tammylc

The area by the airport is heavily patrolled, so stick to the limit there. Generally speaking, I drive at 74-75 miles per hour (speed limit is 70) and have never had a problem. I'm usually being passed by people going much faster.

There is not a full size one. I think I may have one of the dinky kitchen kind, but I'm not sure.

If you're registered for any of the meals, you should have received a private message from me with your total owed and payment options. Let me know if you did not receive it!

Chia Shiang Dinner Details There may be a little more tweaking to come (Joe noticed that a favorite dish of his isn't on the menu and is going to request it), but this is pretty close to final. Price is $25 inclusive of tax and tip. * Sichuan-style spicy beef stew * Pork stomach in spicy sauce * Spicy firm tofu * Steamed chicken in spicy Sichuan sauce * Sichuan-style seaweed * Spicy cucumber salad * Spicy crabs * Stir-fried jumbo shrimp in spicy sauce * Squid stir-fried with peanuts and chili * Scallops in spicy Sichuan sauce * Sliced fish in bioled Sichuan-style sauce * Xin Jiang-style chicken * Cumin lamb * Beef with pepper in black sauce * Pork in garlic sauce * Ma po tofu * Stir-fried string beans * Seafood hot sour soup

Grange Dinner Details Chef Brandon Johns has put together an incredible menu and he's really looking forward to cooking for us. Price is $75 inclusive of tax and tip. There will be a beverage (wine and beer) pairing available for $30 - he's going to get me details of that, but it might be a few days. I may propose that people just be able to make beverage choices and pay on their own at the meal, that might be easiest. Here's the menu: Nose to tail house made charcuterie Walleye “brandade” fritters, green tomato jam Fried pigs head Heirloom gazpacho, Michigan pickled shrimp salad Duck, peaches, coriander, whole grains Whole roasted tenderloin, pickled shittake mushrooms, heirloom potatoes Plum upsidedown cake, goat cheese sorbet If anyone needs vegetarian or other substitutions on this meal, please contact me ASAP so I can get those to the chef.

My hoped-for Friday afternoon activity did not pan out, sadly. I had hoped to make arrangements with a local farm that has previously held "Chicken Workshops" - the opportunity to kill and dress your own bird. But alas, all their chickens are already spoken for, so that's not going to be possible. However, there are a lot of farms in the local area, and some of them would be happy to have a group of people out to visit. Are farm tours something people would be interested in for a Friday afternoon activity? (Note - we can still organize a group to go to Dearborn and/or Mexicantown - I'm not assuming everyone would necessarily go on the same foodie field trip, this is another option I wanted to explore with the group.) I will note that since it's Friday afternoon many of the local farms will be busy harvesting produce for the Saturday morning Farmer's Markets and CSW distribution. So we'd probably be extra welcome if we were willing to pitch in for a bit while visiting. Thoughts? Interest?

It would be great if you wanted to talk to MetroTimes. It also occurs to me that I know someone who writes for the Ann Arbor Observer who might be interested. So Fat Guy, maybe loop me in to your conversation with Alex? I've sent info out to my local foodies and some are definitely looking forward to attending. I just need to get those last couple menus, and then I'll be able to get the reg site up and point people there, and we'll get a better sense of confirmations.

