tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46647272371301485822024-02-19T08:41:50.574-08:00Cook into CulturesCooking and Dining Club JourneyCook Culturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623781524828166036noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4664727237130148582.post-43085261878401228012010-02-15T19:11:00.000-08:002010-02-15T19:47:34.468-08:00Garlic, Onion and Chorizo - Portugeese Main Courses<a href="http://www.quotelucy.com/quotations/7335/205435-portuguese-proverb-quote.html">Quote of the Concept</a><i><br />
"</i>For each mouth, a different soup." Portuguese Proverb<br />
<br />
It seems that the Portuguese use garlic, onion and a lovely Chorizo sausage to flavor their cooking as much as other cultures use salt and water, with the outcome as aromatic and enticing taste delights. <br />
Carol, a Portuguese American friend and cook extraordinary recommended most of the following menu. Tied for first place were the Portuguese Clams Stew and the Chorizo Stuffing in the chicken. (Yes, ‘clams’ is plural on purpose and there is Chorizo in it.) Second place tie was the St. John’s Club Kale Soup (more Chorizo) and the Salad (No Chorizo!). St. John’s Club is located in River Falls, Massachusetts where 47% of its current citizens claim Portuguese heritage and is the hometown of Carol and Emeril Lagasse. The soup recipe may come from Massachusetts but YELLS Portuguese authenticity.<br />
The Salt Cod Count of Guarda link below is not the exact recipe we used; it is very close. <br />
Celebrating Portugal Main Course Menu included:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEM5PHoxOEsiZB8X8hnErSYhYuuiWR-ds5mSKztJXBvB1WNiriIui45Zd_B2R5XS2ICkKEnX90mHBSZd_N8nuJWs-RafgKoWeHRBoilFFmft_pWr55adSiWJI22uVFotrxetqW-t4PGOs/s1600-h/Flag+jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEM5PHoxOEsiZB8X8hnErSYhYuuiWR-ds5mSKztJXBvB1WNiriIui45Zd_B2R5XS2ICkKEnX90mHBSZd_N8nuJWs-RafgKoWeHRBoilFFmft_pWr55adSiWJI22uVFotrxetqW-t4PGOs/s200/Flag+jpg.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">^St. a Sopa de Couve de Clube de John<br />
(<a href="http://www.emerils.com/recipe/628/St.-Johns-Club-Kale-Soup">St. John’s Club Kale Soup</a>)<br />
<br />
*Salada de Arroz, Atum e Tomate<br />
(Rice, Tuna and Tomato Salad)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/portuguese-clams-stew-recipe/index.html">Carne Cozida de Amêijoas de Portugeese (Portuguese Clams Stew)</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="http://www.epinions.com/content_1353162884">*Bacalahu a Conde da Guarda</a><br />
Salt Cod Count of Guarda<br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/chorizo-stuffed-roasted-chicken-recipe/index.html">^Chorizo Encheu Galinha Assada</a><br />
(Chorizo Stuffed Roasted Chicken)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
*Costeletetas de Porco a Alentejana<br />
(Pork Chops <a href="http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/a0fb3/45daa/2/">Alentejo-</a>Style)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Recipes from:<br />
*<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Food-Portugal-Jean-Anderson/dp/0688134157/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1264314752&sr=1-1">The Food of Portugal by Jean Anderson </a><br />
1986, updated 1994 HarpersCollins Publishers </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1vwiB4yyTn3UImRCZcGcbj9M1NlbPlD6ompHFjlbsCpPj7EJnjDyExl2nfVbRd2fo71SRIe1lX-aDyIB-dI3lH0P_x7ckY5xWwoK6MUk-DK1W1WmbWCSKa0_ipa43ymPIuoOPVkM7CAA/s1600-h/61FX21P3TFL._SL160_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-dp,TopRight,12,-18_SH30_OU01_AA115_-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1vwiB4yyTn3UImRCZcGcbj9M1NlbPlD6ompHFjlbsCpPj7EJnjDyExl2nfVbRd2fo71SRIe1lX-aDyIB-dI3lH0P_x7ckY5xWwoK6MUk-DK1W1WmbWCSKa0_ipa43ymPIuoOPVkM7CAA/s320/61FX21P3TFL._SL160_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-dp,TopRight,12,-18_SH30_OU01_AA115_-1.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.borders.com/online/store/TitleDetail?sku=0688163785&schid=GGL%7CG_Cooking+and+Food+Tk%7CG_Famous+Cooks+and+Restaurants+T%7CEmeril%27s+TV+Dinners">^Emeril’s TV Dinners by Emeril Lagasse</a><br />
1986 William Morrow and Company, Inc.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv1zxWzC9w79dJM_-tL0C7JnKELbUOXhA6Ld0aq8Me_2GzHfR8UXe1d_C2fZ0p7qo12qN1XZeNamP0EMSNEONPiNt8je0BQ9Ue-TiKcaGBmqx7OjjEgjuf94PYWYKgEKU4WzseATb4vM0/s1600-h/41ZHjRHfIfL._SS400_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv1zxWzC9w79dJM_-tL0C7JnKELbUOXhA6Ld0aq8Me_2GzHfR8UXe1d_C2fZ0p7qo12qN1XZeNamP0EMSNEONPiNt8je0BQ9Ue-TiKcaGBmqx7OjjEgjuf94PYWYKgEKU4WzseATb4vM0/s200/41ZHjRHfIfL._SS400_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">+ Food Network contributed by Emeril Lagasse<br />
<a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/portuguese-clams-stew-recipe/index.html">www.foodnetwork.com<span id="goog_1264313556810"></span><span id="goog_1264313556811"></span></a><br />
2010 Scripps Networks, LLC <br />
<br />
<br />
</div>Cook Culturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623781524828166036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4664727237130148582.post-17885523683742375162009-12-13T15:30:00.000-08:002009-12-14T22:09:30.548-08:00Heart and Soul of a Dining Cooking Club: What makes it work?<div class="MsoNormal"><i><a href="http://www.gaia.com/quotes/50638/what-we-know-about-individuals/by-unknown#ixzz0ZH3BJHSE" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Quote of the Concept</span></a></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What we know about individuals, no matter how rich the details, will never give us the ability to predict how they will behave as a system. Once individuals link together they become something different ... Relationships change us, reveal us, evoke more from us. Only when we join with others do our gifts become visible, even to ourselves.</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"> Source: </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Off the net... </span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Contributed by: </span><a href="http://newparadigmdigest.gaia.com/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Jeff Hutner</span></span></a></span></span></span></i><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This dinner club is noted for it’s outstanding food, cultural research, and playful experimentation. Those aspects alone would make it a group worthy of membership. Deeper reflection uncovers what makes it a deeply soul satisfying experience and changes us each time we meet.<br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Our Dining Club </span><br />
