A Few of My Favorite Things - THE COOKBOOK

Dear IW&FS Members –

Most everyone knows that response was overwhelming to my request for recipes for “A Few of My Favorite Things” for our November 17 event.  Thirty five members sent me recipes!  I had originally planned to slap the few recipes I thought I’d receive on the scanner and give copies to everyone in  their departure goodie bags.  Fast forward: A Few of My Favorite Things – THE COOKBOOK is now in print.  It is totally awesome and we have some celebrating to do.

With that introduction, registration is now open for our November 17, 2022 event, “A Few of My Favorite Things – THE COOKBOOK.”  It will begin at 6:00 pm at our house, 4506 Whitehall Cove, Austin, but if you arrive early, just walk on in.  Dress is extremely casual; wear comfy shoes and something warm if you want to venture outside.  Please bring a serving of “one of your favorite things,”  either an appetizer or side or salad or dessert.  We’ll all take small bites so everyone can taste it; there will be plenty of wine and other food to go around.  Scroll down to see the menu and list of wines.

The cost is $70 per person, which includes the cost of a copy of the cookbook, which I’ve underwritten.  Click here to register, and when you register, list what you plan to bring in the comments section.  Registration is limited to the first 25 people who sign up.  Send your check, payable to IW&FS Austin Branch, to Ruth Ann Plotkin, 1301 West 9 ½ Street, Apartment 300, Austin, TX 78703.

The Plan: We will open our ‘brown paper packages tied up with strings’ and toast ourselves with 2019 François Martenot Crémant de Bourgogne Brut, celebrating our collective work, A Few of My Favorite Things – THE COOKBOOK.  After that, the remaining Crémant and other wines will be self-serve. 

Celebrity chefs will appear while we snack on appetizers and mingle.  Celebrity Chef Terry Lyons plans to bring an already-made batch of Salsa Borracho – Drunken Salsa and special chips, which we can sample while he performs a cooking demo.  Assistants will hand out tickets, and whomever wins the drawing will get to take home the newly-prepared batch.

Celebrity Chef Claudia Reingold will show you a secret for cooking your Thanksgiving turkey and will refer you to the Reingold’s three-page recipe for stuffing.

Celebrity Chef Enzo (aka Vince DiLoreto) will talk about (and demonstrate!) a fascinating wine that pairs well with salmon, 2021 Gerard Bertrand Cote des Roses.  You might want to sip some as he talks.

Celebrity Chef Gustav O’Keiff will share his secret ingredient for seasoning steaks and roasts and assistants will pass around individual baggies of it so you can taste it yourself.  He will also talk about “The Basic Six,” which are flavor components that you need to flavor about anything you cook.

There will be a package of surprises for you to take home, and we’ll ask that you vote on which of the wines pairs best with the salmon.

The menu: At about 7:00 pm we will go, table-by-table, through the buffet line, which will contain “a few of your favorite things” that you brought, plus any appetizers that might be remaining.  A separate table will be laden (I’m sure!) with desserts that you’ve brought.  In addition, we will have:

A cheese and fruit platter featuring special cheeses from Central Market: Cypress Grove Humboldt Fog, Jasper Hills Harbison, Minolette Aged Cheddar, and Extra-aged Gouda Cheese

Joe’s Grilled Salmon with Remoulade and Basil Aioli Sauces

Lynn’s Twice-baked Potatoes and Cauliflower with (and without) Emily Parrino’s Billionaire’s Bacon

Mini croissants

The wines:

2019 François Martenot Crémant de Bourgogne Brut

2019 Epoch Vineyard White (47% Grenache Blanc, 42% Viognier, 11% Roussanne), available only at the winery in Paso Robles (thanks, Sue and Craig, for bringing it back with you!)

2020 Domaine Séguinot-Bordet Petite Chablis

2021 Gerard Bertrand Cote des Roses

2021 Brooks Pinot Noir Willamette Valley

Sextant Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles

Joe and I look forward to welcoming you into our home.

Lynn Jelinski