Food/Cooking thread

[titaniumbean]

blonde day trip to the park imo!!

[Laxie]

Hope so but from what I can find you only have 30mins to prep and 30mins to cook. No idea if you supply own ingredients or its a case of ready steady cook. Defo prefer the former as don't want to be cooking ready made burgers and sausages etc but the 30min time slot doesn't allow for too much creative stuff

Damn.  That means no real time for gorgeous marinades and the like, but I suppose there's still lots you can do with herbs and spices.  When will you find out what the format is?

[Dubai]

Its a quality day/night out if you like food and drink anyway, especially if the suns out. Ive already got tickets for evening session so if do compete and just waiting on the rules before commit then il be there all day and night if anyone is around

[Dubai]

Hope so but from what I can find you only have 30mins to prep and 30mins to cook. No idea if you supply own ingredients or its a case of ready steady cook. Defo prefer the former as don't want to be cooking ready made burgers and sausages etc but the 30min time slot doesn't allow for too much creative stuff

Damn.  That means no real time for gorgeous marinades and the like, but I suppose there's still lots you can do with herbs and spices.  When will you find out what the format is?

Replied saying yes can make it and asked her to send the brief so just waiting on a response.

[Woodsey]

Friend of mine is trying to get in the great british bake off or whatever it called.

[Marky147]

Friend of mine is trying to get in the great british bake off or whatever it called.

I used to watch that sometimes, but it only served to make me hungry and I think Richard Wheatley's mrs won that one a few years back.

[dreenie]

Will update on dinner party in a bit as been away but might need group vote on recipe ideas as got email earlier

Dear David,
 
Congratulations! You have been chosen from thousands of entries to take part in the Weber BBQ Challenge ‘The Amateurs’.
 
Please confirm that you are able to take part in the Taste of London 2013 Weber BBQ Challenge ‘The Amateurs’ Competition  at Taste of London at Regents Park next Saturday 22nd June.
 
Once you have confirmed your participation, then I will send you a competition brief.
 

Obviously need to see brief to see how much time have etc

WOW! glglgl

[Dubai]

You will have 2 hours to prepare your ingredients, barbecue your meat and side dish and present your food.
This will be followed immediately by the judging process and finishes with the winner and 2 runners up being announced.
What Equipment will be Available?
All equipment will be provided and you will have the use of the following –
   1 x One Touch Premium 57cm Charcoal BBQ
   1 x BBQ Tool Set
   1 x preparation table
   1 x handwash sink   
   1 x soap and paper towels
   1 x chopping board
   Flint and Flame Knife Blocks

Your Challenge
You are required to cook a complete dish. This means one main component i.e. meat or vegetarian element and a side dish to form a complete meal. This can be served all on one plate as one meal, but the side dish needs to be suitably involved i.e. more substantial then a garnish.

What Ingredients do I Have?
You will be provided with 2 meats and 10 accompanying main ingredients, along with a store cupboard of basic ingredients. Our sponsors for the event, Barts Spices, will be providing a number of herbs and spices to use.
In addition you are allowed to bring 3 of your own ingredients, although this is not compulsory. This can be anything from extra ingredients to your secret spice rub/sauce.
The following main ingredients will be provided:
   Whole large chicken
   Pork loin

   Portobello Mushrooms
   Asparagus
   Artichoke
   Prosciutto
   Aubergine
   Fresh Lemongrass
   Wholegrain Mustard
   Stuffable Roasting Chillies
   Cherry Jam
   Breadcrumbs

The Judging Process
Scoring will take place in full view of the individuals and the general public. Four judges will score your food to determine who will be placed 1st, 2nd and 3rd
Dishes may be submitted with as much flair, panache, garnish and general embellishment as you wish. Enjoy yourself and be creative!
You will bring your dish to one focal point on the judges table so they can judge your entry.

Judging Criteria
The judges have 100 points to allocate for each dish they taste and will follow these guidelines:
1.   Appearance of Entry
How appetizing does the entry appear? The first bite is with the eye after all.
Points available per round = 20

2.   Texture of Entry
The entry should be moist and easy to chew with good mouth feel. It should be beautifully tender retaining body with moisture and texture.
Points available per round = 20

3.   Taste of Entry
Are there smoke and flavours cooked into the meat? What magic is your rub making? Does the sauce add to the dish or clash?
Points available per round = 50


4.   Harmony of the dish
How far does the dish really represent BBQ? How well do all the flavours of the dish work together to complement each other.
Points available per round = 10

All scores will be made available to each person after the event



Initial thoughts of mine (as in got this 2mins ago) was that harmony on dish is least important and was thnking going the Asian way. Probably do surf and turf of some sort, so use 1 of my own ingredients on a lobster tail? And use the chicken for the oyster only and bring oysters as my 2nd ingredient and use that to make an Asian bbq sauce, serve the chicken oyster in oyster shell etc, and use Pork tenderloin to make Asian bbq pork which is very traditional. So Asian bbq pork, a bbq lobster tail and chicken oyster in oyster shell. Maybe use 3rd ingredient on red cabbage, as can braise red cabbage with lemongrass, chilli, red wine vinegar etc

Help!

[Dubai]

Maybe use wings with breadcrumbs?? Don't want plate to be overcrowded, want it a restaurant dish rather than a "bbq" dish

[Dubai]

Dish might be a bit dull in colour with red cabbage, maybe some greenery needed

[Laxie]

Lobster and the meats are going to be pretty similar in colour, so you definitely need to add some colour to it.  They give you an ok selection of sides to mix things up, but I'd be careful with bread crumbs on the bbq.  That can get nasty pretty quick and mess up your dish.

[Dubai]

Was trying to avoid the whole generic asparagus wrapped in prosciutto etc

Could use mushrooms and bring pak choi as a side to keep asian theme?
Or use an ingredient to bring a great bottle of red and enjoy it

[Laxie]

Wrapped asparagus is silly easy and super predictable.  Stuffed Portobello mushrooms - you could have some fun with them.  I'm looking through some recipes now with those ingredients and will give a shout if I spot anything good.  Agree completely with bringing a good bottle of red just for yourself though. 

[Dubai]

Instead of making a traditional BBQ sauce, I could smoke the oysters and make a smoky asian oyster sauce, combines the whole dish as well, can cut the pork loin thin when serving so it's elegant plus less likely to taste dry

[Laxie]

Now you're talking.  Definitely need a kick ass sauce of some sort.  From all the cooking shows I've ever watched, judges go mad over sauces, glazes and marinades.  Get that right (don't overcook the meat obv) and you're nailed on for the win.