Foodies, Unite!

missmann · Post by **missmann** » Tue Jun 29, 2004 9:44 am

I have a good recipe for a smoked tomato chutney if you're looking for other new things to try out...

As far as the canned goods go, thats probably going to make up 1/2 of my food... there are these wicked little bagged veggie curries you can get for about $3 per curry- don't know the brand... I'll find out.

diane o'thirst · Post by **diane o'thirst** » Tue Jul 27, 2004 9:38 pm

I just chanced across something great at my local Oasis/Wild Oats Market...

Corn pasta. Rotelli, in this instance.

It's wonderful. I have no trouble with wheat, but this stuff whips the tar out of regular durum wheat pasta. Tastier, so you can get by on ghee and sea salt for seasonings, but I had it with scampi and the sauce on that made it even better. Not as sticky and cooks faster. I'm still lickin' my chops. I'm cooking more tomorrow for supper, this time I'll toss a bit o' saffron in the water. Mmmm, saffron corn noodles :9

I'm going back to the store tomorrow and snag another bag for the Playa. They're on sale — I can't imagine why they'd be closing it out! =D

Stormy · Post by **Stormy** » Tue Jul 27, 2004 9:46 pm

Think I'll try less food this year. Saving my appetite for drugs. (Just kidding, as there is always someone who takes these things literally.)

diane o'thirst · Post by **diane o'thirst** » Tue Jul 27, 2004 9:53 pm

I'm pretty well stocked up for the trip right now. The meats are in the freezer, the soups and rice and pasta are packed, so is the chicken broth.

The only things on my grocery list are the shelf-stable Horizon milk cartons and the fresh fruit 'n veggies, and I don't get those until I'm heading out. I'll pack up my seasonings the night before I leave because they see regular use

Juju · Post by **Juju** » Wed Jul 28, 2004 3:15 am

Ok kiddies, your wishes have been granted.

Playa Potluck dinner Party is ON.

Thursday nite sep 2, at sundown. Camp Kathanika (location tbd - we'll be on the map).

Please come and eat with us, and bring your favorite playa dish to share.

Zulegoona · Post by **Zulegoona** » Wed Jul 28, 2004 7:28 pm

Oh no, a scheduling confect. Do I go to the e-playa meet and greet or the Potluck.

I suppose it will come down to what I have left to share by Thursday....

chefjuke · Post by **chefjuke** » Thu Jul 29, 2004 6:48 pm

Hey all,

Lots of good questions and answers on this thread. I'll chime in here with some links with info and suggestions for Playa cooking and food handling.

First off, I've been attending since 1994 and have had lots of time to learn from both my succeses and mistakes as to what works on the playa. from 1997-1999 I ran a communal kitchen that fed up to 550 people brunch on the playa (in 1999 we did 350-550 people every day for 5 days!!).

Here is a link to a friend's site who documented some of my suggestions for food storage:
http://www.cieux.com/bm/foodPlaya.html

I would add to this list that recently I started using a vacuum sealer (like a FOODSAVER) to seal up precooked entree items. Now, before you start thinking Swanson frozen dinners, I came to this method from a number of BBQ chefs who swear that the only way to reheat good BBQ is to vacuum seal it, then heat it by boiling it in the bag. And it works. Anyway, I usually bring food for a large camp and by precooking a lot of BBQ it makes both cooking and cleaning a breeze...just need one big pot full o water.

The great things about vacuum sealers: they protect the food from merging with other items in the cooler, they compact the food into the a small size, you can freeze items to help them stay fresh even longer(and they'll help keep other items in the cooler cold too), and you can reheat the contents without dirtying a pan.

Okay, off of my vacuum sealer soapbox.

Other items of interest:

Dry ice is your friend.

Filling quart or gallon jugs with water and freezing them to use in your cooler is less messy than crushed ice, and as they melt you have ice-cold drinking water.

KEEP THAT COOLER OUT OF THE SUN! I MEAN IT!

Well, that's all I can think of for the moment. I'll post anothe message with some of the equipment I bring a little later.

-Chef Juke

rscohen · Post by **rscohen** » Tue Aug 03, 2004 8:16 pm

[quote]I would add to this list that recently I started using a vacuum sealer (like a FOODSAVER) to seal up precooked entree items. Now, before you start thinking Swanson frozen dinners, I came to this method from a number of BBQ chefs who swear that the only way to reheat good BBQ is to vacuum seal it, then heat it by boiling it in the bag. And it works. Anyway, I usually bring food for a large camp and by precooking a lot of BBQ it makes both cooking and cleaning a breeze...just need one big pot full o water.[/quote]

Now, I've read about people coming with seventeen coolers, and other coming with gourmet kitchens. We will have two coolers at best, and are unlikely to be able to keep things frozen for two or three days, let alone seven.

Will vacuum sealed meat and/or fish remain edible if it is well-sealed and [b]not[/b] frozen? Protein can be scary stuff.