<div class="smaller clearfix" style="display: block; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What makes it work?<br />
<i> Flexibility,<br />
Collaboration<br />
Curiosity</i><br />
<i>Delightful Flair<br />
Inquisitive Listening<br />
Artistry - Creativity</i><br />
<i> Generosity of spirit</i><br />
Sharing of<br />
research,<br />
recipes,<br />
shopping,<br />
ingredients,<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> cooking,<br />
presentation,<br />
drinks,<br />
<i> dining</i></span></span><br />
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>and stories</i><i> - ours and the people we meet</i> </span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">Generous Curious Hearts</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> without pretension or competition </span><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="0" src="http://counters.gigya.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=2000002.0NXC/bHQ9MTI2MDc1NjMwODIwMiZwdD*xMjYwNzU2NDI4MzQ5JnA9MjA2NDIxJmQ9Yjc5MzExOCZuPWJsb2dnZXImZz*yJm89ZGQxNjE3NDE4OWZmNGNiNjlhMGFlNjE3MjBkOGEwMzQmb2Y9MA==.gif" style="height: 0px; visibility: hidden; width: 0px;" width="0" /><object height="360" width="480"><param value="http://voicethread.com/book.swf?b=793118" name="movie"/><param value="transparent" name="wmode"/><embed width="480" src="http://voicethread.com/book.swf?b=793118" wmode="transparent" height="360" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object><br />
</div></div>Cook Culturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623781524828166036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4664727237130148582.post-56477561331433600592009-12-12T19:14:00.000-08:002009-12-13T13:49:55.465-08:00Four Legged Foodie Critic<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><a href="http://www.wtv-zone.com/Mary/QUOTESFROMDOGLOVERS.HTML">Quote of the Concept</a></i></span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>If your dog is fat, you aren't getting enough exercise. </i></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyTnWlnvI2kb875imH5_GgnfSuSkxMvlH5ZEuUWkjVKW9IZbHKJX815Sp23kaEXzgEDjfvXn8xpNks4O8k1ukheXR4IkjxXKTLwY232M0kgXfR0Dmncp3dP-I8JHkU3RIuBqjKUviJvUc/s1600-h/2009-12-05_IMG_3488_20091205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyTnWlnvI2kb875imH5_GgnfSuSkxMvlH5ZEuUWkjVKW9IZbHKJX815Sp23kaEXzgEDjfvXn8xpNks4O8k1ukheXR4IkjxXKTLwY232M0kgXfR0Dmncp3dP-I8JHkU3RIuBqjKUviJvUc/s200/2009-12-05_IMG_3488_20091205.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnPn2C8T5TKjQ3Teo4wwhjvDcThr-u33GaIzKnCm-Hp2CqKsDFC8OjU6Ny3V-4pL9Db7VsKMlDSv4FtFsbuGKMWvbph7x6jJf55Di-jEHVoVrPeWmqsoGOZUnNZ7G6ZDxxyvEKIGsxUVI/s1600-h/IMG_1947.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnPn2C8T5TKjQ3Teo4wwhjvDcThr-u33GaIzKnCm-Hp2CqKsDFC8OjU6Ny3V-4pL9Db7VsKMlDSv4FtFsbuGKMWvbph7x6jJf55Di-jEHVoVrPeWmqsoGOZUnNZ7G6ZDxxyvEKIGsxUVI/s200/IMG_1947.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: small;">Cook into Culture Dining Club had been keeping a memory record of our menus in a three ring binder. Not very high tech but it worked until a new member joined our group. Both he and Sofia relish the wonderful smells of our creations. </span><span style="font-size: small;"><i> <br />
</i></span><br />
</div><br />
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgijYOBj6R78kN3hxgofySgVgdbXefF6hQB33b1zMNCM7fWqCvXGmjFkQTa8qFYRGUcxep195XYxRu-3pZVi6Czd_1PTQZHkTGz4tTufviyKf8TcXcnpMme7JsTiiWT-aRQCruQTKHbAcM/s1600-h/2009-12-05_IMG_3487_20091205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgijYOBj6R78kN3hxgofySgVgdbXefF6hQB33b1zMNCM7fWqCvXGmjFkQTa8qFYRGUcxep195XYxRu-3pZVi6Czd_1PTQZHkTGz4tTufviyKf8TcXcnpMme7JsTiiWT-aRQCruQTKHbAcM/s200/2009-12-05_IMG_3487_20091205.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"> We think the food smells permeated our binder as Riley the ENERGETIC decided to chew it. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">We're taking it as a positive review of our culinary skills. Next time we have a dinner club we'll have to make Riley his own cuisine. Dr. Fox a veterinarian who has a column promoting healthy care for pets offers these <a href="http://www.twobitdog.com/DrFox/Dr-Fox-Homemade-Dog-Food">homemade dog food recipe</a> and <a href="http://www.twobitdog.com/DrFox/ShowDrFoxArticle.aspx?ID=964">DR. FOX''S BEST DOG-COOKIE RECIPE</a> as healthy food for our dog pets. Bon appetit Riley. </span><br />
</div>Cook Culturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623781524828166036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4664727237130148582.post-68762868434881419532009-12-08T22:00:00.000-08:002009-12-15T20:47:03.313-08:00Hoban Korean Restaurant in Eagan, Minnesota<i><a href="http://www.hobanrestaurant.com/aboutus.html">Quote of the Concept</a></i><br />
<i>The best way to experience Korean food is to come in and try for yourself! Hoban web pages</i><br />
<table bgcolor="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://smilebox.com/play/4d5449354e5455794f54493d0d0a&blogview=true&campaign=blog_playback_link" target="_blank"><img alt="Click to play this Smilebox scrapbook: " height="303" src="http://smilebox.com/snap/4d5449354e5455794f54493d0d0a.jpg" style="border: medium none;" width="386" /></a><br />
</td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/?partner=smilebox&campaign=blog_snapshot" target="_blank"><img alt="Create your own scrapbook - Powered by Smilebox" height="46" src="http://www.smilebox.com/globalImages/blogInstructions/blogLogoSmileboxSmall.gif" style="border: medium none;" width="386" /></a><br />
</td></tr>
<tr><td align="center"><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/scrapbooks" target="_blank">Make a Smilebox scrapbook</a><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
The scrap book tells the success story of the wonderful visit we had to <a href="http://www.hobanrestaurant.com/index.html">Hoban Korean Restaurant</a>. We all will return many times in the future. Besides delightful food, the service was attentive and the ambiance engaging. Our table was ready for us when we arrived and set with beautiful metal chop sticks. Over our three hour stay the restaurant was busy, but not overly crowded, with all generations of guests. Eight young adult Korean American girlfriends celebrating a birthday at the table next to us added to our enjoyment. At all times we could converse and hear each other.<br />
<br />