Attendance update as of 7/21 I'm not maintaining a separate maybe list. If/when your maybe changes to a yes, let me know and I'll add you. Thursday night Szechuan Banquet at Chia Shiang ($25-$30 inclusive) tammylc Chris Hennes +1 tino27 Edsel NancyH & Bob Malawry Kerry Beal torakris Alex Chris a2 +1 Fat Guy White Lotus & Dance Sam Iam & Joyce Friday breakfast at SELMA (eating, not cooking - anytime between 6:30 and 9:30, $12-$15 donation) tammylc Chris Hennes +1 Edsel Malawry Kerry Beal White Lotus & Dance Friday morning bread workshop ($5) tino27 Kerry Beal Edsel Chris A2 Alex Torakris Prasantrin NancyH & Bob Friday afternoon Foodie Field trip... somewhere (including stop at restaurant supply shop). (free) tammylc Edsel NancyH & Bob Malawry Kerry Beal torakris Fat Guy Boagman White Lotus & Dance Friday night dinner at Grange (price TBD, probably $50-$75 inclusive) tammylc Chris Hennes +1 prasantrin tino27 torakris Edsel NancyH & Bob Malawry Kerry Beal Alex Chris a2 +1 Fat Guy White Lotus & Dance Sam Iam & Joyce Saturday Evening Feast ($20-$25?) (italicized people have not yet confirmed for other events) tammylc Sam Iam & Joyce tino27 Kerry Beal Torakris Alex White Lotus & Dance & Masumi Chris Hennes +1 Edsel Chris a2 (+1 or +3) Boagman Malawry NancyH & Bob prasantrin Fat Guy Sunday Bacon Brunch at Zingerman's Roadhouse) ($30) tammylc Chris Hennes +1 prasantrin tino27 Edsel NancyH & Bob Malawry Kerry Beal torakris Chris a2 +1 Fat Guy Sam Iam & Joyce White Lotus (Dance & Masumi - ordering from menu)

Bacon Brunch Details Ari Weinzwig from Zingerman's Roadhouse wrote a really cool book about bacon last year (Zingerman's Guide to Better Bacon). In it, he makes a very compelling case for bacon being the olive oil of America, and tells the stories of some of the country's premiere bacon curers. On the heels of that book, Zingerman's hosted a weekend long event called Camp Bacon - you can read all about it here. For our Sunday brunch, we'll head to Zingerman's Roadhouse to taste dishes highlighting three different bacons, with Ari there to give us a guided tour to bacon and sign copies of the book if anyone wants to buy some. Here's the menu: Grits and Bits Waffle Pimento Cheese and Peppered Bacon Scrambled Eggs Biscuits and Chocolate Bacon Gravy Total cost including beverages (coffee, tea, soda, juice), tax and tip is $30. (Menus for Thursday and Friday night should be coming soon!)

The restaurant we'll be doing the bacon brunch at has a full menu which includes vegetarian items, so just don't pre-pay Dance and Masumi for the bacon brunch and they can just order off the regular menu. Speaking of menus, I anticipate having menus for the meals in the next few days, and getting a registration/pay pal site set up for people to pay in advance.

Menu planning update: tino 27 - bread for dinner, in general and specifics for dishes as needed Chris Hennes - charcuterie for pre-dinner noshing Alex - wants to make something, maybe gazpacho Kerry Beal - appetizer and light dessert Chris a2 - app, main, side area or dessert Meat Team - Meat main Torakris/Fat Guy - tempura veggies Malawry - rabbit pasta tammylc - I'll do some kind of app or side dish, TBD

Attendance update as of 7/14 I'm not maintaining a separate maybe list. If/when your maybe changes to a yes, let me know and I'll add you. Thursday night Szechuan Banquet at Chia Shiang ($25-$30 inclusive) tammylc Chris Hennes +1 tino27 Edsel NancyH & Bob Malawry Kerry Beal torakris Alex Chris a2 +1 Fat Guy Friday breakfast at SELMA (eating, not cooking - anytime between 6:30 and 9:30, $12-$15 donation) tammylc Chris Hennes +1 Edsel Malawry Kerry Beal Friday morning bread workshop ($5) tino27 Kerry Beal Edsel Chris A2 Alex Torakris Prasantrin NancyH & Bob Friday afternoon Foodie Field trip... somewhere (including stop at restaurant supply shop). (free) tammylc Edsel NancyH & Bob Malawry Kerry Beal torakris Fat Guy Boagman Friday night dinner at Grange (price TBD, probably $50-$75 inclusive) tammylc Chris Hennes +1 prasantrin tino27 torakris Edsel NancyH & Bob Malawry Kerry Beal Alex Chris a2 +1 Fat Guy Saturday Afternoon Session on Organic/Locavore/Personal Food choices ($3-$5) canceled, or I'll do something impromptu Saturday Evening Feast ($20-$25?) (italicized people have not yet confirmed for other events) tammylc Sam Iam & Joyce tino27 Kerry Beal Torakris Alex White Lotus & Dance Chris Hennes +1 Edsel Chris a2 (+1 or +3) Boagman Malawry NancyH & Bob prasantrin Fat Guy Sunday Bacon Brunch (price TBD, $25-$35) tammylc Chris Hennes +1 prasantrin tino27 Edsel NancyH & Bob Malawry Kerry Beal torakris Chris a2 +1 Fat Guy

