'Tacular #31: 'Tacular 'Tacular Round-Up!

'Tacular Nation! Our 31st spectacular 'Tacular was....'Tacular 'Tacular! A greatest hits of our first thirty 'Taculars as voted by you. Apparently we love meat, since there wasn't a single veggie or dessert dish chosen. OK, what'd we eat?

• Ayako and James started us off with a yummy bowl of scallop ceviche (Citrustacular)
• Mei and Jeremy laid out the fixings for their tasty Kung Pao chicken lettuce wraps (Cocktacular 3)
• Kate toted two (two!) hearty loaves of meatloaf Wellington, decorated with lovely pastry designs (Loaftacular)
• Sara and Dan sliced up deliciously tender brisket...who would've guessed it was marinated in a sauce that included both Coke and onion soup mix?! (Jewtacular)
• Karina and Christian braised up Mexican short-ribs (which, Christian admitted, had absolutely nothing to do with Mexican cuisine; it was just their way of sneaking the dish into Mexican-themed Cocktacular 4!)
• Short-ribs! There can never be enough short-ribs! I stacked up towers of polenta with a short rib ragu (Stacktacular); I also tossed up an arugula, pear, goat cheese, and toasted almond salad so we had at least one veg dish!
• And, finally, ladies and gents, 'Tacular is no longer SPAM-free! Even though Loco Moco did not get chosen as the Fergorman's #1 dish (which was Royales with cheese from Cinematacular), they were kind enough to grill up some 'delicious' slices of SPAM to serve alongside Daniel's wee burgers
• Dessert! Thanks to Ayako and Mei for bringing along some sweets so 'Tacular wouldn't be completely dessert-free (Ayako's infamous chocolate chip coffee shortbread; egg tarts and coconut cream buns courtesy of Mei)

We also chatted about some of our favourite 'Tacular memories. Who can forget:

• That time when Sara put together a BBQ while the boys stood around and tried to help?
• The legendary 'Daniel and Kate's screen door' incident?
• Sara's amazing "I am single" shirt from Trashtacular (worn whilst very, very preggo)
• And, of course, Linder's ice cream 'soup' (possibly the worst 'Tacular dish ever, except for maybe the Yugo surprise...sorry, Karina...)

I have a feeling that the tentacle porn discussion (complete, unfortunately, with visuals) which led to the "let's do Porntacular!" conversation might make the 'most memorable' list for our next 'Tacular 'Tacular.

And, people, we had commemorative tchotchkes! Big thanks to Jeremy for creating an awesome design which we printed up on tea towels, so that every time you dry your dishes you can reminisce about your favourite 'Taculars...OK, maybe not.

So, even though the Jays lost game 2 of the ALCS (*sniff*), it was a lovely evening filled with food, booze, and laughs. Onto the next thirty 'Taculars!

Marco, Laura, and Ian...we missed you! 

Our next 'Tacular will be Choppedtacular. Oh man, that one's going to be interesting. Based on ingredients picked out of a hat, each team is responsible for a specific course which must include four assigned ingredients. The rundown:

• Appetizers: Ground beef, shitake mushrooms, cheese, ramen (Sara/Dan, Jenn/Daniel)
• Mains: Quince, goat cheese, dried apricots, artichokes (Karina/Christian, Jeremy/Mei, Marco/Laura, Sandra)
• Dessert: Candied ginger, coconut milk, prosciutto, acorn squash (Ayako/James, Kate/Ian)

Um, good luck everyone? You've got three months to come up with your crazy-ass creation...see you in January!

'Tacular #30: Cocktacular 6 Round-Up!

 

Hey gang! So, our 30^th spectacular ‘Tacular was our sixth Cocktacular! We went with a British theme, in honour of the sixth Fast & Furious flick. Jenn and Daniel were our lovely hosts. So, what’d we enjoy?

• Ayako and James mixed up a bowl full o’ creamy guacamole with watercress and a pitcher full o’ tequila sangria
• Jenn and Daniel served dainty crustless tea sandwiches (tuna, egg, and cucumber), scones with clotted cream, and Pimm’s Cup
• Sara and Dan got creative with the theme, grilling up ‘mad cow’ beef kofta, served in mini pita with a tomato and cucumber salad…plus, ‘Mother’s Ruin’ gin punch!
• Mei and Jeremy assembled yummy Coronation chicken sandwiches,and shook up Eagle cocktails in honour of the Eagle Speedster featured in the movie
• Kate and Ian blended up watercress vichyssoise soup and mixed up Dubonnet cocktails
• And, I layered up a trifle with sponge cake, custard cream, and summer berries, washed down with a pitcher of Regent’s Punch

It was a lovely summer’s eve spent noshing and boozing on the Fergorman’s quaint patio (except for that racket from the cement mixer across the way…oy vey!).