Before you go be sure to visit their <a href="http://www.hobanrestaurant.com/index.html">web pages</a> and peruse the <a href="http://www.hobanrestaurant.com/menu.html">menu </a>which has tempting photographs of each choice if you mouse over the text. That overview helps to clarify questions to ask when ordering. Our servers were instructive and guided us well between choices on the <a href="http://www.hobanrestaurant.com/menu.html">menu</a> and shared information about the food when serving it. When we asked advice of one young man, he would explain, "In my country..." Because we are as interested in learning about the food culture of Korea, as dining well, his candor and coaching increased an already positive evening. The freshness of the food, the wonderful favors, generous portions, and reasonable prices all added to our positive dining experience.Cook Culturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623781524828166036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4664727237130148582.post-4649875810108479572009-12-05T22:49:00.000-08:002009-12-13T13:43:19.380-08:00Subo (Pan- Asian mostly Filipino cusine)<i><a href="http://suboexperience.com/about">Quote of the Concept</a></i><br />
<i>Sabotage’, from the French language, meaning to deliberately destroy. ‘Subo’, from the Tagalog language of the Philippenes, meaning to feed. By combining these two words I like to call your dining with us a deliberate feeding. With my background growing up in my filipino home under the comfort of my mother’s cooking, and my formal french training under great chefs from the west coast to the east coast, I blend the two experiences to create a uniquely energetic dining experience. Neil Guillen, Chef</i><br />
<br />
Earlier I wrote about finding great restaurants on references from friends; what follows is good example of how folks who love to eat and to celebrate cultures network. Gary King, a friend from the <a href="http://www.philippinescholars.org/index.php">Philippine Scholars </a>program wrote the following unsolicited message; it is shared with his permission. <br />
<br />
Friend,<br />
<a href="http://suboexperience.com/">Subo</a> at 89 South 10th Street, between Nicollet and Marquette. <br />
Glen and I and Joe and Rose ate dinner last night at a “soft” opening of the newest Minnapolis restaurant, SUBO = “to feed”, and it was super. Not only because our son Geoff is the sous chef, and because the top chef Neil is Filipino, but also because it was a happy, friendly, charming place, with amazing food.<br />
<br />
They offer Pan-Asian food, mostly Filipino. We had <a href="http://suboexperience.com/menu">Sinigang soup with shrimp and mussels, chicken adobo, lumpia Shanghai, green papaya salad, garlic fried rice, sweet pork sausage (candy pork), breaded tilapia (nearly like coconut shrimp), lechon Kawali, and then three desert sampler with turon wrapped in banana leaves, with a mango sauce, a chocolate mousse, and coconut crème broulee with lemon grass. </a> (Six people, $80)<br />
<br />
Fantastic food.<br />
<br />
Some of their description: Subo is a dynamic new restaurant with fresh and friendly service that welcomes adventure, culture and a sense of style. Our chef, Neil Guillen, brings his Filipino background along with his classical French technique to deliver a unique food experience. Located in downtown Minneapolis, Subo offers great ingredients prepared on small plates meant to be shared. <br />
<br />
They have about <a href="http://suboexperience.com/menu">25 dishes</a>. Each plate costs $5 to $7. If each person in your party orders two plates, you have a great meal, and not too expensive. They can compete with fast food downtown, since their plates are quick to be served. ALL THINGS ARE COOKED FRESH, ON SITE!<br />
<br />
Today, it is now open for lunch and dinner, all days but Sunday and major holidays. Lots of meters on the streets, free after 6 PM. You might arrange for a private party, especially brunch, in the future.<br />
<br />
Call 612-886-2377 for reservations. Host Ian and manager Johann will treat you well, especially if you say the Kings sent you! Ask if Geoff is on duty. They have many details about the concept of the restaurant, the foods, the cultures. They love to talk about it: and show it!!!!<br />
<br />
The cuisine is amazing!!!<br />
Happy dining!<br />
<br />
Gary<br />
<br />
Geoff King is sous chef, and he studied at NECI, the New England Culinary Arts Institute <a href="mailto:Geoffrey@suboexperience.com">Geoffrey@suboexperience.com</a> <br />
Neil Guillen is the head chef. He studied at the CIA Culinary Arts Institute in New York City.<br />
The manager, who is from France and very suave is Johann: <a href="mailto:johann@suboexperience.com">johann@suboexperience.com</a>Cook Culturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623781524828166036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4664727237130148582.post-62460649807210472732009-12-02T21:53:00.000-08:002009-12-14T20:23:04.606-08:00Dining Cooking Club- Where do we shop? A prolifera of places!<a href="http://www.quotationspage.com/quote/1510.html">Quote of the Concept</a> <br />
<i><span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 11px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt;">You don’t have to cook fancy or complicated masterpieces – just good food from fresh ingredients. Julia Child (1912 - 2004)</span></span></span></i><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 11px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt;">If a person were to predict just looking at map they most likely wouldn't think of Minneapolis and St. Paul as foodie havens. Luckily for us it is! The area is blessed with: </span></span></span><br />
<ul><span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 11px;">
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px;">farms right outside the metro area and the accompanying <a href="http://www3.mda.state.mn.us/mngrown/searchresults.aspx?location=Minneapolis">farmer’s markets</a>,</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px;">a strong <a href="http://mofie.cfans.umn.edu/"><b><span style="color: #0054c3;">organic farming base</span></b></a>, </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.gardeningmatters.org/"><b><span style="color: #0054c3;">community gardens</span></b></a></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt;">, <a href="http://www3.mda.state.mn.us/mngrown/"><b><span style="color: #0054c3;">buy local campaigns</span></b></a> and <a href="http://www.pickyourown.org/MN.htm"><b><span style="color: #0054c3;">pick your own farms</span></b></a></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px;">shipping on the <a href="http://www.mnmississippiriver.com/about.cfm"><b><span style="color: #0054c3;">Mississippi</span></b></a> and <a href="http://www.duluthshippingnews.com/"><b><span style="color: #0054c3;">Lake Superior</span></b></a>,</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px;">local owner operated *<a href="http://www.coopdirectory.org/"><b><span style="color: #0054c3;">Cooperative grocery stores</span></b></a>, and</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px;">ethnic groceries. </span></li>