They're dropping like flies! Randi, so bummed you can't make it - but having just bought a California plane ticket myself recently, I understand your sticker shock. It won't be the same without you. And Darienne, we'll miss you too! I was looking forward to meeting you. Nobody else cancel, okay?

Not right now. As soon as I have a few more details locked in I'll set up a site where people can pay in advance for the events they are attending. Just waiting to get final dollar figures for the meals.

It's too bad you can't make it for the whole weekend. We'll miss you. And if it turns out you're able to drive up for Saturday at the last minute, that'll be great.

Yes, SELMA is all about drop-ins. It's just a Friday morning breakfast salon in someone's house (I say "just" but they serve between 80-140 people a week...), so there's no reservations. I'll send out the location details and people can head over whenever they want, on their own, or we can arrange a time to meet and go over together.

I am still working on a few options for Friday afternoon, so haven't posted details yet. Stay tuned. I figured that those of us who are interested in Field Tripping can work out amongst ourselves what itineraries we'd like to do, as we're not all going to fit in the same car in any case!

While I'm busy spamming you all, should we start figuring out who wants to do what for the Feast? I know last year you had a detailed menu planned out in advance, thanks to Fat Guy's guidance. I know the first couple Gatherings in Ann Arbor we took a more "market basket" approach and had people sign up to do a particular course or a side or something, but let the details evolve depending on what people liked from our various food vendors. I am fine with either approach, or a mix, whatever people want to do! Here's what I think we know so far... tino 27 - bread for dinner, in general and specifics for dishes as needed Chris Hennes - charcuterie for pre-dinner noshing Alex - wants to make something, maybe gazpacho Kerry Beal - appetizer and light dessert Who else wants to cook? And what (specifically, or a category) do you want to make? It's been a very early and productive year produce-wise in Michigan, so we should have pretty much everything except the spring stuff in early August! Oh, and if anyone wants to cook with rabbit, let me know - there's a farmer in Chelsea who has great rabbit, but we'll need to make arrangements to get them in advance.

Thanks, Darienne! I fixed them in the post. (I knew I had a correction somewhere, but I couldn't find it, and figured whoever it was would send again.)

