587623 Tue Jan 13 14:37:21 -0800 2009 22 27 General Chowhounding Topics 0 4323256 We're hosting a party with a theme of Black & Tan. The theme will apply to the decor, dress and of course food. So, here's my question...what foods do you think fall into this category? I've come up with a few so far....squid ink pasta, hummus with black chips, black bean soup. Thoughts & ideas appreciated. Thanks! Tue Jan 13 14:37:21 -0800 2009 122069 Pawsinhand 1 4323319 Black pudding/blood sausages, forbidden or wild rice, dark chocolate drops or squares topped by a nut butter or drizzle of butterscotch or over toffee, oatmeal raisin cookies, dark chocolate Petit Ecolier cookies, mind erasers (kahlua+soda water), anything blackened or made with mushrooms... Tue Jan 13 14:55:41 -0800 2009 4323256 224238 Caralien 1 4323360 Sounds like fun, I love theme parties...I also love squid ink pasta, but some people can find it a bit strong for them... "Black"ened steak, fish, shrimp or chicken could also fit in there..heck I just like spicy food! Tue Jan 13 15:07:22 -0800 2009 4323256 237148 bermudagourmetgoddess 1 4325612 You may already know this, but there is a Yuengling beer named Black & Tan. I'm not a beer drinker, so I can't speak to its qualities, but it is a favorite among friends. Wed Jan 14 10:03:16 -0800 2009 4323256 66030 lisavf 2 4325660 A Black and Tan is actually Guiness and Bass or sometimes Harp. I've had the Yuengling and it doesn't hold a candle to a true Black & tan, but considering they are best poured on tap, Yuengling wouldn't be a bad choice Wed Jan 14 10:17:20 -0800 2009 4325612 154901 roro1831 3 4325814 Chocolate chip cookies. Wed Jan 14 10:48:45 -0800 2009 4325660 189528 Whosyerkitty 1 4325924 Ben and Jerry's Black and Tan ice cream Guiness ice cream floats creamy porcini mushroom soup Wed Jan 14 11:13:01 -0800 2009 4323256 10763 Miss Needle 2 4326746 Do you remember the "Death By Chocolate" dessert? It's chocolate cake soaked in Kahlua, then layered in a trifle bowl with chocolate pudding, crushed Skor and whipped cream? I haven't had this in years: http://www.carrieschocolates.com/Recipes/death_by_chocolate_recipe.htm Wed Jan 14 14:53:27 -0800 2009 4325924 249664 kattyeyes 1 4326775 -Black diamond steaks - I'm not a fan, but they fit the theme and would add another savory dish. -Black bean dip -Blackberries -Black olive tapenade on crostini or pitas. Wed Jan 14 15:03:48 -0800 2009 4323256 71241 lynnlato 2 4329343 Black olive tapenade and hummus, side by side would be a cool b/t presentation. Thu Jan 15 11:42:29 -0800 2009 4326775 39874 chowser 1 4326818 Another drink idea would be Ice Picks. Good strong iced tea mixed with your favorite flavor of vodka. My fave is Absolut Currant. Makes the tea taste just like some of the good flavored teas (Republic of Tea, etc.) only with a kick. Wed Jan 14 15:20:44 -0800 2009 4323256 253542 cycloneillini 1 4328825 I think this is available all over- there is a chocolate peanut butter dessert by Jello brand that usually is stocked in grocery stores near the cake mixes, It ends up looking like a layered peanut butter (tan) and chocolate (black) loaf. Never made it myself and it probably is not that great tasting since its from a box, but it fits the theme. Thu Jan 15 09:30:55 -0800 2009 4323256 180658 mkmccp 1 4329209 There are some cheeses that have a black wax coating which would look great cut into wedges, and I think I've seen some goat cheeses rolled in black peppercorns. You could make a cheese platter with dark plums and Concord grapes (if you can find them). Oven-fried potatoes with coarse black pepper. There's Russian black bread, which is really dark brown but darker than rye