Monday, July 18, 2005

Guest Blogger: Methy

[My dear friend (blog name) Methy is a wonderfully creative cook and party giver.  This years she  once again provided the catering for the Walden School's summer fundraiser, hosted at a friend's home in the Bolton Hill neighborhood of Baltimore last month.  I'm always amazed that she creates these wonderfully thematic culinary combinations and events, yet in real life she has SUCH serious work  :/  ]  

 

                               Methy's Evening In An Italian Garden  

                     Meatless Antipasto by Elegant Eating - Long Island Caterer      

 

  The culinary theme for the 5th annual event:  "An evening in the Italian garden - an antipasto menu".  The delectables included the following passed hors d'oeuvres...

Summer vegetables on grilled polenta... triangles of tender-crisp polenta topped with grilled eggplant, red bell pepper, squash, and fresh tomato dressed lightly with a balsamic vinaigrette

Fried calamari with ancho chile remoulade sauce... cornmeal-crusted calamari served with remoulade spiked with finely minced poblano chilies, capers, celery,onion and cornichons

Grilled Caesar "bruschetta" with artichoke mousse.... diced grilled romaine, anchovy oil drizzle, and shaved parmesan with a puree of grilled lemon-marinated artichoke hearts, atop bruschetta toasts

Italian style shrimp toasts...wedges of bread stuffed with shrimp, parmesan, parsley and thyme,  and fried golden brown, served with roasted red pepper sauce

Sausage puff pastry pizzettas... baked squares of pastry topped with pesto sauce, sundried tomato, crumbled Italian sausage, caramelized onion, and black olives

Mom's Italian meatballs....  authentic Italian meatballs with homemade Italian tomato sauce

Chicken marsala kebabs.... marsala-marinated chicken strips and mushrooms with creamy marsala sauce

Insalata Caprese skewers.... cherry tomatoes, basil and mozzarella dressed with olive oil, parsely and chives

Now, what would an antipasto party be without olives?  So we served two types:  herbs de provence marinated nicoise olives, and lemon-vermouth marinated green olives.  Rounding out the savory selection was a light and delicious tuna mousse -- spuma di tonno -- served with crackers and crudite.

For dessert, there was homemade, chocolate-dipped mini cannoli, and pear-almond turnovers -- a puree of pear, bourbon, butter and almonds encased in crispy phyllo wedges.

The fundraiser was a smashing success, with many guests expressing eagerness and suspense for next year's menu!
 

 

 

 The Ten Tenors : One Is Not Enough : 'Italian Medley'

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I would love to see the recipes for the olives.  Please post them, if they are not top-secret.  

Anonymous said...

That platter looks good enough to eat... Methy's cuisine reigns supreme.