We recently had the idea to cook an epic dinner-- epic in the Homeric sense. This ended up being 25 courses, and the catch was that each course had to be grilled in some way. We came up with this fun name: The Gr-Iliad. Since we were doing so many courses, the main goal was to keep things an simple as possible. This was one of the most fun meals I have ever had:
Oysters, Gewurztraminer Gelee, Lavender
We started off with oysters warmed on the grill, lavender flowers, and gewurztraminer gelee. The pairing was a floral, spicy gewurztraminer, and it was perfect!
We started off with oysters warmed on the grill, lavender flowers, and gewurztraminer gelee. The pairing was a floral, spicy gewurztraminer, and it was perfect!
Melon Soup with Grilled Speck
We pureed up some sweet honeydew with mint, and topped it with grilled speck crumbles.
We pureed up some sweet honeydew with mint, and topped it with grilled speck crumbles.
Torchon with Grilled Apricots
Next up was a torchon topped with a grilled apricot.
Next up was a torchon topped with a grilled apricot.
And there's nothing like a little 1985er auslese to go along with a torchon.
Fritz Haag 'Brauneberger Juffer- Sonnenuhr' Auslese 1985
(Mosel, Germany)
Fritz Haag 'Brauneberger Juffer- Sonnenuhr' Auslese 1985
(Mosel, Germany)
Hot Dog, Mustard, Shallots
We made fresh miniature hot dog buns, and served bites of Niman Ranch dogs topped with whole grain mustard and shallots.
We made fresh miniature hot dog buns, and served bites of Niman Ranch dogs topped with whole grain mustard and shallots.
An ice cold beer is perfect for washing down a great dog, and we cracked this one:
Maine Beer Company "Peeper Ale" (Portland, Maine)
Maine Beer Company "Peeper Ale" (Portland, Maine)
Scallop, Dill Pickle
This was so simple yet so delicious. We made homemade dill pickles a couple days before, and their acidity and crunch went great with the richness of the grilled scallop.
This was so simple yet so delicious. We made homemade dill pickles a couple days before, and their acidity and crunch went great with the richness of the grilled scallop.
Salmon, Roe, Creme Fraiche, Parsley
Here we grilled a nice fish from the market and garnished it with parsley cut fresh from our garden.
Here we grilled a nice fish from the market and garnished it with parsley cut fresh from our garden.
Smoked Hummus, Pita, Carrot, Cucumber
The day before we smoked some hummus on the grill, and we served this with fresh veggies and grilled pita bread.
The day before we smoked some hummus on the grill, and we served this with fresh veggies and grilled pita bread.
Tuna, Tomato, Oregano
Simple grilled tuna with a slice of heirloom tomato from our garden and fresh cut oregano.
Simple grilled tuna with a slice of heirloom tomato from our garden and fresh cut oregano.
Grilled Pineapple, Serrano
Here we played off the simple combination of pineapple and ham.
Here we played off the simple combination of pineapple and ham.
Chicken, Avocado, BBQ Tuille
This was a very cool dish. Instead of putting BBQ sauce on the chicken we made a crunchy tuille out of the sauce, and it gave this simple dish a nice crunch.
This was a very cool dish. Instead of putting BBQ sauce on the chicken we made a crunchy tuille out of the sauce, and it gave this simple dish a nice crunch.
Smoked Mozzarella Raviolo and Greenmarket Peas
The day before we picked up some fresh mozzarella from an Italian market and smoked it on the grill. We mixed this with fresh peas and stuffed it into fresh pasta. It's garnished with olive oil and pea shoots.
The day before we picked up some fresh mozzarella from an Italian market and smoked it on the grill. We mixed this with fresh peas and stuffed it into fresh pasta. It's garnished with olive oil and pea shoots.
Bacon, Cipollini, Tarragon
We grilled a whole slab of bacon then served it with grilled onion and fresh tarragon slices.
We grilled a whole slab of bacon then served it with grilled onion and fresh tarragon slices.
Pork, Corn Salsa, Tortilla
Corn Tacos! We grilled the corn and the pork, then warmed up the tortillas over the flames.
We served this with:
Kistler "Hudson Vineyards" 2001 (Carneros, California)
The richness of the chardonnay went great with the fattiness of the pork and the intensity of the corn.