 

Christian, Karina, Marco, and Laura…we missed you!

 

‘Tacular ‘Tacular, here we come!

 

 

Cocktacular 6 Dish Call

Well, I just don't know what we're bringing, but I'm hoping other people will post and give me some ideas. Meanwhile, here's this. (Is it me or does Vin look a little tired?)

Troptacular Round-Up!

Our 29th spectacular 'Tacular was Troptacular -- a celebration of tropical ingredients and dishes. Heck, some folks even donned tropical gear for kicks! Marco and Laura were our lovely hosts.  What'd we eat?

• Marco and Laura started us off with tasty coconut chicken skewers and a fruity tropical punch (with vodka!), and simmered up a Thai-style mango chicken curry; shout-out to Marco's floral South Beachy shirt
• Karina and Christian arrived in their finest hula gear (but where, where, was the coconut bra?!), and toted a coconut lime chicken salad with macadamia nuts....even the serving utensils were made of coconut shells!
• Mei (in her tropically dress) and Jeremy grilled up jerk chicken and served it with a grilled pineapple, peach, and coconut salsa
• Kate and Ian also fired up a grill, searing up a perfectly cooked pineapple-marinated flank steak, served with an Israeli couscous salad
• Sara and Dan cooked up tender Kahlua Kalua pulled-pork for sliders (ooh yeah, gimme a soft white fluffy bun any day...)
• Ayako (in her tropical crab-print blouse) mixed up a bowl full of tangy halibut ceviche with tequila (yes, please!)
• And to round out the mains, I made a batch of pineapple fried rice topped with crispy shallots and roasted cashew nuts, served in pineapple bowls; I didn't wear a lei, but I did wear some tropical colours in honour of our theme
• For dessert, Sara baked up a beautiful pineapple upside-down cake (fruit grilled on the BBQ!)
• Jenn finished off our meal with creamy homemade mango ice-cream, and stirred up a pitcher full of Dark and Stormys

James and Daniel...we missed you. (Well, technically, Daniel made a brief appearance and enjoyed the meal in his own kitchen with a screaming baby for company, but that doesn't really count I suppose!).

For photo memories, click on the "'Tacular Memories" link on our homepage.

The next 'Tacular will be Cocktacular 6, to be hosted by the Fergormans. I think there may be some sort of British theme?

Troptacular: Who the hell's bringing what???

Mei and I are throwing jerk chicken on the grill and pairing it with mango salsa. What are you kids bringing? Hopefully the Fergormans will show up with a newborn (to meet, not to eat).

Balltacular Round-up!

Gang, we've made it through 28 'Taculars. Woot! For our latest spectacular gathering we celebrated spherical, roly poly foods. The McMompsons were our lovely hosts this time around. So, what'd we roll?

• Kate and Ian skewered up tomato and bocconcini balls with basil oil, and bacon pops made with goat cheese, pecans, herbs, and apple slices....food on sticks, yes!
• Marco and Laura brought yummy arancini balls served with a marinara sauce
• Jenn and Daniel fried up delicious falafel balls -- worth the effort and the date with hot oil!
• Sara and Dan stewed up Dad's sweet and sour meatballs (whose Dad, though, I'm not sure...)
• The McMompsons rolled coconut chicken balls with nuts, and roasted us up a pot of baby potatoes
• I baked up savoury gougeres with Gruyere cheese
• What about dessert? Well, Ayako baked up her infamous cream puffs -- two kinds! Coconut and lemon
• The McMompsons rolled us two kinds of cake pops (lovely presentation, CMac!)
• And, JereMei won for most labour-intensive dishes -- fruit salad with what I call 'science balls'...coconut rum, and yogurt (Ferran Adria would be proud)....and, because that wasn't enough....they also made homemade Easter crème eggs!

For the first time I can remember, there were no leftovers. Which meant that either everything was very tasty (as always), and/or we've collectively figured out how to bring just enough food to feed fifteen people, and/or we were super hungry.

Plus, we had a full turn-out. Double woot!

The next 'Tacular will be Troptacular, hosted by Marco and Laura on Saturday, May 30th. Bring us your favourite tropical foods and dishes!

Balltacular! Who's rolling what?

Bring us your round, roly poly dishes. Post what you're making! I'll be baking up some savoury gougeres with Gruyere cheese.

Lit-Tacular Round-up!

Our 27^th spectacular ‘Tacular featured dishes from, or inspired by, literature. We enjoyed a delicious array of bookish delights. So, what’d we eat?

