Small Household Food Exchange @ Phoenix Flame 10/17 5:30pm

The LTHer's who share their food openly, and not like a hidden handshake, are back in action! All are welcome up to 12 people, because Phoenix Flame Cafe- Modern Mediterranean and Latin in Niles is a small space located behind the Village Creamery across from H-Mart.

We will convene Sunday, October 17 at 5:30 pm.

So get to work cooking dishes to share with other LTHers.

Or don’t … maybe you just want an excuse to try an interesting restaurant … everyone’s welcome to join for the three c's — camaraderie, conviviality and companionship.

Due to limited seating at Phoenix Flame Cafe, we”ll have to cap attendance at 12, but we can set up a wait list. We already have a reservation. Those who exchange dishes will have first priority, but they should post by Wednesday October 13, to allow cooks to plan, shop and create.

The Basics
We’re always interested in fresh blood. Even if you can't exchange, please join us for dinner and conversation! But we encourage all to bring a few samples of the cuisine you enjoy at your home; it’s a great way for all of us to get to know each other better, discuss food and cooking techniques, and ultimately, later, have a meal at home that we might not have thought of making for ourselves.

What is the Small Household Food Exchange, you may ask.
Most importantly, it’s a gathering of like-minded folks at an interesting restaurant for a meal, taking advantage of the ordering power of a good number of people to share and sample a good number of menu items.

The Small Household Food Exchange started so that those of us in 1-2 person households who love to cook aren't stuck eating that big pot of chili for a whole week. Instead, we make 4-10 servings of one dish, and bring home 4-10 different dishes. Exchanging participants bring one pre-portioned serving of their food for every exchanger who has RSVP’d to come and bring a dish that month. The priority will be for entrees, meats, soups, salad, stews, pastas, grains, etc. (Check the Events Board, there’s a separate Dessert Exchange.)

The fine print
Number in the group: We will cap attendance for this gathering at 8, (food exchange participants also at , so that, this month, participants are never making more than 8 servings of anything. Couples can be counted as one serving, or two — if you come as a couple, please specify whether you're bringing one or two dishes to exchange.

There will be no restrictions on the food – we’re an omnivorous bunch. IF ANYONE HAS ANY ALLERGIES, PLEASE LET THE GROUP KNOW.

The containers/delivery system: Everyone in the group should use the GLADWARE 3 1/8 CUP PLASTIC CONTAINERS (7” x 7” square container with a blue lid). Look for this on the label:
Gladware.jpg

You’ll portion your food into those containers to bring and hand out at the gathering. You can freeze them or not depending on your schedule and when you make your food. If you use something else to deliver your food that month (Ziploc bags, plastic wrap, etc.) you should also return the empty containers from the last round so that everyone always has a stash of these containers for the exchange, and no one has to run out and buy more.
Ideally, everyone will find a way to label their containers, describing the contents, so we don’t end up staring into our freezers at a field of blue-lidded containers and wondering what’s in each one (not that there’s anything wrong with the occasional surprise …).

Please RSVP your attendance by responding in this thread. If you're exchanging, please post what you're bringing at least three days before the gathering.

The organizer will monitor the thread to see what people are bringing. The organizer will also make reservations for the group at the restaurant where we will be gathering.

Hope to see you there!

Attending:

Dinner and Exchange
nr706
moetchandon
Cathy2 - MEXICAN STEWED BEANS WITH SALSA FRESCA from Milk Street

Dinner and sparkling company
GAF
Dave148 and Merle!

Save the date!
Sunday, October 17, 2021, 5:30 pm

Phoenix Flame Café
8010 N. Waukegan Rd, Niles, IL 60714
Tuesday- Sunday 11 AM – 9 PM
847-779-3474

My contribution is likely to be:
MEXICAN STEWED BEANS WITH SALSA FRESCA from Milk Street.

I will make beef bourguignon - Anthony Bourdain recipe.

Yes, for the dinner. Hope springs eternal.

Note that Phoenix Flame is NOT in the H Mart/Home Depot shopping center, but on the NW corner of Waukegan and Oakton. It IS behind Village Creamery.

I'll be making sausage with peppers.

Merle and I will attend for dinner and sparkling company.

Dave148 wrote:Merle and I will attend for dinner and sparkling company.

Yay!

Mexican Stewed Beans with
Pork Broth and Shredded Pork
I made my contribution yesterday. Just for fun, here is the ingredient list:

Milk Street Magazine

Pork from Park Packing
Cranberry beans from Shop and Save
Jalapeno from Jewel
Sea Salt and Pepper
Lard from a Jar
Garlic, onions, and cilantro
Water from Lake Michigan via Highland Park Water Dept.
Facilitator: Catherine Lambrecht

How does anyone/everyone feel about sitting outside for this event? Current weather forecast is mid-60's and sunny. Probably nice to sit outside with a jacket.

I don't know when I'll be ready to eat indoors at a restaurant but it's not this month.

Giovanna

Looks like there is outdoor seating ... I wouldn't have a problem with eating outside, but I'll accede to the wishes of the majority.

Hi,

Just sent a note to the restaurant advising we are seven people who wish to eat outside.

I will update as I know.

Regards,
Cathy2

Hi,

An outside table for seven is ours at 5:30 pm on Sunday.

Regards,
Cathy2

That's wonderful.

See you for dinner Sunday.

Giovanna wrote:That's wonderful.

See you for dinner Sunday.

Yay!

Photos, etc. posted here.

The missing label for Moetchandon's contribution.