</span></span></ul><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8PxHBVMa6QiDDCzNlYm8L7OAK0Q7jKP-Hv0cKmF2lIkx99ykqhM1Fd8w2TXMv5cLt6V35cFnAZLZ46d7-m8gMJHLumQ4HFO7qzhd22Nd1E4Fa3lLRBeRsGAkJoUjaEn_IrqC5ZuYzsCU/s1600-h/minnesotagrownlogo.ashx.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8PxHBVMa6QiDDCzNlYm8L7OAK0Q7jKP-Hv0cKmF2lIkx99ykqhM1Fd8w2TXMv5cLt6V35cFnAZLZ46d7-m8gMJHLumQ4HFO7qzhd22Nd1E4Fa3lLRBeRsGAkJoUjaEn_IrqC5ZuYzsCU/s200/minnesotagrownlogo.ashx.gif" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 11px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px;">We have a prolifera of places to obtain fresh and reasonably priced food. Shopping for our meals paired with the help and advice we receive from vendors, growers and grocers is a cultural experience itself. </span><br />
</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 11px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1mcOL-SinMFBUq46Vmn9Oe3Wolyp6SOF3fIh0FWDuoa8HflXJwOGF9vvgAyp0BjniGvo7MuIxCeO_XGrmwc8L36hkCKK3heoyjjFPHW383KivNheXHzRwjp_d0dFhkxgvzAzu7_fAfAQ/s1600-h/MN+Map+organic+farms.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="display: inline ! important; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1mcOL-SinMFBUq46Vmn9Oe3Wolyp6SOF3fIh0FWDuoa8HflXJwOGF9vvgAyp0BjniGvo7MuIxCeO_XGrmwc8L36hkCKK3heoyjjFPHW383KivNheXHzRwjp_d0dFhkxgvzAzu7_fAfAQ/s400/MN+Map+organic+farms.jpg" /></a></span></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 11px;"></span></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 11px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikvWeLB06SrIDE2HCjUMDbaZHcst63rcIY92vA1t33qHqYNR_-N8K_PVI_n_0kI5K-hbSMhWs6EbWgoaTD40lZ1pOH92fVnXmQRAM_XrxMRiaZpROKD0h58lwEaixvwJGTB6HDSkrQNFw/s1600-h/co-op.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikvWeLB06SrIDE2HCjUMDbaZHcst63rcIY92vA1t33qHqYNR_-N8K_PVI_n_0kI5K-hbSMhWs6EbWgoaTD40lZ1pOH92fVnXmQRAM_XrxMRiaZpROKD0h58lwEaixvwJGTB6HDSkrQNFw/s320/co-op.gif" /></a><br />
</div><span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 11px;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt;">Fun Fact<o:p></o:p></span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt;">: Minnesota has more <a href="http://niany.com/food.coop.html#minnesota"><b><span style="color: #0054c3;">Local Co-op groceries</span></b></a> listed on co-op web sites than any other state including California!<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
</div><span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 11px;"></span></span>Cook Culturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623781524828166036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4664727237130148582.post-36002005669868187582009-11-30T23:02:00.000-08:002009-12-14T20:27:13.918-08:00Dining Clubs and Chosing Ethnic Restaurants<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/j/jeffrey_wright.html">Quote of the Concept</a><br />
Well, I look at it like this: When you go to a restaurant, the less you know about what happens in the kitchen, the more you enjoy your meal. Jeffrey Wright</span></i><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Eating Out as a Dinner Club</span><span style="font-size: small;">: </span><span style="font-size: small;"> We take turns finding an entrepreneurial restaurant that offers both a new cuisine and location experience. </span><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 14px;">We look for <a href="http://www.sneakysunday.com/minneapolis-stpaul/restaurants/best-other-ethnic-food/">ethnic</a>, locally owned <a href="http://minneapolis.saint.paul.diningguide.com/">restaurants in the St. Paul/Minneapolis area</a>. Surprisingly internet searches haven't been helpful in locating restaurants. The most effective hunt and peek strategies have been the oldest. What we see is what we get and word of mouth. Our recommendations are:</span><br />
</div><ol style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
<li><span style="line-height: 14px;">look i</span><span style="line-height: 14px;">n small out of the way suburban strip malls</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 14px;">look in out of the way city streets</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 14px;">look on 'eat streets' in changing neighborhoods</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 14px;">get recommendations from friends and coworkers</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 14px;">read your local neighborhood papers ( <a href="http://www.mnsun.com/">Sun Sailor</a> and <a href="http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/taste/">Minneapolis Star Tribune Taste</a> reviews work for us)</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 14px;">take advantage of food market news such as Lakewinds Natural Foods <a href="http://www.lakewinds.com/store/Newsletter-W20C0.aspx">newsletter.</a></span></li>
</span></ol><span style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 14px;">One couple takes the responsibility for choosing the restaurant and makes reservations. It's evolved that someone volunteers after we talk over potential choices at the end of a dinner. We leave trusting that where ever we go will be a "mini vacation" and an adventure. Once a potential restaurant is found, the Internet has been great to take a virtual tour at the restaurant's web site and peruse reviews, menu, and price; we stick to moderate price range restaurants. When reservations are finalized, links are emailed so we can preview the evening and if we are in the mood read about the country and cuisine.</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 14px;"><span style="line-height: normal;"><br />
</span></span></span> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 14px;"> </span></span><br />
</span><br />
