Spring Smoke '08 – "The Plan"

I am still wrapping my head around the volume of food that was prepared and consumed at “Spring Smoke '08”. Trying to write about and share it with you is becoming more and more daunting each passing moment. As with the still AWOL Marché review, finding a place to start is the hard part.

I think I have a singularly doable concept for the blogging of this carnivoric feast. Each day is a different item or course. Today, “The Plan”.
First let me give you a rundown of the final menu:
Smoked protein – Spare Ribs, Leg of Lamb, Whole Duck, Split Pigs Feet and Octopus, yeah, yeah, I know - eeewww octopus. I am sure some of you are already asking “WTF was he thinking” Well, here is the general thought… I am firing up the smoker for most of a day, smoke the biggest variety meats I can lay hands on.
Non smoked protein – Pompano in parchment paper (here fishy, fishy)
Cheese – Mt Tam, Bucheron, …damn it, drawing a blank on the names of the other two cheeses. (I Have to remember to wirte this stuff down, or save labels). One cheese was a really nice Brie, and the final fromage was an aged smoke Gouda that had “crunchies”(more about cheese crunchies some other time).
Sides – The planned list of sides was extensive in the beginning, but was winnowed down when the tired and wilted brains involved could no longer manage to hold the entire meal plan together without seeing the inevitable crash and burn of the entire meal. That’s not to say that everything went completely to pot or as planned, just that the enthusiasm for the planning out stripped the ability to execute in the alloted time and we caught it before all hell broke loose.
Celeriac Rémoulade – Celery Root Salad
Savory Mushroom Tart
Roasted Vegetables
Caesar Salad
Radishes with Parmesan and Irish Butter
Drinks – Chimay, Italian Lemon Soda, Water, Coffee

The Plan:
Time line – Get my sleepy butt out of bed at 6:30 to be presentable by 9:30 and onsite at Whole Foods to meet Cousin and find the finishing touches. This is a bad place for she and I to meet up... I could spend hours in Whole Foods, and I have, but the two of us together. Fugitaboutit! So after spending longer than expected but not too much longer we head back to the house. She has her fish and vegetables, I have the bread, some olives, and 2 bunches of organic radishes… I <3>

Back at the house, my first task is to remove the forgotten laundry basket from the living room and close the door to the train wreck that is my office, then fire up the smoker/grill. (Real hardwood charcoal only please) and start the wood chip soak. I also had to start a huge stock pot of boiling water to parboil the ribs. “BLASPHEMY!” you cry in outrage, and I might normally agree but I didn’t have 18 hours to smoke the ribs or a kitchen lackey to tend the smoker all night while I slept… so they needed a kickstart.

Once all the heat sources were working, Cousin and I finished gathered up the various bits and pieces into a central locale and proceeded to assemble dishes, and lest I jump ahead mine self, I will stop here and let you stew in your own thoughts about the recipes to come.

So I have a vision for the week. A plan as it were… Better than my usual “Let’s write something entertaining and hope someone reads it “ plan.

Tomorrow Smoked Leg of Lamb and what to do with the leftovers.

Cheers

Chris

P.S.
To everyone that came – YOU ROCK!!!