Pubtacular dish call!

Who's bringing what? Sign me up for some sort of curry with rice and chutney. Post your contribution in the comments section!

Fungitacular Round-up!

Umami madness! For our 17th spectacular ‘Tacular we celebrated fungi in many of its glorious forms. Mushrooms, blue cheese, miso, yeast…. Despite having perhaps the smallest turn-out for a ‘Tacular ever, there was no shortage of scrumptious dishes to nosh on. Here’s what filled our bellies:

Our lovely hosts, Kate and Ian, stirred up a wild mushroom risotto and some yummy red miso-glazed carrots. Miso and carrots, eh? Huh! Two things that are often lying around my fridge, woulda never have thought to put them together. Thanks for the tip!

Karina and Christian, still glowing from their Chi-town encounter with The Boss (OK, maybe that was just Christian) brought a delightful caramelized leek and mushroom soup with buttery croutons. Big bowls of fungi love. But not as big as Karina’s love for Kevin, apparently. (Oprah vs. Kevin? Kevin, always and forevah!)

Jenn and Daniel made fabulous polenta rounds with a mushroom ragout and Gorgonzola cream sauce. A la minute even! And, bonus points for bringing a double fungi dish. Well done Fergormans!

For dessert, Ike and James brought a rich and sticky gingerbread cake topped with super-cute meringue mushrooms. No fungi in the recipe, but representing nonetheless. Yum. And, was it just me, or did the cake look appropriately like the floor of a forest with the mushrooms sprouting out of it?

And I rolled up my sleeves and fried up some yeast donuts – lime and toasted coconut, and chocolate with sea salt. Hmmm, maybe I shouldn’t have rolled up my sleeves as I am now sporting some hot oil splatter burns on my forearms. Sacrifice in the name of ‘Tacular, the pain was worth it! Oh, and I also provided some bluefoot mushroom mousseline. Creamy, subtle, mushroomy, oui!

Mei and Jeremy, Sara and Dan, Marco and Laura – we missed you all!

The next ‘Tacular will be Pubtacular with a proposed date of Saturday, November 24th. My assumption was that we will be focusing on British pub food, though I suppose we can just make it pub food in general to broaden the choices. Yeah?

For photo memories - click on the 'Tacular Memories link, as always.

Fungitacular - What are you bringing?

I'll be frying up some mini donuts of various flavours (in celebration of yeast, a fungi, who knew?!) and will bring a bluefoot mushroom mousseline with crackers. For those who aren't aware (and I wasn't, until just now), fungi is not just about mushrooms -- perhaps this will provide some inspiration!:

http://www.livestrong.com/article/271388-list-of-fungus-foods/

See you at Kate and Ian's!

Cocktacular 3: Tokyo Drift -- Round-up!

Well, who knew that Cocktacular 3: Tokyo Drift was our 16th spectacular ‘Tacular?! I didn’t…that’s a lot of eating and drinking under our belts folks. Well done!

Ayako and James bravely hosted what was probably the stickiest ‘Tacular of all. This annual summer cocktail extravaganza had an Asian twist. Our hosts did an excellent job of bringing the theme to life with their awesome t-shirts, arty tableaux, film and music selections.

Cocktacular 3 was also Marco and Laura’s first ‘Tacular – welcome Pettas! Actually, Marco was stuck at home nursing his delicate gums, but he was the mastermind behind the delicious shrimp canapés and mango passion cocktails that Laura served up. Marco, we look forward to having you grace us with your presence next time!

OK, so what did everyone else bring? Well, I have to admit that the fact that my cocktail was rather labour intensive to make distracted me from documenting everyone’s delicious delights, but here’s what I recall…

Mei and Jeremy fired up the wok (or frying pan) and tossed up some tongue-tingling Kung Pao chicken. Pow! We washed down our tasty lettuce packets with Lotus Blossom cocktails featuring lychees and sake.

Kate and Ian touted a refreshing chicken soup with lime, chillies and basil. For their cocktail, they stirred up some….gimlets? No, I don’t think they were gimlets. Were they? Can anyone help me out here?

Sara and Dan baked up some yummy sticky hoisin-glazed chicken wings and mixed up plum wine lime spritzers (I’m pretty sure about this, but please comment to correct me if I’m wrong folks!).

Karina and Christian cooked up some Thai Sloppy Joes and Soho cocktails with lychee liqueur and Blue Curacao. What’s not to love about a blue cocktail?

Ayako and James fried up mini tonkatsu, and provided a lovely assortment of nibblies including: edamame, homemade guacamole (because everything tastes better with guac), Japanese crackers, ginger shortbread, matcha cookies, and GIANT POCKY. They also offered up various flavours of chu-hais made with shochu. Fizzy fun!

I was in the kitchen shaking up the aforementioned labour-intensive Thai Boxers (coconut milk, rum, coriander, Thai basil, mint and a bunch of other things I can’t remember). For dessert I laid out a make-your-own Asian shaved ice dessert buffet with lots of crazy toppings (canned corn anyone?). Christian emerged as King of the Ice Shaver showcasing an enthusiasm for the machine that perhaps no one expected (ah, alcohol! Christian...remember, Connie and Ryan’s Shaved Ice Hut. We can make it happen.)

Jenn and Daniel – we missed you!

As always, click on the 'Tacular Memories link on our homepage for some pics.

‘Tacular #17 will be Fungitacular on Sat, Sept 22nd, to be hosted by Kate and Ian. Let the foraging begin!

Cocktacular 3: Tokyo Drift

Saturday, July 7, 2012, at Ayako & James'.

Jeremy and I will be bringing Lotus Blossom cocktails and Kung Pao Chicken in appetizer form.  Post your offering in the comments section, and don't drive that night!

Babytacular dishes!

Posting on behalf of Jenn who will be bringing veal goulash with spatzle!

Stewtacular!

February 11, 2012, at my place, 6:30.

Mei and I will be making a coconut milk tapioca fruit stew. That's right, a dessert stew.

Post your contributions in the comments.

If Only We Had Seen This Before Trashtacular

The trashiest of the trash -- available for just $2 apiece!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/jenuinecrafts?section_id=10014598