Small Household Food Exchange, 2/28/17 @ Smak Tak

This evening, we had so much, we decided to do supper and exchange again! This time we will dance to the siren call of duck stuffed with dried fruits at Smak Tak. One of the best places for Polish food around.

What is the Small Household Food Exchange, you may ask.

Most importantly, it’s a gathering of like-minded folks at an interesting restaurant for a meal, taking advantage of the ordering power of a good number of people to share and sample a good number of menu items.

Although you don’t need to bring something to exchange - you can just enjoy the dinner and the camaraderie - the Small Household 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 for a whole week. Instead, we make 4-10 servings of one dish, and bring home 4-10 different dishes. Exchanging participants bring one pre-portioned serving of their food for every exchanger 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; 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, but we don't want 6-7 dessert offerings - everyone is mostly interested in main meals. (Check the Events Board, there’s a separate Dessert Exchange.)

The fine print
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.

There will be no restrictions on the food – we’re an omnivorous bunch. IF ANYONE HAS ANY ALLERGIES, PLEASE LET THE GROUP KNOW.

The containers/delivery system: Everyone in the group should use the GLADWARE 3 1/8 CUP PLASTIC CONTAINERS (7” x 7” square container 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 at least 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. As previously mentioned, other LTHers are welcome to join us for dinner, even if they are not bringing food to exchange.

Hope to see you there!

Tuesday, February 28 @ 7 pm

Smak Tak
5961 Elston Avenue
Chicago, IL 60646
(773) 763-1123

Dinner:
Cathy2
nr706
Sweet Willie
Pie Lady
Tarte Tatin
Food Nut
Jennie & LouGord
Moetchandon

Exchange: (an the dish you plan to bring)
Cathy2 - Sarma
nr706 - egg rolls of miscellaneous varieties
Sweet Willie - Marinated, grilled London Broil
Pie Lady
Food Nut - Butternut Squash Casserole with Leeks, Prosciutto and Thyme
LouGord - paella
Moetchandon - something with beef shanks

In for both.

IN for both dinner and my first exchange.

At this point I'll bring marinated, grilled London Broil.

I'm in for dinner and exchange. Exchange TBD. Looking forward to the dinner.

In for both. Not sure what I'm making as usual. I may even buy the right Tupperware.

I'm in - - for dinner only at this point.

Pie Lady wrote:I may even buy the right Tupperware.

based upon these instructions, I know I need to by the proper containers!

Cathy2 wrote:The containers/delivery system: Everyone in the group should use the GLADWARE 3 1/8 CUP PLASTIC CONTAINERS (7” x 7” square container with a blue lid).

HI,

The beauty of the same container, you don't have to worry about matching tops and bottoms. Look-alikes just don't fit as well, so you have to carefully pair them. If you give an odd container, you usually get it back the next month.

Regards,
Cathy2

In for both.

Jennie and I will be there. Count us as 2 for dinner and 1 for exchange. We will bring paella.

I know the exchange is a bit in the future but I will be making something with beef shanks. Either a soup or stew.

Cathy, please asdd me to the exchange and dinner. I didn't see me listed.

moetchandon wrote:Cathy, please asdd me to the exchange and dinner. I didn't see me listed.

Done!

Am I correct that Smak Tak is BYOB?

According to Metromix, they still are, with no corkage fee.

I've been playing with making egg rolls lately. So I'll contribute egg rolls of miscellaneous varieties.

nr706 wrote:I've been playing with making egg rolls lately. So I'll contribute egg rolls of miscellaneous varieties.

In case you need them earlier, I will bring the Mardi Gras party the containers I did not bring to the last exchange.

Regards,
Cathy2

Hi,

IF anyone else wishes to attend next week, please consider signing up by Friday. People tend to make their food over the weekend.

Thanks!

Regards,
Cathy2

Hi,

I called the restaurant making a reservation for nine.

I have ordered one duck costing $36. They tend to do a large duck with a fruit filling based on prior experience.

If we want a second duck, we have to advise by Friday (today).

My feeling with pierogi, other dishes et al, one may be enough.

Regards,
CAthy

Cathy2 wrote:My feeling with pierogi, other dishes et al, one may be enough.

I concur (thanks for taking the lead)

Hi,

I am likely making Sarma, the Yugoslav stuffed cabbage using sauerkraut cabbage.

I made them for the first time recently and welcome a re-do.

I was considering Cassoulet, but I'd rather practice on my family a few more times.

Food nut - if you wish to repeat the soup made from Soup and Bread, I'm sure people will like it. Everyone else did!

Regards,
CAthy

I'm glad my carrot soup was well received! Right now I'm sick of soup as I also had to make soup for a work thing last week. Therefore, see you soon with Butternut Squash Casserole with Leeks, Prosciutto and Thyme
http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/butt ... -and-thyme

Food Nut wrote:I'm glad my carrot soup was well received! Right now I'm sick of soup as I also had to make soup for a work thing last week. Therefore, see you soon with Butternut Squash Casserole with Leeks, Prosciutto and Thyme
http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/butt ... -and-thyme

Sounds wonderful!

This is why being a home cook is great place in life. You can make what you want and avoid repetition.

Regards,
Cathy2

Sorry for the late notice but I can't cook for tomorrow. I have an obscene amount of deadlines that are taking up my time. Apologies. I'll still be there to visit help out with the duck

Pie Lady wrote:Sorry for the late notice but I can't cook for tomorrow. I have an obscene amount of deadlines that are taking up my time. Apologies. I'll still be there to visit help out with the duck

It will be nice to see you!

There are six exchange participants. We each bring five portions.

Regards,
Cathy2

Cathy2 wrote:There are six exchange participants. We each bring five portions.

Regards,
Cathy2

darn, I was hoping to have seconds of what Mrs Willie & I just ate for dinner. It was nice of the weather to hold off the rain so I could grill the flank steak, beautiful February evening for grilling.

5 portions it is!

Just a little note that we're supposedly going to have some severe weather...maybe even a tornado...so be careful.

And now some more important stuff...anybody bringing paczkis?

I'm having palpitations about the weather since I live in tornado alley! Dependent on whether I'm not sure I'll stay for dinner --can we exchange first?

Food Nut wrote:I'm having palpitations about the weather since I live in tornado alley! Dependent on whether I'm not sure I'll stay for dinner --can we exchange first?

I just arrived. I'm fine with exchanging first.

Small world, sitting here and noticed a person with take out looking at the 3 LTH awards on the wall of Small Tak. Chatted a bit, turns out he reads LTH