Menu for tomorrow night's Gadugi Party

[yellerpup]

Gadugi is a Cherokee word meaning: "Everybody Paddles". I was asked to make a menu featuring traditional Native American foods for a fundraiser for The Eagle Project, a start-up theatre company in Manhattan whose mission is to explore the arts through our Native American heritage. The first play that will be produced is "Wood Bones" by William S. Yellowrobe, Jr. If anyone is in Manhattan and would like to attend, PM me and I will send you information for tix to the event.

The menu:


The Eagle Project Gadugi Party
July 18, 2012

Baby Greens Salad
w/Blackberry Vinaigrette

Venison Stew w/Mushrooms
Pork Ribs
Roasted Chicken Legs
Pulled Pork Tamales w/Chipotle-Date Salsa

Sweet Potato Salad w/Maple-Lime Vinaigrette
Corn and Black Bean Salad
Heirloom Tomato Salad

Pumpkin Yeast Rolls
Corn Muffins

Summer Fruit

[cbayer]

1. You are amazing! Is there anything you can't do??

I sure wish I could come.

[yellerpup]

2. I wish you could be with us, too!

At this point in my life, I am not intimidated by cooking anything, so I will try anything. There are certain foods (puff pasty for one) that I won't be doing from scratch again. And, I will NEVER volunteer to cook for 60 people in the middle of summer ever, ever again.

[grasswire]

3. we learn eventually, don't we?

Two of my excesses were tempura dinner al fresco for thirty over one coleman stove, and a 12 course gala Chinese banquet for 150 with honored guest of the ambassador of the People's Republic of China (with lots of volunteer help). No more.

And.....your menu sounds wonderful and appropriate. Blackberry vinaigrette makes me want a taste.

[yellerpup]

4. OK, I can be intimidated.

Your 12 course gala for the Chinese ambassador -- just thinking about that sends me over the edge. Both your projects make me tired just looking at them. I think that both you and I love feeding crowds. I've never tried the blackberry vinaigrette before, so I am looking forward to it, too.

Woke up this morning to a potential disaster--something shifted in the fridge last night and bumped the door open, and it was not cold in there when we got up this morning. I am reheating everything to 160, or boiling the venison stew for 15 minutes. It's either that or throw it all out. I've tasted everything, so if anyone is going to be sick today, that person will be me.

What a way to start the day! OY!

[grasswire]

5. oh nooooo

The ruination of a feast the night before sounds like .... a nightmare! Someone should write a book called Kitchen Nightmares for foodies. It would be funny, instructive reading.

I hope all is well for you, dearie.

[yellerpup]

6. She shoots, she scores!

I'm glad I did everything over so I would have peace of mind. The food was a huge hit! I got so many hugs and thanks from everyone from the producers of the event to the kitchen help volunteers. The quickest to go was the sweet potato salad, which was absolutely scrumptious and the blackberry vinaigrette turned out to be raspberry vinaigrette (the producer did the fruit shopping) and folks were quite enthusiastic about it. As I was leaving I saw them take the last tray of ribs from the refrigerator and people snatched them and gobbled them cold. I ended up not serving the tamales because I would have had to keep the oven on and in an un-airconditioned loft in the middle of summer, we couldn't take any more added heat. The entertainment was super, with George Stonefish as the emcee (standup) and Thirza DaFoe, a Grammy award winning musician playing the flute, dancing, and leading us in singing a native song. I couldn't stay for the whole party because at that point, it hurt to stand and it hurt to sit. We put in a bid at the silent auction for tix to the Public Theatre, but left before the raffle and native jewelry auction. I donated jewelry for that as well. I'm feeling tired but wonderful today. Now I'm waiting to see if they made their goal.

[grasswire]

7. you were cooking without a/c in NYC when the temp was >90 degrees?

I bow to you.

That's dedication.

Nice to hear about your party. Now go put your feet in cool water and sit a spell.

[yellerpup]

8. It was 98 degrees at noon yesterday.

And climbed to 102 before the storm broke. I have a/c in my livingroom and bedroom but it doesn't begin to reach the kitchen. We have SxSW windows, so it really heats up. A huge thunderstorm rolled through between 3-4PM (while we were driving in, of course) and even hail was coming down. Despite that, we hit the target for the first fundraiser. I have to go out in a couple of hours to put my kitty-girl down. She has renal failure and is ready to go, I think. I hate to do it, but she needs the relief. Thanks for your good advice!

[grasswire]

9. oh I'm so sorry about your kitty-girl

been there done that. So sorry.

[yellerpup]

10. I just returned from seeing her off.

I held her sweet little face in my hand, whispered that I loved her and she was gone. Never easy, but it was time. Thank you for your condolences.