</div>Cook Culturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623781524828166036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4664727237130148582.post-16196887871550225682009-11-29T20:22:00.000-08:002010-05-10T20:36:06.387-07:00Dining Club - Philosophy of Abundant Tasting<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.foodquotes.net/">Quote of the Concept</a><o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #4e4e4e;">Cooking is like love. It should be entered into with abandon or not at all. -----Harriet Van Horn</span></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrYRYFslySknUS4TPzDsW7kDvYz3iYxK6ceQjmmuASQeiDB6vEHa3MAJAiFjWjXpVtvDaIj-us4BoJEJ0oHydHf8pSI_6kBZdkrLZZfChOb3OUO8XIsE8iqGuSOX4QnlI5RgSAyNVp9Z8/s1600-h/IMG_9501.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrYRYFslySknUS4TPzDsW7kDvYz3iYxK6ceQjmmuASQeiDB6vEHa3MAJAiFjWjXpVtvDaIj-us4BoJEJ0oHydHf8pSI_6kBZdkrLZZfChOb3OUO8XIsE8iqGuSOX4QnlI5RgSAyNVp9Z8/s200/IMG_9501.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Our first meal was <a href="http://www.greekcuisine.com/">Greek</a>. We begged Sofia and Mark to choose Greece as they are incredible cooks, Sofia grew up in a Greek American neighborhood, and they had lived in Greece for several years as <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1259649493880">p</a><span style="white-space: pre;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1259649493880">istachio</a></span><a href="http://www.greeka.com/saronic/aegina/aegina-products/aegina-pistachios.htm"> farmers</a>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The menu involved a several appetizers, soup, salad, two main course dishes, bread, vegetable, and a <a href="http://greekfood.about.com/od/cakes/r/karythop_simig.htm">lovely walnut cake</a> for dessert. </span><a href="http://www.allaboutgreekwine.com/classification.htm"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Greek wine</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ouzo"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ouzo</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> and </span><a href="http://greekfood.about.com/b/2005/12/10/the-perfect-cup-of-greek-coffee.htm"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Greek coffee</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> with a </span><a href="http://www.athensguide.com/journalists/articles/coffee.htm"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">reading of our grounds</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> completed the meal. The first club meeting was a great success.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">That was our last meal of some moderation. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">An innocent error brought us to our current state of multiple offerings. Our next meal was <a href="http://www.germanculture.com.ua/library/links/food.htm">German</a> and wanting to make desserts that no one in our club had ever eaten I also wasn't sure if they would be any good. The solution was to make three desserts in small amounts so that everyone got a taste of every thing. (<a href="http://www.recipe-recipes-message-board.com/forum/view_topic.php?id=1239&forum_id=7">Cognac Pflaumenpudding - Brandied Plum Mold</a>, <a href="http://www.recipe-recipes-message-board.com/forum/view_topic.php?id=1237&forum_id=7">Munchner Bierereme - Munich Beer Creme</a>, Sauerlander Becher - White Grape Custard) If one or two were interesting but not attractive, no problem! We would have the others. The same thing happened with the entrees and with the appetizers. They all were good, in fact far better than good. The food was enticing and intriguing. This was the birth of the practice of offering many foods and small portions in each part of the meal.</span><i><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</span></i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Now at each meal, depending on food density, time, and our own curiosity, we serve:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Appetizers: 3 to 6 (brought by one couple)</span><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Host couple serves:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Soup</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Salad: 0-3 </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Breads and spreads</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Entrees: 2 -3 mixed, fish, animal, vegetarian</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Side dishes: 0-3</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Deserts: 1-3 (brought by one couple) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Beverages: wines, beers, juices, teas, coffees and national drinks. Usually 2-3 choices and brought by one couple.</span></span></span><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span><br />
</i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The idea is to taste and enjoy but leave room for the next courses which are spread over four to five hours. </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This system works for us; other resources on creating a <a href="http://www.thedinnerpartyplanningsite.com/Sitemap.html">dinner party</a> and <a href="http://www.finedinings.com/menuideas.htm">great menu tips</a> fill the internet and will help you plan.</span><i style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</i></span>Cook Culturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623781524828166036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4664727237130148582.post-81445494102830736742009-11-28T14:03:00.000-08:002009-12-14T22:04:45.120-08:00Dining Cooking Club - Choosing Cuisine Theme: Country or Region<i><a href="http://www.quotationspage.com/quote/32439.html">Quote of the Concept</a></i><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="MsoNormal"><i>It's important to begin a search on a full stomach. Henry Bromel, Northern Exposure, The Big Kiss, 1991</i><br />
<br />
</div>Choosing a theme country is as individual as each person in our group. Some of the countries were chosen because we:<br />
</div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><ul><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOcfqswSsOPBQKcsK69yYqSBXjpnlhUAAKpHcPTOKo0Y4fECxMi66yZSwJ3JOy2RNUzCxkM6G_f59qFril2zo-3Cp1Yy29k88EQlCbWAF_tUxyppzcVSbsvryOxAWoztQwvjt6oWa2N-Q/s1600/turning+earth" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOcfqswSsOPBQKcsK69yYqSBXjpnlhUAAKpHcPTOKo0Y4fECxMi66yZSwJ3JOy2RNUzCxkM6G_f59qFril2zo-3Cp1Yy29k88EQlCbWAF_tUxyppzcVSbsvryOxAWoztQwvjt6oWa2N-Q/s320/turning+earth" /></a>
<li>researched the culture or recipes and were intrigued</li>
<li>stumbled across a recipe that sparked our interest</li>
<li>heard a news report, </li>
<li>saw a movie,</li>
<li>read a book</li>
