Our Final Christmas Party - 2015

[ACW3]

My wife and I have been hosting an annual Christmas party for 42 years.  It started out as a family get-together and grew over the years to include both family and friends.  The menu was usually white tail/mule deer/elk chili.  The past 10 years have required me to make two large pots of elk chili.  We also offered beer and wine.  This was our final Christmas party.  We decided to go out in style by having it catered.  55 of 70 people showed up for the party. 

I have been the alumni advisor for my college fraternity to Johnson & Wales University in Charlotte for the past year and a half.  This is a fabulous school for those who wish to become culinary chefs, pastry chefs, or manage the food and beverage services of a hotel or country club.  We hired three of my fraternity brothers to help us pull this off.  Maureen and I both contributed to making food.  As can be expected, I did the smoking/grilling.  Maureen made several items and helped with the serving plates and platters.  Here are some of the menu items:

Moinks (meatballs wrapped in bacon and dusted with a favorite rub)






Smoked salmon on crusty baguettes with dill cream cheese





Dried beef balls (horseradish cream cheese rolled in minced dried beef)



Pork and elk tenderloins smoked on my new Red Box smoker using apple wood charcoal









Duchess potatoes (mashed potatoes piped onto a sheet and baked in the oven)





Crawfish and grit cakes





Chicken wing “lollipops” cooked on my MAK







Small cupcakes (using a German chocolate batter and frosted with a bourbon-honey buttercream icing)




Profiteroles au chocolat







Pecan diamonds



Gateau St. Honore (baked fruit cups with kiwi, strawberry, raspberries, blackberry with an orange-apricot glaze brushed over them)





Absolutely great party.  I want to thank Tim for providing his photography skills. 

Art

[tomcrete1]

Wow! Looks great! 

[sparky]

Nicely done partner.

[jjjonz]

Wow.....I sure wish I had a invite to that get together.

[Pappymn]

That is some of the best looking grub I have seen in sometime. Tee wear his comfort fit elastic pants?

[drholly]

That is definitely going out in style - good for you, it looks a perfect feast! Wish I met you 42 years ago...

[HighOnSmoke]

Fantastic Art!

[Big Dawg]

Dayum, Art ! ! !





BD

[sliding_billy]

That doesn't even suck a little.

[spuds]

Thats truly something else,wow!

[ACW3]

That is some of the best looking grub I have seen in sometime. Tee wear his comfort fit elastic pants?

Pappy,
Not only did he have his comfort fit elastic pants on, but he was wearing a set of suspenders, just in case the waist band let go.  You know Tee, always prepared!

Art

[tailfeathers]

One word: WOW!

[teesquare]

That is some of the best looking grub I have seen in sometime. Tee wear his comfort fit elastic pants?

Pappy,
Not only did he have his comfort fit elastic pants on, but he was wearing a set of suspenders, just in case the waist band let go.  You know Tee, always prepared!

Art

I always have a plan - and a fully capable back-up...In case Plan #1 ( or my waistband in this case- ) "lets go" - hence the suspenders.

[muralboy]

Nicely done partner.

x2 - impressive

[hikerman]

Great work Art! Nicely done and what a bang to go out on!