your menu?

I am thinking about short ribs. But the thing I am excited about is Brie, pear and pepper jelly sandwiches on sourdough, grilled on the grill.