<li>met a person from that country</li>
</ul>Some of us research a country and cuisine and test each recipes prior to the dinner. My husband and I randomly choose a cuisine, find interesting recipes and cook them the first time for the dinner. Everyone experiments, each in our own way, which brings richness to the feast. <br />
<div><br />
</div>Early on we cooked from our immigrant ancestors home countries. In the beginning we were more comfortable trying recipes that had ingredients and seasonings that we were more skilled in using. We've gained confidence and cohesiveness as a club and now can experiment with ardor and humility.<br />
Some of the countries whose cuisines we have enjoyed include:<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"></span><br />
<pre id="embed" style="background-color: #eeeeff; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wordle.net/show/wrdl/1392380/International_Dinner_Club_Themes" title="Wordle: International Dinner Club Themes"><img alt="Wordle: International Dinner Club Themes" src="http://www.wordle.net/thumb/wrdl/1392380/International_Dinner_Club_Themes" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); padding: 4px;" /></a></pre><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">Argentina Afghanistan Belize Brazil Costa Rica Cuba El Salvador Ethiopia Finland France Polynesia Germany Greece Guatemala Hong Kong India Italy Japan Mexico Morocco Nicaragua Norway Panama Peru Poland Singapore Spain Sweden Thailand Tibet Turkey United Kingdom United States.<br />
</div><span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"></span><br />
<pre id="embed" style="background-color: #eeeeff; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"></pre><pre id="embed" style="background-color: #eeeeff; font-size: 13px;"><div class="MsoNormal"></div>
</pre></div>Cook Culturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623781524828166036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4664727237130148582.post-19685470960489133832009-11-25T18:28:00.000-08:002009-12-14T22:02:30.543-08:00Dining Cooking Club - Beautiful Table Settings<i><a href="http://www.quotationspage.com/quote/40521.html">Quote of the Concept</a><br />
If the divine creator has taken pains to give us delicious and exquisite things to eat, the least we can do is prepare them well and serve them with ceremony. Fernand Point</i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Generous with what we cook and drink we tend to be frugal when setting the table. Avoiding purchasing new dishes, center pieces and place settings is a goal. Instead we look around our homes and use what we own or can create very economically; the outcome has produced lovely and creative tables which add to our enjoyment of the culture we are experiencing. All tables are set <a href="http://www.ehow.com/how_5063114_set-up-dinner-table.html">formally</a> and we try to mirror the dining etiquette of the culture we are highlighting. Sharing dishes as needed so that no one has to purchase extras soup bowls, asian soup spoons or pudding cups has also helped. If we are shopping at second hand stores or neighborhood sales and see an item we will use often we also purchase it.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Rich and Donna graced their <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungarian_cuisine">Hungarian </a>theme<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> with wild flowers and candlelight<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Xa3X94_UB9kK6B1x6pxiRS4O6Kz9bUsV57klagRvkG13GjHksjuj7S61zfgZJEK3gfs6pQTO5Nit2RzEuOwoMio38EBMmfXD5TxCHEvrXNTkj4YKh5BoXZag1WulELlZpFmf-l2nJgw/s1600-h/130-3066_IMG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Xa3X94_UB9kK6B1x6pxiRS4O6Kz9bUsV57klagRvkG13GjHksjuj7S61zfgZJEK3gfs6pQTO5Nit2RzEuOwoMio38EBMmfXD5TxCHEvrXNTkj4YKh5BoXZag1WulELlZpFmf-l2nJgw/s400/130-3066_IMG.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mark and Sofia created a lovely <a href="http://images.google.com/images?client=safari&rls=en&q=english+table+setting&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=f5URS-vKLIn-nQe8lbnNAw&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CBkQsAQwAA">English table</a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">with china they already owned.<br />
</div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQgbYzVKTJCEMo8pg5TKpVFZNpKq4ATZNKBC18Pid8zU-JzMky_sYP0emX8uWoNI-su8jsRV6GbwhCsHDKSIZ3PX449_7NwaR8e0lbPGtivvxLkzqcQTJDBtPD9rgKhHfH7Qy6QzLFd_g/s1600/IMG_0522.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQgbYzVKTJCEMo8pg5TKpVFZNpKq4ATZNKBC18Pid8zU-JzMky_sYP0emX8uWoNI-su8jsRV6GbwhCsHDKSIZ3PX449_7NwaR8e0lbPGtivvxLkzqcQTJDBtPD9rgKhHfH7Qy6QzLFd_g/s400/IMG_0522.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
Laurie and Jim's <a href="http://thaifood.about.com/od/anauthenticthaidinner/a/ambience.htm">Thailand</a> theme called for a runner so<br />
Laurie economically sewed the blue bamboo beauty below<br />
to create a dazzling table.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi89rcgVh9IhmyzfEtRG51XGMXz-ef7VysS4wn2hN1lMIAu1kndrnuI5khXYDBG0IFJL3Af4Ww7pTbV-seJvXKNIZoNfYesnYcIPfPFsbCfT41TazXkr2_j3iQHxpgnu8C1sZ1Nj-j9PoA/s1600/IMG_1822.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi89rcgVh9IhmyzfEtRG51XGMXz-ef7VysS4wn2hN1lMIAu1kndrnuI5khXYDBG0IFJL3Af4Ww7pTbV-seJvXKNIZoNfYesnYcIPfPFsbCfT41TazXkr2_j3iQHxpgnu8C1sZ1Nj-j9PoA/s400/IMG_1822.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ76JYILJ1jNDcqrtCPUzCqswsoAOiXuQ_NNiuedcVJRA4p3D6v9gK1mvEss7n-nbO5F9j1ExuJU5K4GI107NHtXMXMeTn9YqVWZdFAcas7XCr4pVOdcPcMzmovSY6iAq2BdYfZ0jEEsA/s1600/IMG_1824.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ76JYILJ1jNDcqrtCPUzCqswsoAOiXuQ_NNiuedcVJRA4p3D6v9gK1mvEss7n-nbO5F9j1ExuJU5K4GI107NHtXMXMeTn9YqVWZdFAcas7XCr4pVOdcPcMzmovSY6iAq2BdYfZ0jEEsA/s400/IMG_1824.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When we dined on Guatemalan cuisine Jim and Laurie surprised us with a <a href="http://www.mayacatshop.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=89">table setting</a> which they had purchased on a trip to Guatemala. The color surrounded us in warmth on a cold Minnesota evening and brought the heat and beauty of Guatemala into the room.<br />
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</b><br />
Cal and Mary's simple pink and red table highlighting the cuisine<br />
of <a href="http://www.crestock.com/image/478886-Wedding-banquet-table-setting.aspx">Hong Kong</a> included silverware for guests as a courtesy; within our<br />