Attendance update as of 7/7 I'm not maintaining a separate maybe list. If/when your maybe changes to a yes, let me know and I'll add you. Thursday night Szechuan Banquet at Chia Shiang ($25-$30 inclusive) tammylc Chris Hennes +1 tino27 Edsel NancyH & Bob Darienne +1 Malawry Kerry Beal torakris Alex Friday breakfast at SELMA (eating, not cooking - anytime between 6:30 and 9:30, $12-$15 donation) tammylc Chris Hennes +1 Edsel CaliPoutine Malawry Kerry Beal Friday morning bread workshop ($5) tino27 Darienne LuckyGirl Kerry Beal Edsel Chris A2 Alex Bob (NancyH's +1) Torakris Prasantrin NancyH & Bob Friday afternoon Foodie Field trip... somewhere (including stop at restaurant supply shop). (free) tammylc Edsel NancyH & Bob Darienne +1 CaliPoutine Malawry Kerry Beal torakris Friday night dinner at Grange (price TBD, probably $50-$75 inclusive) tammylc Chris Hennes +1 prasantrin tino27 torakris Edsel NancyH & Bob CaliPoutine Malawry Kerry Beal Alex Saturday Afternoon Session on Organic/Locavore/Personal Food choices ($3-$5) tammylc tino27 Edsel Darienne Saturday Evening Feast ($20-$25?) (italicized people have not yet confirmed for other events) tammylc Sam Iam & Joyce tino27 Kerry Beal Torakris Alex White Lotus & Dance Chris Hennes +1 Darienne +1 CaliPoutine Edsel Chris a2 Boagman (dishes) Luckygirl +1 Malawry NancyH & Bob prasantrin Sunday Bacon Brunch (price TBD, $25-$35) tammylc Chris Hennes +1 prasantrin tino27 Edsel NancyH & Bob Darienne +1 CaliPoutine Malawry Kerry Beal torakris

I just got off the phone with the chef at Grange, he's working up a menu for us and I should have some details to share on that soon.

Ron - darn it all! Won't be the same without you! Sam - can you check out this post and tell me which events you're in for? Thanks!

There isn't a local food press in Ann Arbor. Actually, there isn't really *any* press in Ann Arbor to speak of. Our local paper converted to a mostly online version last year, with a couple of print editions per week. We have quite an active food community, and I'm hoping we'll have some members of the local scene joining us. I've been mentioning it to a few people, but was trying to lock down details before promoting it more broadly to the community, so I know how much space we'll have.

Here's their website: http://advancedrestaurantservices.com/rest_equipment.html And if you decide you need to order online and can make that all work, I'm happy to accept shipment for you and hold it until the gathering. PM me for address info.

Attendance update as of 6/30 I'm not maintaining a separate maybe list. If/when your maybe changes to a yes, let me know and I'll add you. Thursday night Szechuan Banquet at Chia Shiang ($25-$30 inclusive) tammylc Chris Hennes +1 tino27 Edsel NancyH & Bob Darienne +1 Malawry Friday breakfast at SELMA (eating, not cooking - anytime between 6:30 and 9:30, $12-$15 donation) tammylc Chris Hennes +1 Edsel CaliPoutine Malawry Friday morning bread workshop ($5) tino27 Darienne +1 LuckyGirl Kerry Beal Edsel Chris A2 Alex Bob (NancyH's +1) Torakris Prasantrin NancyH & Bob Friday afternoon Thermomix workshop (cost TBA) (Kerry to do during Feast cooking instead) Friday afternoon Foodie Field trip... somewhere (including stop at restaurant supply shop). (free) tammylc Edsel NancyH & Bob Darienne +1 CaliPoutine Malawry Friday night dinner at Grange (price TBD, probably $50-$75 inclusive) tammylc Chris Hennes +1 prasantrin tino27 torakris Edsel NancyH & Bob Darienne +1 CaliPoutine Malawry Saturday Afternoon Session on Organic/Locavore/Personal Food choices ($3-$5) tammylc tino27 Edsel Darienne +1 Saturday Evening Feast ($20-$25?) (italicized people have not yet confirmed for other events) tammylc Sam Iam & Joyce (bringing a Vita-Mix) tino27 (doing a bread workshop) Kerry Beal (doing a Thermomix workshop) Torakris Alex White Lotus & Dance Chris Hennes +1 (shipping charcuterie, dish masters!) Darienne +1 CaliPoutine +1 Edsel ronnie_suburban +2 Chris a2 Boagman (dishes) Luckygirl +1 Malawry NancyH & Bob prasantrin CaliPoutine Sunday Bacon Tasting & Brunch (still being finalized, but I'm working on it right now... $20-$25, probably?) tammylc Chris Hennes +1 prasantrin tino27 Edsel NancyH & Bob Darienne +1 CaliPoutine Malawry