Our first challenge: Outdoors/BBQ foods

Let the fun begin!
Last night, Liz, Karen, and I met up to do our first challenge. We opted for a 3 course menu, focusing on foods to be eaten outdoors. (For more details on the recipe selection, check out Liz's blog entry).

The menu:
Appetizers: Evangelos "Spike" Mendelsohn Spicy Fire Wings with Pineapple Jicama Slaw and Apple Cider (the most complex recipe of the three). This recipe is not in the Top Chef Cookbook, but is found at http://www.bravotv.com/foodies/recipes/spicy-fire-wings

Main Course: Black Truffle Burger by Howie Kleinberg (page 102)

Dessert: Strawberry Apple Crisp with Hazelnut Whipped Creme by Brian Hill (page 236)

Liz and Karen started off prepping the wings and burgers.

Once the wings were done, the guys (Tri, Steve, and Drew) grilled and basted the wings: 

 
I arrived a bit late to really help out with the first two courses (aside from cutting tomatoes, toasting the burger buns), so I started the dessert.


So, past knowledge of baking tells me that precision in measuring is key. I figured following the recipe is the other key component. Well, sorry Top Chef/Tom Colicchio, the recipe was wrong. It called for the flour and sugar (dry ingredients) to be added first (sifted in the mixer bowl), then add the rest of the ingredients for the crisp: vanilla, egg whites, butter.

Our resident pastry chef, Karen, noticed that the mix was not blending well and it was not becoming pasty. Luckily, she was able to save it. We separated the butter from the rest of the batter and creamed it, then added the batter back in, a bit at a time and added some more flour to make it more pasty. Luckily, that worked. We then spread the batter out on a rimless cookie sheet, cracked the hazelnuts, finely chopped them, and spread them out on the crisp. Into the oven it went for about 25 minutes -- took a little longer since the crisp wasn't as thin as it should have been (oops!)

In the meantime, we started eating (will get to the results in a bit). In finishing the dessert, I hand-whipped cream for the first time!! 






And for the fruits of our labor:

The App. The wings were quite flavorful and had a slight kick to it; thank goodness we didn't put in 3 quarts of chillies like the recipe called for. We found the jicama and pineapple slaw to be really refreshing with an awesome dressing! Who knew that fish sauce (nuoc mam could be used like this!) I think this was my favorite course of the evening. I was probably in the minority of wanting to add more chillies. lol.
















The Main Course:  Wow did that burger have complex flavors that all worked! This was the guys' favorite dish of the evening. The truffle butter was delicious, the pancetta and cheese really complemented the meat.























Dessert: A light dessert and with the exception of the crisp was easy to make. The apples had great carmelization on them, the strawberries were fresh, and the whipped cream was light and not too sweet. The crisp almost tasted like a fortune cookie, with hazelnuts.

Overall, a great first effort. Everything was delicious. The wines we had went well with the food. The three of us worked well together. I definitely learned a lot and had fun doing it! Next time, I'll remember my apron and my cookbook!!

*** Thanks to Tri for taking the photos. ***