Possibly the last Chowing with the Hounds Picnic - Help me think of something great to bring

[rworange]

I've heard talk this is the last picnic. I've yet to make it to one but all the delicious reports over the years have me wanting to try to make this one.

I have been to a few Chowdowns at various restaurants and almost as much as I've enjoyed great food, even more it has be wonderful meeting other hounds. The picnics sound even better with people flying in from different parts of the country and even other countries ... and carrying food with them for the picnic.

First of all, I don't cook well. You wouldn't want me to do that to you. I DO shop well.

However, maybe it is the flu that I'm under, but I just cant think of a thing to bring.

It probably would have been moranga from Mom's Cuisine, but, sob, it closed.

My best tastes this year have been either seasonal such as katia's Easter kulich or stuff that doesn't travel or keep well. My favorite place this year has been Fremont Diner, but my favorite dishes there are fried and best eaten from the frier. I could pick up some of their terrific pickles, but that is hardly enough.

I thought maybe malfatti from Lawler's Liquors since it is a unique regional dish, but while it is fine, it is not stunningly great.

So I appeal to you for ideas ... what would be something great I could buy to bring to the picnic?

Ninth Annual Chowing with the Hounds Picnic! October 3rd, 2009
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/652687

[Robert Lauriston]

Brisket from Uncle Willie's. Lots of people here have read about it, few have made the effort to experience its glory.

[rworange]

Yeah, ideas like that are great That's initially why I thought of the malfatti. There are so many dishes we read about over and over on the boards and just don't seem to make it there.

BTW, here was the spread for the first picnic in 2001 where over 70 people attended
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/17665#53168
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/17660

And to feel a sense of the spirit of the first picnic
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/17656
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/17658

"What a pleasure...

During the course of a single afternoon I was able put faces to so many names and handles. I don't know the last time I was at an event of this size that felt this close and personal.

Over 70 smiling faces and generous spirits filled a portion of G.G. park. People who have taken such wonderous pleasure in sharing ideas, sources, finds and friendships through their writings on the internet got to share each others warmth and spirit in person."

"I can't even begin to list all the food we had (Spanish, Russian, Korean, Indonesian, Chinese, Italian, Vietnamese, you name it someone brought it) - three picnic tables covered with food (including the benches at least for the dessert table!) - plus a fourth one covered with the cheese for the cheese contest."

... and each year seemed to get better and better. I hope lots of people will attend this one and help make it an extra special blow out event.

[wolfe]

A large pile of La Dee's fried pickles. They were great when hot but held up well so they were still good 3 hours later. I'm not sure of the next day though.

[susancinsf]

the picnic doesn't start until 11 am, so unless La Dee's is closed Saturday that shouldn't be an issue (you don't think there would be any left *after* the picnic, do you? :-)

[rworange]

Unfortunately La Dee's in the depths of Sonoma near Glen Ellen doesn't open until 11 am ... and opens slowly at that. I have considered making a trek up there and trying their Texas chili and cornbread and seeing if it is picnic worthy

Paleta's from the new place in Sonoma also crossed my mind but I'm thinking it won't work so well.

2002

Chowhound Picnic - Superb job and Best Chow Buffet anywhere !
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/21637
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/21640

[susancinsf]

You'd think I'd know that, guess I am going to have to go hang out at my Dad's house in Glen Ellen more often...but hmm....Cindy's idea of the cheeses from the shop in GE is a great one!

[LarryW]

A selection of breads from Semifreddis would be awesome.

[rworange]

Do you have any favorites?

2003

Kudos to the Picnic Winners!
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/26064
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/26006
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/26277

[Robert Lauriston]

Semifreddi's challah is one of the best in the area, and I think their honey twist and burger buns use the same dough.

Their other breads to me are for emergencies only.

[alina555]

This is the last picnic?! Tell me it's not true! I've wanted to come out to an event but dates/times always were an issue. This one yet again falls on a weekend I have to fly out for a wedding. Sigh.

[rworange]

That's what I heard. I'm surprised it lasted as long as it did. Originally it started to drum up some money to support Chowhound. Back in 2001 there were frequent appeals to keep the site going

ChowMarket a Disaster; We're Doomed
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/18030

It was really a nice thing to do to drum up some money to keep a site going by a community that banded together for that effort. Many of the chowdowns in those days also did some fundraising.