club skills with chopsticks range from novice to proficient.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM88IAFChxQF3iWciCicYExTDxut-YqF0KlkCa9kR1iJfyyLGrVCfdHzNsSSLG05K4eii3CGeOHPMuOo6wtPa7ExtED9KMO67CwYo7dyrEV4mki_NixICCijx8cyiQ-gKpC7pgUzTV44A/s1600/IMG_5688.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM88IAFChxQF3iWciCicYExTDxut-YqF0KlkCa9kR1iJfyyLGrVCfdHzNsSSLG05K4eii3CGeOHPMuOo6wtPa7ExtED9KMO67CwYo7dyrEV4mki_NixICCijx8cyiQ-gKpC7pgUzTV44A/s400/IMG_5688.jpg" /></a><br />
</div></div>Cook Culturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623781524828166036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4664727237130148582.post-52737930174591806622009-11-19T21:43:00.000-08:002009-12-14T22:08:57.152-08:00Dining Cooking Club Structure: Who Brings What, Where and When<i><b><a href="http://www.quotationspage.com/quote/27746.html">Quote of the Concept</a></b></i><br />
<i>If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.</i><br />
<i>J. R. R. Tolkien (1892 - 1973) </i><br />
<br />
Our organizational structure emerged into a plan that has produced fun nights, no conflict and a collaborative and genial club. We offer it a sample of what can work.<br />
<b>Hosts: </b>The hosts decide the country and region theme and announce their choice during the dinner. We are always as excited as children during the holidays to learn what new culture we will be exploring.<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><b>What: </b> <span style="font-weight: normal;">Each couple brings either the:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">beverages,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">appetizers,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">desserts or</span></span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">hosts and provide the main courses.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Whoever hosted last brings the beverages for a break from cooking. </span></span><br />
<b>Dates: </b>We meet on Saturday evening and are very flexible with dates always rescheduling if anyone can not make it. We try to pick a new date after dessert but often end up emailing choices to each other and then rescheduling as needed.<b><br />
Rotation: </b>We rotate homes in the same order.<b><br />
Dishes: </b>Hosts provide beverage glasses; appetizer and dessert dishes are negotiated and shared.<br />
<b> Clean up: </b>Appetizer and dessert providers pack their dishes to take home to clean. For us it works better to eat, drink, talk and laugh and deal with clean up later. <br />
Also given the hosting rotation you only have a big clean up once every five dinners!<br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b> <a href="http://www.ehow.com/how_2339859_set-up-dinner-club.html">Eating Out as a Dinner Club</a>: </b>In six years the wisdom of the plan has held and we’ve only made one change. After two years of cooking we decided between each rotation of four dinners to go out. We take turns finding an entrepreneurial restaurant that offers both a new cuisine and location experience. We order wine, appetizers, desserts as family, and our own entrée. Our bill is evenly divided<b>.</b><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b>Final Thoughts on a Successful Dinner Club: </b>We've never had problems or conflicts within our club. We never talked about areas that can cause problems such as budgets, expectations of cooking etc. because we were novices and didn't know to do so. Our success is a small measure of luck and a large measure of flexible and collaborative behavior. Tips from the experts on setting up a cooking <a href="http://entertaining.about.com/cs/dinnerparties/a/dinnerclug.htm">Gourmet Dinner Club</a> are a good place to start to ensure a successful club but the best tip we can give is find people who like to cook as much as they like to eat, love to laugh and enjoy encouraging and supporting other.Cook Culturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623781524828166036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4664727237130148582.post-62058506478382432512009-11-15T18:11:00.000-08:002009-12-14T22:08:37.030-08:00Dining Cooking Club - A Japanese Feast<div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.worldofquotes.com/proverb/Japanese/1/index.html">Quote of the Concept</a> </span></span></i><br />
</div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If man has no tea in him, he is incapable of understanding truth and beauty.</span></span></i><br />
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<tr><td><a href="http://smilebox.com/play/4d5449324d4463344d7a4d3d0d0a&blogview=true&campaign=blog_playback_link" target="_blank"><img alt="Click to play this Smilebox collage: " height="303" src="http://smilebox.com/snap/4d5449324d4463344d7a4d3d0d0a.jpg" style="border: medium none;" width="386" /></a><br />
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<tr><td><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/?partner=smilebox&campaign=blog_snapshot" target="_blank"><img alt="Create your own collage - Powered by Smilebox" height="46" src="http://www.smilebox.com/globalImages/blogInstructions/blogLogoSmileboxSmall.gif" style="border: medium none;" width="386" /></a><br />
</td></tr>
<tr><td align="center"><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/Collage" target="_blank">Make a Smilebox collage</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4e4e4e; font-family: Arial;">At each meal we create a menu to help us know what each other has brought to the feast.</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4e4e4e; font-family: Arial;">For this dinner the menu was:</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmesPSj1HJ_x7yfZb5kafgpN7VWHJQa8mFV3EEblXLFWyJgPQ8h40AuKWlYv8Ue7sRf0ge96weCwiMdUYVIMsrt_DhCK3iVtZkvG_NV8XfJLn0P77nMXpXGGtKchoMOl1dho1OyX2MW80/s1600/top+picture+for+menu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmesPSj1HJ_x7yfZb5kafgpN7VWHJQa8mFV3EEblXLFWyJgPQ8h40AuKWlYv8Ue7sRf0ge96weCwiMdUYVIMsrt_DhCK3iVtZkvG_NV8XfJLn0P77nMXpXGGtKchoMOl1dho1OyX2MW80/s320/top+picture+for+menu.