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Event Tue Sep 11 2012
The Day of 100 Dishes
The LTH Forum annual picnic took place Sunday -- but to call it a picnic doesn't do it justice. Yes, it was outdoors amongst friends but it was also a most kick-ass potluck extravaganza. Over 100 dishes prepared by some of Chicago's most avid gastronomes.
Included were the likes of llama sliders, dukkah, Penang Assam Laksa in aspic served in Champagne glasses, puparuol mbuttunat, pork shoulder bo ssam, and made-from-scratch veal bologna, headcheese and assorted charcuterie. With this much intriguing food around (and only so much stomach real estate) one must choose wisely. One of my many memorable moments came from corn bread crusted in a Dutch oven cooked over a wood fire. Score.
My own contribution was threefold: 1) Inspired by some ripe fennel seeds a farmer friend gifted me with that burst licorice juice when chewed, I went to Green City Market in search for complementary ingredients. The final dish became: ripe fennel seeds, Jen's tomatoes, red torpedo onion, manuri cheese, cinnamon basil, lemon, Le Puy lentils and cut semolina; 2) Gleaned from whatever else called to me while walking the market: dragon tongues, organic beans, grilled portabellas, breakfast radish and shio koji; and 3) grilled asparagus, marai sweet corn, butternut squash, caramelized cauliflower, hatch peppers, lemon verbena and yuzukosho.
Everyone sated their appetites and more than a good time was had by all.