2004

4 hours 50 dishes – 15,000 calories later - SF Hounds Picnic Report
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/31945

Picnic Report -- Honey Tasting
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/32007

Chowing w/ the Hounds Food Superquiz & Answers
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/32016

Picnic Report -- Cooking Demo
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/32006

Chow Picnic pictures ?
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/32229

[walker]

I don't want this to be the last picnic -- I've never been and this year cannot make it since I'm leaving that day for a vacation to Maine, etc.

[Robert Lauriston]

For the record, Jim Leff sold Chowhound to CNET (which added the chow.com stuff) in 2006 , and CBS Interactive bought CNET last year.

[steve h.]

i suspect the best thing you could bring would be yourself.

i've never been to the chowhound picnics: put on your reporter's hat and bang out a decent story with some pictures.

a bushel of oysters would work for me. keep them cold, shuck them yourself. maybe some chilled hangar one shots to wash them down. two or three dipping sauces, simple ones like lemon, tabasco and something else served in those cheesy paper dentist cups, would work just fine.

have fun with the writeup. insist on holding another picnic next year around october 19 so i can maybe bring a dish or two.

[rworange]

Are you volunteering for the 2010 picnic committee? :-)

An oyster and vodka tasting, now that's an idea. I'm really ticked by this flu. It limits some of the tasting I might have done to come up with something to bring. I'm thinking maybe some of that fried chicken from Fremont Diner, but I haven't tried it room temperature to see how it holds up.

I couldn't do a better write up that the many posters over the years. I hope people take a look at some of the previous posts and decide to join the fun.

2005

We Came, We Ate, We Drank: The 2005 Chowing with the Hounds Picnic
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/39695
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/39689
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/40027

[steve h.]

if you wrap the 2010 around october 19 (deb's birthday), i could be all over it. that's a promise, not a threat.

i think you have very strong opinions and very strong writing skills. never dilute what you do well.

lose the chicken idea. we cook some mighty-fine fried chicken at home here in stamford and the simple fact is that it doesn't travel well.

grilling corn on-site, maybe a third of a cob per serving, with your chilled oysters and mini vodka shots would probably elevate you to rock star status. killer butter/hot pepper sauces for the corn will insure you immediate ascension and entrance to heaven.

just my $0.02.

[yimster]

rwo, I heard the same thing. I think the picnics can go on but others will have to step up and help. The picnic and chowdowns need hounds to host. Recently there have been less events because there are few hounds up want to host.

So we need to thank Marlon, susancinsf, cece and urmi for doing all the work all these years on the picnics.

[Cindy]

How about some nice unique cheeses from that place you went to in Glen Ellen?

[Chuckles the Clone]

I've had your chorizo crawl bookmarked for years.

[JasmineG]

How about some tamales from that place in Oakland? Wow, could that be more vague? There was a place in Oakland that you and some others were posting about recently and raving about the tamales, but I can't remember its name, I feel like it was on Market?

[rworange]

That's a really good idea. They are on the way to the park, sort of. They are open on Saturday, they would be really fresh. The cheese from Glen Ellen were also something that crossed my mind.

So many good ideas.

2006

We came, ate, drank, sat in the sun, and had the Blue Angels to 'entertain' us: the 2006 Chowing with the Hounds Picnic!
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/332309

[daveena]

Ha ha - I was thinking the same thing - "hope rworange brings those tamales she raved about... can't remember where they're from...". Or something you love from Crixa.

[rworange]

Hmmm ... There seems to be a tiny consensus here and I'm liking this idea more and more. I could bring them a pot or two (separate veggie and sweet from meat) the day before and just pick up the pot. Then I could also bring some small stuff like those Fremont Diner pickles though they have nothing to do with tamales.

The thing is that most people rarely have that fresh from the pot tamale experience. I think (once the damn flu breaks) I may look into this more.

The 2007 Chowing with the Hounds Picnic report!
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/448504

[Robert Lauriston]

Are you talking about Unicos? Will they do that? If so, that would be pretty awesome.

[rworange]

Yeah. Once I can walk in a straight line again, I'm going to ask them about it.

Chowing with the Hounds Picnic, 2008 Report.
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/560808

[pointybird]

I'm SO excited for this picnic! I can't believe I'll finally get to meet people like you, rworange, how many times have you educated me on what to eat? I wish I could tell you what to bring, I can't decide on my own dish either!