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #4e4e4e; font-family: Arial;"> <o:p><span style="color: black; font-size: 19px; font-weight: bold;">Appetizers</span></o:p></span><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://japanesefood.about.com/od/tempura/a/cookingtempura.htm">Tempura</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> <o:p></o:p></span><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">Salads <o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://japanesefood.about.com/od/tofu/r/tofusalad.htm">Tofu and Tomato</a><o:p></o:p></span><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.bento.com/trt-green.html">Green Beans in Sesame Dressing</a> (Ingen no goma-ae)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">Entrees<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">*<a href="http://japanesefood.about.com/b/2007/04/11/how-to-make-shrimp-sushi.htm">Shrimp Sushi with Ginger and Wasabi</a><o:p></o:p></span><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.bento.com/trt-naganegi.html">Crabmeat in Naganegi (Leeks) with Gelatin</a><o:p></o:p></span><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.bento.com/trt-crabwasabi.html">Crabsticks with Wasabi Mayonnaise</a><o:p></o:p></span><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.bento.com/trt-scallops.html">Scallops in Orange with Daikon and Red Miso</a><o:p></o:p></span><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.bento.com/trt-peppersteak.html">Peppered Steak</a> with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soba">Soba Noodles</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prunus_mume">Umeboshi Aka (pickled plum)</a><o:p></o:p></span><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">Desserts<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://japanesefood.about.com/od/japanesedessertsweet/ss/makinggreenice.htm">Green Tea Ice Cream</a><o:p></o:p></span><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://japanesefood.about.com/od/japanesedessertsweet/ss/makinggreenice.htm">Coffee Jelly</a><o:p></o:p></span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.indobase.com/recipes/details/japanese-cheesecake.php">Japanese Cheesecake</a><o:p></o:p></span><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/chi-chi-dango-mochi/detail.aspx">Chi Chi Dango Mochi</a><o:p></o:p></span><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> (Traditional candy for Boy's or Girl's day)</span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpBlb7aQHmnLbkrARh-UVOr4My47Tp-vLgH9dKW5zXUmUsNeEVorPhbXKW3DJQc8g3ZxfVtVgf-Bik8U616w-Ziv2QSLXFyOMIfy1uX2svX-ohGhYo1fhxaZjj4Rt-GEty06KFw0LYBbo/s1600/bottom+picture+for+menu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpBlb7aQHmnLbkrARh-UVOr4My47Tp-vLgH9dKW5zXUmUsNeEVorPhbXKW3DJQc8g3ZxfVtVgf-Bik8U616w-Ziv2QSLXFyOMIfy1uX2svX-ohGhYo1fhxaZjj4Rt-GEty06KFw0LYBbo/s320/bottom+picture+for+menu.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Permission to use Buddha and Frog Photographs<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoFooter" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> granted by Tim Kirchhof, copyright 2009</span> </span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">* Want to know how to make sushi? If a picture is worth a thousand words, a video is beyond measure. Enjoy!</span><br />
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<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/dPMaid87Es0&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/dPMaid87Es0&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Cook Culturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623781524828166036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4664727237130148582.post-26014530827954706732009-11-12T13:51:00.000-08:002009-12-14T20:32:39.698-08:00Dining and Cooking Club - An Innocent Beginning<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><a href="http://www.quotegarden.com/food.html"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Quote of the Concept:</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><span style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #321d02;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Food is so primal, so essential a part of our lives, often the mere sharing of recipes with strangers turns them into good friends. ~Jasmine Heiler, about recipezaar.com <br />
</span></span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For the last six years I’ve been part of a wonderful experiment to learn more about other cultures through food.</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Four couples decided to meet 6 - 8 times a year to enjoy a dinner based on a theme of a country or region.</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What has evolved has been an adventure.</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We’ve experienced collaboration, generosity, friendship, extraordinary food and a window into a deeper understanding of ourselves and other people.</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <br />
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Our beginning was unremarkable in its inception.</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We met as parent volunteers, for our sons’ scout troop, with eight sons among us. When one of our youngest was accepted to attend school in Japan through the </span><a href="http://www.rotary.org/en/StudentsAndYouth/YouthPrograms/RotaryYouthExchange/Pages/ridefault.aspx"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Rotary Youth Exchange</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">, I invited his family over for a Japanese dinner. My husband had worked in Japan and I’d been able to spend time there as a guest of the Japanese Government through the </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.iie.org/Website/WPreview.cfm?WID=194">Fulbright Teacher Memorial Program.</a> That first dinner was our two families eating, laughing,<a href="http://www.japanese-restaurants.net/chopsticks.htm"> mastering chop sticks</a> to eat <a href="http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2341.html">soba noodles</a> and sharing stories of our fondness for the people of Japan and their cuisine.</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Later that week the other three “Moms”, exercising on the walking trail, talked the club into existence.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In this blog I’ll share what we have learned about creating and maintaining a successful club, cooking and enjoying food from cultures around the globe, and how it has enriched our lives in multiple and unexpected ways.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Please contact us with your stories, ideas, recipes, and menus.</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We look forward to evolving and sharing our journeys as we cook into cultures.</span><i><br />
</i><br />
<div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Cook Culturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623781524828166036noreply@blogger.com0