High-Pressure Picnic

[Comfort Me]

Never missing an opportunity to obsess about something needlessly for months on end, I've got a very special picnic to plan in late summer for which I would love some creative input.

Think height of the summer, several very famous people, including a couple of mega-mega-famous Hollywood-type people. The hosts are oldest, bestest friends. I'm both cooking and a guest, so I want to design a menu that I can put out for the staff to serve.

I've had the following thoughts:

Gaspacho with organic heirloom grape and tiny yellow pear tomatoes (my garden), served in chilled glass punch or coffee cups.

Pickled salmon in lettuce cups with a chipotle mayo.

Watermelon and feta salad with a lemon viniagrette.

Haricot verts, blanched, shocked, then marinated with garlic and olive oil

Vegetarian bureks -- layers of heavilly seasoned onions, leaks, peppers, spinach between and encased in crispy layers of phylo dough.

I have no idea about a dessert. Maybe individual semolina cakes with whipped creme fraiche.

I'm not wed to anything listed -- except possibly gazpacho, which I must say I do rather well. I would like to keep it simple, elegant, cold or room temperature, and dairy -- no meat. Any ideas? I would be much obliged.

[LaurieB]

Hmmm, good question. (BTW, I love the phrase "easy, pleasy menu"; it's going into my vocabulary today.

I like the menu, too. Don't know how many people you're doing this for, though. One suggestion (with a variation) that I did a couple of times last summer to raves:

1) Italian cherry tomatoes "BLT" Cherry tomatoes stuffed with a mix of diced proscuitto and basil pesto mayo. So, variation two:

2) Sliced roma tomatoes, on a grilled baguette slice, spread with said basil pesto mayo, topped with a shaving of prosciutto. Still kind of labor intensive, but not so much as #1.

(I know you said no meat, but you still might want to do this some other time, cuz it's really good). Or just omit the prosciutto.

Cous cous salad? Grilled potato salad?

Laurie

[jackal10]

Its more about looks than taste, so presention is essential. Hollywood mega stars don't really eat, they just inhale near food...Finger food makes life easier.

A few tricks:

Shelled king prawns (I've forgotten the US name) plus mange-tout on sticks (use kebeb skewers) in a vase - they look like exotic flowers

Quail eggs in a chinese seafood nest. Can be marbled.

Lots of edible flowers

[bleudauvergne]

Hmmm. Let me check my high pressure meal notes. One thing is that to plan ahead months in advance can lead to mental meltdown in the days preceding the meal, especially if there's a sudden rupture in stock of a certain ingredient you should normally be able to find, or you find yourself pressed for time. Be prepared to valorize what looks best in the garden, at the market, etc. at the time you are getting ready to prepare this meal. Yes, I totally agree that simple is best, but not necessarily conventional. The unconventional is always welcome at these events, for example, you might try a savory cold melon soup garnished with your yellow tomatoes (edit note: sorry I was thinking about stuffed mushrooms). Research edible flowers and place them in special bar drinks, and in a fresh greens salad. Gaspacho still sounds very nice. Try and prepare some things guests can eat with one hand, i.e. make the lettuce cups mouthful sized, put watermelon and feta on tootpicks, experiment with your phyllo in the weeks preceding the meal, do some dress rehearsals.

edited too : I didn't see Jackal10's reference to edible flowers... Dude!

Edited April 26, 2004 by bleudauvergne (log)

[hedoness]

Disclaimer, disclaimer, disclaimer...I am not a Pro...

But I would play with a White Wine Sangria with Orange & Lemon Slices, Berries and mint to go with what you are serving.

Dessert wise, I would end that with some kind of combination of creamy and lightness, such as simple custard with Meringue, maybe with a hint of licorice or almond flavoring.

It sounds amazing... Good luck.

[bleudauvergne]

I think we are working up a color scheme here.