Incurable Epicureans
The Incurable Epicureans are a culinary group of MOMS members who love to cook and to eat. There are usually four dinners a year. Each dinner has a specially planned theme and menu where the group may explore various regions of the world, culinary époques, or whatever else they think of that sounds intriguing. Usually the group gathers in the home of a member, but they also have used park shelters and working studios. Following are samples of past dinners and a preview for 2010. The club's first event in 2008 was a fifties/sixties era cocktail party with completely retro hors d'oeuvres and dancing. An Impressionist Garden Party followed in the summer honoring the recipes of Madame Claude Monet. Under a full moon in September, we dined on foods of Celtic Folklore just as the ancients honored the harvest. We wrapped up the year with a Christmas Around the World dinner in December. 2009 found us tasting the exciting and spicy foods of French and Spanish Basques, as well as a Charcuterie & Wine Tasting al Fresco on a lovely late summer evening. We studied three of America’s premier chef’s and food writers, M.F.K. Fisher and James Beard led us to a delicious country dinner at the lovely Freund Center in Shaw Arboretum. In December, we followed Julia Child’s Art of French Cooking to a scrumptious conclusion of the year. Our opening event of 2010 offered the exotic recipes of My Bombay Kitchen and was held at the equally exotic Herbaria owned by Ken Gilberg. Special guests from our St. Louis Zoroastrian community authenticated our Paris dinner. This spring we’ll dine out of doors amidst the newborn flowers on the cuisine of the Netherlands. Classic Dutch cooking reflects the tastes of a seafaring, trading nation, with a strong preference for fresh vegetables and a passion for all things sweet and spicy. We’ll explore the rich tradition of Dutch food and its various international influences. In August, the group will feast on a menu of choices from Alice Waters, a champion of locally grown and fresh ingredients. She, along with Jeremiah Tower, (chef of Chez Panisse in Berkeley from 1972-8), have been credited with creating and developing California Cuisine. She has continually promoted organic and small farm products heavily in her restaurants, as well as advocated eating locally produced foods that are in season. Our hosts for this event, Karen and Bruce Lowry, are offering their farm and garden at the peak of freshness for all of us to practice with Alice’s principles. Our final event of the year remains to be chosen, possibilities for inspiration include, Thai, Greek, even Native American. Whatever culinary adventure awaits, our creative and daring members are prepared to concoct and consume with flair. Because we meet most often in member’s homes, the club must limit membership to 35. Dues are $15 per person payable the first of each year. The Incurable Epicureans is open to all MOMS members. The first 35 to pay their dues form the group for that year. Prior to each dinner a menu is emailed and every member who plans to attend signs up to bring one of the menu’s dishes. They each research and prepare their chosen item as a means to learn more about the world of food. The last Earthstar newsletter of the year includes a reminder for membership dues and the mailing address for The Incurable Epicureans.
Exploring the Great Chefs of the 20th Century: |
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