FInal wrap up

I had to take a break from the Foodbuzz write up yesterday... I mean it was over a week without a recipe... that's unheard of!!! We are finally wrapping the weekend up (can you tell it was packed full??) The final dinner was hosted by Outstanding in the field and it was delicious. There were over 300 of us all sitting at one VERY long table. I had a total rock star moment meeting Mike of Food Muse... I introduced myself and he got all excited that he was meeting me!? Seriously?? little old me?? rock on!! He had taken part in my jam exchange and we had a great time chatting it up!


I didn't have my mini tripod (how did I leave that at home?) so most of my pics are a bit shaky... sorry about that.

Mushroom dashi, maitake, shimeji, enoki muchrooms (there was a whole bowl of soup but I took a pic of just my spoon)

Udon, grilled monterey calamari in a browned butter ponzu reduction, cucumber, kaiware, frisee & yellow pear tomato with chojang & sesame vinaigrette (MY FAVORITE THING OF THE NIGHT!)

Salmon baked with sashikombu, fried garlic and Japanese curry powder

Soy braised beef cheeks and oxtails, baby carrots and fingerling potato (if you look to the right of the picture you can see the other end of the table wrapping its way around the room)

Roasted brussels sprouts, ponzu fried garlic, guanciale, bonito flakes recipe here!

We had a fabulous meal and I was lucky enough to find my buddy Shoshana of The Making of a Natural Chef and sit next to her for the meal. We met for the first time on saturday and were like two peas in a pod, totally hitting it off! Don't you love when that happens? She's a fantastic girl and I know I'll be keeping in touch with her for years to come :) She's like me with a corporate job, using cooking and blogging as a fun escape... the difference is she actually went to school and became a chef!! Whereas I just fly by the seat of my home-cook pants ;)


One last pic from brunch Sunday morning, french toast using Natures Pride new Oaty bread... and thick cut bacon.... can we say heaven??



Driscoll's Blackberry Walnut Quick Bread to come tomorrow... I made it last night... AMAZING!!! and so far the coworkers are LOVING it!