due to the inclusion of cocoa powder and coffee. Would make great little Reuben sandwiches. But you'd have to call the coleslaw the tan. Eggplant aren't really even purple, but they often look black to me. Maybe little stacks of eggplant parmesan sandwiches. Thu Jan 15 11:06:45 -0800 2009 4323256 84890 nemo 1 4329252 Black Sesame ice cream. Salad with Japanese black sesame vinaigrette (available in Japanese grocery store) Black pepper crusted beef fillets / Blackened catfish fillets / salmon etc, etc. You can also sue black sesame crust instead of black pepper (black sesame crusted tuna steak, for instance) Mussels? (the shells are close to black) Roasted whole Black bass (with skin, of course) For tan, may be mushroom anything? (mushroom cream soup, pasta, etc.); Gravy on something. Thu Jan 15 11:18:55 -0800 2009 4323256 54254 kobetobiko 1 4329367 Make hershey's black magic cake w/ dutch processed dark cocoa and then frost w/ pb frosting. Buckeyes made with dark chocolate Ahi tuna rolled in black sesame seeds "sushi" with nori and brown rice Thu Jan 15 11:47:18 -0800 2009 4323256 39874 chowser 1 4329818 black lentil and garbanzo salad peanut butter cups (tho really tan and brown...) blackberry crostata caviar bruschetta devil's food cupcakes with a butterscotch frosting black pepper chicken black grapes, blackberries and cheese plate toasted nori with a chop of seared albacore on top black lentils toasted with seared scallops (that have been coated in tan crumbs?) Thu Jan 15 13:41:23 -0800 2009 4323256 15572 Emme 1 4329888 Just FYI...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_and_Tans Thu Jan 15 13:57:35 -0800 2009 4323256 124630 Trencher man 1 4331085 For desserts, Meringue "Mushrooms"... cap and stem (piped through a pastry bag) of mushroom made by meringue , attached by melted chocolate and sprinkled with cocoa... Dark chocolate pastry shells (available at local markets or online) filled with fresh vanilla bean-infused home-made whipped cream and garnished with a half of strawberry and/or a chocolate "curl". Alternating Vanilla and Chocolate custard/pudding layered in pretty, tall, cocktail glasses...garnished with curls of chocolate peeled with a veggie peeler. Fri Jan 16 00:28:45 -0800 2009 4323256 205148 ideabaker 2 4336730 Thanks so much for all the wonderful suggestions & ideas. We'll have fun putting together our menu and decor. Tracey Sun Jan 18 11:47:34 -0800 2009 4331085 122069 Pawsinhand 3 4339233 please post your menu as well as what worked and what didn't! Mon Jan 19 12:36:26 -0800 2009 4336730 224238 Caralien 4 4339473 we hope to finalize the menu in the next few weeks. The party isn't until late April, but I will post our menu before then! Thanks! Tracey Mon Jan 19 13:45:32 -0800 2009 4339233 122069 Pawsinhand 1 4346721 I baked a black and tan pie last year. Blindbake a single pie crust, fill with caramel pudding on the bottom, top with dark chocolate french silk pie filling, then broiled meringue for the faux head of foam. Any light brown-colored filling can be put in the bottom, like peanut butter mousse, dulce de leche custard, butterscotch... Thu Jan 22 01:05:23 -0800 2009 4323256 67436 stilton 1 4347347 spicy garabanzo bean soup with sour dough olive bread - I've made this many times its very good.. little sandwiches with black russian bread and pastrami butterscotch puddings with dark chocolate chips or a dark chocolate crust pie crust with carmel ice cream, freeze it then slice and I have a recipe from epicurious for mousse like dessert that is half dark chocholate and peanut butter, actually was their cover photo many years ago. Thu Jan 22 08:31:06 -0800 2009 4323256 50431 chef chicklet