Corn Tacos! We grilled the corn and the pork, then warmed up the tortillas over the flames.
We served this with:
Kistler "Hudson Vineyards" 2001 (Carneros, California)
The richness of the chardonnay went great with the fattiness of the pork and the intensity of the corn.
Maitake Mushroom, Saba, Pesto
There is nothing quite as intoxicating as the aroma of a grilled maitake mushroom. We touched it up with an herbaceous pesto and a few drops of sweet saba.
There is nothing quite as intoxicating as the aroma of a grilled maitake mushroom. We touched it up with an herbaceous pesto and a few drops of sweet saba.
Lamb Burger, Mint Yogurt, Black Sesame Roll
We made fresh buns, then grilled them with the burgers. The mint yogurt is made with fresh mint from our garden.
Someone brought a magnum of Barolo & we opened that right about now.
We made fresh buns, then grilled them with the burgers. The mint yogurt is made with fresh mint from our garden.
Someone brought a magnum of Barolo & we opened that right about now.
Asparagus, Parmesan
So simple, but grilled asparagus is one of life's sweet pleasures.
So simple, but grilled asparagus is one of life's sweet pleasures.
Steak, Herb Butter, Bronx Lettuce Sprouts
We grew baby lettuce in our window box, and cut it at the last minute to garnish this bite of steak.
We grew baby lettuce in our window box, and cut it at the last minute to garnish this bite of steak.
Pan Con Tomate, Midnight Moon Cheese
Pan Con Tomate- one of the greatest foods ever invented, and made for the grill. We added slices of gouda-like cheese, Midnight Moon, made by Cowgirl Creamery.
Pan Con Tomate- one of the greatest foods ever invented, and made for the grill. We added slices of gouda-like cheese, Midnight Moon, made by Cowgirl Creamery.
Blue Cheese, Smoked Cherries
We smoked these cherries the night before and it gave a great smokey depth to the cheese.
We smoked these cherries the night before and it gave a great smokey depth to the cheese.
Ambrosia
I grew up having ambrosia at every picnic-- it's marshmallows, sour cream, fruit and coconut. Overnight, the marshmallows set with the sour cream into a pudding. We grilled the coconut inside, and topped them with blueberry slices.
For the dessert courses we opened up a bottle of:
Barboursville "Phileo"(Monticello, Virginia)
I grew up having ambrosia at every picnic-- it's marshmallows, sour cream, fruit and coconut. Overnight, the marshmallows set with the sour cream into a pudding. We grilled the coconut inside, and topped them with blueberry slices.
For the dessert courses we opened up a bottle of:
Barboursville "Phileo"(Monticello, Virginia)
Fennel Sorbet, Grilled Fennel, Grapefruit
We grilled some fennel a few days prior to the dinner, then we spun this grilled fennel into a sorbet and stuffed it into hollowed out grapefruit shells. We topped this with grilled fennel and grapefruit segments. At the last second we torched the grapefruit for a great aroma.
We grilled some fennel a few days prior to the dinner, then we spun this grilled fennel into a sorbet and stuffed it into hollowed out grapefruit shells. We topped this with grilled fennel and grapefruit segments. At the last second we torched the grapefruit for a great aroma.
Mango, Coconut Sticky Rice, Grape Leaf
Mango and Sticky Rice is one of my favorite foods, but grilling it was difficult. We decided to wrap this dessert in grape leaves and grill those. The grape leaves are from the vines in our backyard.
Mango and Sticky Rice is one of my favorite foods, but grilling it was difficult. We decided to wrap this dessert in grape leaves and grill those. The grape leaves are from the vines in our backyard.
Cinnamon Bun, Orange
Baked goods on the grill proved challenging, but I took a cue from an old camping trick I learned a while back. You can bake over grills and fires by putting your dough into citrus shells. The shells withstand the heat nicely and keep you dough moist, plus they add a pleasant aroma.
Baked goods on the grill proved challenging, but I took a cue from an old camping trick I learned a while back. You can bake over grills and fires by putting your dough into citrus shells. The shells withstand the heat nicely and keep you dough moist, plus they add a pleasant aroma.
S'Mores
Homemade graham crackers, homemade marshmallows, and chocolate- the best S'more I have ever had!
Homemade graham crackers, homemade marshmallows, and chocolate- the best S'more I have ever had!
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