Inquiring minds want to know. :mrgreen:

rscohen · Post by **rscohen** » Tue Aug 03, 2004 8:18 pm

I would add to this list that recently I started using a vacuum sealer (like a FOODSAVER) to seal up precooked entree items. Now, before you start thinking Swanson frozen dinners, I came to this method from a number of BBQ chefs who swear that the only way to reheat good BBQ is to vacuum seal it, then heat it by boiling it in the bag. And it works. Anyway, I usually bring food for a large camp and by precooking a lot of BBQ it makes both cooking and cleaning a breeze...just need one big pot full o water.

Now, I've read about people coming with seventeen coolers, and other coming with gourmet kitchens. We will have two coolers at best, and are unlikely to be able to keep things frozen for two or three days, let alone seven.

Will vacuum sealed meat and/or fish remain edible if it is well-sealed and not frozen? Protein can be scary stuff.

Inquiring minds want to know.

diane o'thirst · Post by **diane o'thirst** » Wed Aug 04, 2004 1:45 am

So JuJu, have you been placed yet?

Where's Camp Kathanika?

Hottlotus · Post by **Hottlotus** » Mon Aug 23, 2004 2:35 am

If only I can find someone with a Freezer.. possibly someone with an RV might have one? I make killer smoothies with frozen bananas and protien shakes, with green powderd nutriants that energizes and vitalizes the body.. the perfect breakfast to start out the day on the Playa! But, I couldnt do it without a Freezer :( Somebody help me with access to a freezer..and I will make you smoothies every mornin! ;)

P.S. MissMan.. I love your Chitney and Indian food stuffs you have in mind.. Im indian myself, and I rarely get to eat that stuff, since I dont live with my dear mom anymore... but would be nice to share smoothies if u have a freezer, we can chill out with chutney and chips, and smoothies woohoo! Anyhow, anyone with a freezer email me;

[email protected]

Oh Yeah.. actually one thing that I have gotten a name for now, because of my famous Chai *indian tea* Iced.. now imagine having a Chai Smoothie! YES.. I can make that! Freezer anyone?

Hottlotus · Post by **Hottlotus** » Mon Aug 23, 2004 2:35 am

ohh yah i fogot.. I've been nicknamed the Chai Guy ;)

Hottlotus · Post by **Hottlotus** » Mon Aug 23, 2004 2:37 am

ohh yah i fogot.. I've been nicknamed the Chai Guy ;)

Juju · Post by **Juju** » Mon Aug 23, 2004 2:57 am

my food prep is nearly complete, and I'm getting more excited as the days go by.

Kathanika Garage and Gifting Centre will be in the 9:00 Plaza this year. Looking forward to sharing treats with my fellow foodies on thursday night!

(I'm not actually living there... the kathanika Diaspora camp - aka the 'takoburrito hot tamale center' will be somewhere around 7:00 and Uranus.)

and if you randomly get gifted with a tamale on the playa, that's probably me.

bbq chicken tamales are my new obsession.

meee_bot · Post by **meee_bot** » Mon Aug 23, 2004 9:27 am

Help! Help! I can't find shelf-stable milk like the Horizon mentioned!

Diane, I know you're not here (I'm in the bay area), but where are you getting it??? Albertson's doesn't have it, Safeway doesn't have it, Trader Joe's doesn't have it, Rainbow doesn't have it. All everyone has is soymilk. I don't like the soymilk!

Anybody know where it is? Do they carry it in Reno?

Juju · Post by **Juju** » Mon Aug 23, 2004 10:15 am

Have you tried Parmalat?

I do believe they sell it at Raleys, which can be found all over NorCal and Reno. We usually stop at the Raley's in Carson City for last minute bread & fresh veggies. They're like a high end pavillions or a reasonable Wholefoods... I'd bet they'd carry it.

I'm partial to ricemilk myself... I like the Basmati rice milk that TJs carries.

There is a Trader Joe's in Reno now, too btw.

diane o'thirst · Post by **diane o'thirst** » Mon Aug 23, 2004 2:35 pm

Costco has it. And it's usually the chocolate milk instead of regular, so while you're there pick up a box of Milkman powdered milk. For what it is, it's actually very good — and probably a little easier on the logistics, too, takes up less room. Each envelope makes a quart and there are something like 12 envelopes to the box.

Up here in Eugene, Safeway and Fred Meyer's have the shelf-stable Horizon regular milk single-serves...unfortunately Freddy's isn't in the Bay Area.

Hit your local Costco!

meee_bot · Post by **meee_bot** » Mon Aug 23, 2004 2:43 pm

Nice to know that the plain powdered milk is actually a possibility. I'll check it out, and if not hit the Raley's. Thank you ladies for your input!

Foodies, Unite!

can you say dinner party?

Food ideas and suggestions from 10 yrs. of Playa cooking

Re: Food ideas and suggestions from 10 yrs. of Playa cooking

Re: Food ideas and suggestions from 10 yrs. of Playa cooking

Mmmmm anyone have a Freezer availble?

Boxed milk