Six Course Dinner Party

My friend Mike is really passionate about cooking, and for the past three years now, he’s hosted an annual dinner party for his friends. Throughout the night you’re served a total of 6 courses, and with the help of his friend Liz (a classically trained baker), they serve an extravagant line-up of food to around 30 people! It’s quite an undertaking, and certainly not for anyone who can’t handle high stress situations, but for anyone who is truly passionate about cooking, this is such a fantastic idea for something to do with a group of your closest friends.

Mike asked that each person pitch in just $15 to cover the cost of food and place settings (and trust me when I say that didn’t even begin to cover his costs). He puts a lot of time into turning his apartment into a mock New York Italian restaurant, complete with candles, printed menus, and waiters (a.k.a his most loyal friends and family members).

The courses were as follows:

First Course:
Fontina Risotto Cakes with Fresh Chives

Second Course:
Pasta Fagioli

Third Course:
Sauteed Shrimp with Pancetta on Creamy Polenta

Fourth Course:
Wrapped Pork Tenderloins with Pistachio Pesto and Sweet Potato Puree

Fifth Course:
Tomato, Basil and Mozzarella Salad (Liz used organic basil from a local farmers market)

Finally Dessert!:
Almond Praline Cake with Mascarpone Frosting, Espresso Creme Brulee, and Limoncello.

I wish I had taken better pictures of each course, but the lighting was really dim, and plus I was super hungry, so when a plate came out I usually just started eating. My favorite moment of the night though was when Liz whipped out a blow torch to make her Espresso Creme Brulee. So bad ass!

I got home from the dinner party at around midnight, and boy was I exhausted. Between the race in Manchester, walking around Middletown, and eating some serious good eats, my body was ready to shut down. As tired as I was though, I was incredibly happy with how my Saturday had panned out.

What a perfect first day of spring.