Small HH Food Exchange @ Qing Xiang, Tue Apr 25, 7 pm

Last month, at White Fence Farm, we all chowed down on exceptional fried chicken, and a few of us exchanged servings of dishes like Mushroom Pilaf, Israeli Lamb Shank, Beef Stew, and Cured Steak.

This month, we’ll balance out all that meat with Chinese dumplings from Qing Xiang Yuan Dumpling. It’s gotten mostly great reviews on LTH. Look here: viewtopic.php?f=14&t=42842

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.

You don’t need to bring something to exchange – you can just enjoy the dinner, the ordering power, 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. Please label your container (a small piece of paper taped to the container is fine). That way, we’re not all digging through our freezer, looking at blue containers and wondering what’s inside.

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. Please specify whether you’re coming for the dinner, the exchange, or (hopefully) both. 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 and their guests are welcome to join us for dinner, even if they are not bringing food to exchange.

Hope to see you there!

Tuesday, April 25 @ 7 pm

Qing Xiang Yuan Dumpling
2002 S Wentworth Ave
Chicago, Il 60616
312-799-1118


Dinner:
nr706
moetchandon
cookie monster
Pie Lady
Cathy2
Food Nut
GAF
Helen

Exchange: (three exchanges needed)
nr706 — Stuffed Calamari Steaks
moetchandon — Leek/Mushroom Chicken
Cathy2 — Bo Ssam, Korean pulled pork
Food Nut — cold noodle bowl with fresh veg/tofu

Unfortunately, I will be in North Carolina

I would like to attend.

Why that's right next door! Slap me down, Charlie. Both camps.

lougord99 wrote:Unfortunately, I will be in North Carolina

If your wife wants to attend, I can pick her up.

I plan to be there for everything!

Regards,
Cathy2

One for dinner and exchange

Count me in for dinner (not exchange).

GAF wrote:Count me in for dinner (not exchange).

Great! See you there.

Hi,

I am leaning toward making Bo Ssam, which is Korean pulled pork. I will supply rice and dipping sauce, but not the lettuce. I hope you may have some at home.

Regards,
Cathy2

So sorry, guys, I've overextended myself again and have no time this weekend to cook. I'll still be there for dinner, and by gum, I'll be back on the chuck wagon next time.

See you Tuesday!

I made Leek/Mushroom Chicken. See everyone tomorrow.

HI,

My friend Helen will join us for dinner tomorrow. It is so easy to tempt someone with the siren call of Chinese dumplings!

Regards,
Cathy2

I'm doing a cold noodle bowl with fresh veg/tofu. Will need to be eaten quick.

Reservation is made for 8 of us — earliest time I could get was 7:15, but I notified them that some may show up at 7. See you tonight!

Sorry to have missed. The next one is tight, but I am trying to arrange.