Our friend, blogger Mick Vann, was invited to a very special barbecue featuring a whole steer. We’ve shared some of it with you already. As promised, here’s Part 2: And here’s a link to Mick’s blogspot: Gustidude.
…there was a great nosh of grilled fresh fava bean pods…zip them open and enjoy the nutty treats inside:
…had some nice Malbec to go with:
…a pile of found deer antlers from the ranch:
…the table set up in the old corral under the monster spreading live oak:
Reina from the excellent Buenos Aires Cafe brought some delicious empanadas: light, flaky pastry encasing a rich filling of beef, garlic and onion, peppers, hard-boiled eggs, raisins, and olives. Their charm did not escape my gaping maw…several times.
Reina also brought a really simple but VERY nice garlicky vegetable-laden soup, perfect to chase away the chill:
….bowls of chimichurri were assembled, using green garlic and parsley straight from the garden, ready to slather on beef:
….sides were a superlative new potato salad:
…and the sweet, charred escarole with red onion, tossed lightly with sherry vinegar and olive oil:
…the slicing commenced and beeforama ensued……
….the way-incredible sausage was made by Lambert’s, a chunky, spicy, garlicky blend of beef and pork:
…the complete finished gut-busting plate:
…friend, wine expert, and author Wes Marshall and his lovely better half Emily were across the table and smiling broadly:
…there was a grand finish from Perla’s…a truly excellent tres leches cake adorned with fresh strawberries and strawberry sauce:
..here’s a shot of the perfectly medium-rare haunch, post-feast:
ALL the chefs performed admirably and the crowd was absolutely gob-smacked. FANTASTIC food, grand setting, interesting crowd or chefs, writers, foodies, friends, ranchers, and what-not, a wonderful experience. When tickets go on sale for the event, DO NOT miss this thing!
By the way, the BEEF???? Freaking fabulous: tender, succulent, juicy, smoky….I could go on, but trust me.
For ticket info (which includes a free bus ride from ATX to the ranch and back), see:
http://vaca.eventbrite.com/