·        Ayako and James kicked things off with some wee mini quiches, inspired by Julie & Julia

·        From Game of Thrones, Karina and Christian ladled out a delicious chestnut soup topped with crispy sage and pancetta

·        Mei and Jeremy roasted up a Watership Down-inspired rabbit with carrots and, I think, chimichurri sauce (yes, a bit of a ‘cheat’ since it wasn’t technically a dish from a book…but it was yummy, so we won’t dole out any penalties this time :D)

·        I stewed up a lamb, prune, and apricot stew from The Hunger Games, served on top of Israeli couscous…fit for the residents of the Capitol!

·        Kate and Ian baked up a Thoreau-inspired hazelnut raisin bread…we even got to see the kneading action, in action!

·        Ayako baked up yummy Madeleines, from Proust’s Remembrance of Things Past

·        And…Jenn and Daniel brought a refreshing key lime pie, from Nora Ephron’s Heartburn

Marco, Laura, Sara, and Dan…we missed you!

As always, click on the 'Tacular Memories link on our homepage to see the photos.

The next ‘Tacular will be Balltacular, hosted by the McMompsons on Saturday, March 28^th. Bring us your round and roly-poly dishes!

 

Lit-Tacular: Who's Bringing What?

Post what you're making! I will attempt some kind of riff on the lamb and dried prune stew from The Hunger Games (probably with various dried fruits and maybe Moroccan flavours...).

A Double ‘Tacular Round-up! Cocktacular 5 & Wraptacular

Well….I’ve been a bit behind on posting the round-ups. Here, finally, are the recaps for our last two delicious gatherings. As always, click the "'Tacular Memories"link on our homepage for photographic memories. Hope to see you all at Lit-tacular!

'Tacular #25: Cocktacular 5 -- Hosted by Mei and Jeremy, August 2014

Oh my, this was our 25th Silver Anniversary 'Tacular. Gah, so many years of themed food nuttiness!

Alright, here we go...since Fast and Furious 5 was set in Rio, Cocktacular 5 had a Brazilian theme. Despite this, I did not spy any thongs, but who knows what Dan had on under his jeans...

Here's what we ate:

• For starters, Karen (Mei's cousin and Special Guest!) served a pretty beet, goat cheese, garlic and nut spread with cucumber slices
• Mei and Jeremy fired up Eggy and grilled a whole lotta meat (including chicken and a beef cut called, I believe, picanha); their carnivore's delight was served with farofa (crunchy topping featuring cassava flour), and chimichurri sauce
• Kate and Ian simmered a big pot of yummy Brazilian chicken, rice, and orange stew
• Dan and Sara served feijoada, a savoury black bean and pork stew (a chainsaw was nearly employed in the making of this dish!), and a big bowl of delicious "Everything Dan Hates" salad (hearts of palm, artichoke, tomato, onion, mayo, and lime)
• I baked up some mini Brazilian cheese breads (Pao de Queijo)
• For dessert? Ayako and James brought Brigadeiros (balls of chocolaty bon bon goodness)

And, here's what we drank:

• Potent Earl Grey cocktails with gin -- Ayako and James
• Minty Caipirinhas -- Sara and Dan
• Fizzy Amazonia cocktails made with sparking wine, Cachaca, lime, and apple -- Kate and Ian
• Tropical Coco Cabanas made with strawberries, pineapple juice, coconut water, coconut cream, Malibu, and Cachaca - me
• Some kind of crazy chocolate dessert cocktail that seemed to take an hour to make and had all sorts of ingredients including Nesquik and Cachaca - Mei

Marco, Laura, Jenn, Daniel, Karina, and Christian -- we missed you!

'Tacular #26: Wraptacular -- Hosted by Kate and Ian, November 2014
Who loves wrapped foods? We do! (OK, maybe not wrapped sandwiches, those are always kind of boring and soggy.) And so, a theme was born for our 26th spectacular 'Tacular. Here's the wrap-up (get it, get it?!)...

What did we eat?

• The McMompsons brought bacon-wrapped dates...ah, such tasty little morsels
• Kate and Ian baked up lots of pastry-wrapped apps and presented a perfectly golden "chicken rolled thing with green stuff and pine nuts" (so says the blog, if anyone can share a more detailed description of this dish, please do)
• Sara made delicious sundried tomato and Feta cheese roll-ups
• Jenn and Daniel rolled dozens of refreshing fresh rolls (shrimp and vegetarian), served with a peanut dipping sauce
• Jeremy and Mei grilled us yummy corn husk-wrapped halibut served with a charred corn salsa
• I sautéed chicken, shitake and veg to make a filling for Chinese lettuce (crystal) wraps, served with hoisin sauce and chopped peanuts
• For dessert, Ayako brought a beautiful apple and cranberry free-form tart

To my dismay, we wrapped, but did not rap. *sigh* Maybe next time.

Marco, Laura, and Dan -- we missed you!