We came, we stirred, we mixed, we drank, we...right, there was food too! Our 11th 'Tacular was heavy on the beverages, but also featured some delicious nibblies to help line our stomachs. Here's what we enjoyed at Karina and Christian's:
Beginning, middle, end...our entertaining hosts started us off with a yummy corn and bean salsa, grilled up some steak for a main, and finished us off with a tangy sour cream rhubarb pie. We washed this all down with rhubarb sours, mmm....bourbon. Midway through the evening Christian startled us with some backyard fire-lighting theatrics, which luckily did not end up requiring an emergency call to Dr. Linder.
Ayako chopped up a juicy watermelon salsa (with a jalapeno kick!) and served us tequila, of course. Oh, maybe it just tasted like straight tequila...right, she actually brought a watermelon cucumber refresher. For many, this cocktail really helped start the night.
Mark and Allison brought...more tequila! This time in Palomas (limey and grapefruity!) which were paired with a delicious avocado and grapefruit salad.
More salad! Sara and Dan dished out their lemony strawberry chicken creation -- this was accompanied by a watermelon, strawberry, lemonade rose sangria. Nice!
Kate and Ian went all Spanish, bringing little bites of pan-fried chorizo with quince jelly and cheese (Manchego?). On the beverage front they poured out a savoury gazpacho with vodka, garnished with fennel fronds.
Jeremy and Mei went with a Caribbean theme, bringing tasty homemade beef patties (vegetarian and meat versions, no less!) and Dark and Stormy cocktails made with ginger beer and rum. Yum! And, in honour of the premiere of the final Harry Potter movie, Mei stirred up a cauldron full of indulgent Butterbeer ---Professor Snape would have been proud.
And I sliced up some cucumber, feta and mint toasts to serve alongside a pitcher of Champagne Mint Juleps. Minty fresh -- better than toothpaste!
As always, click on the "'Tacular Memories" link at the top right of the
homepage for photos.
Linder, James, Jenn and Daniel -- we missed you!
So onto the next 'Tacular...Grilltacular! That's right, plug in those George Foreman grills and fire up those BBQs for some fat sizzling action. Where? Kate's. When? Saturday, September 24th. More details to come!
