Auction Dinner

[Neil]

Well it's finally over. Last night the people who bought the bbq dinner I donated back in April finally put me to work. I prepared the fatties, briskets, chicken, cole slaw, and eggplant while my partner in this prepared the butts, ribs, and baked beans. The dinner was supposed to be for 20 but ended up feeding close to 30. A big thanks to my wife who helped out a lot and even more so for getting me that E-Z UP cannopy for Christmas last year because it poured for about 1 1/2 hrs. while we were doing the final dinner preperations. After they ate, the doctor who hosted the dinner, asked us if we would be able to cater his son's graduation party next summer. Sure feels great when 20+ people tell you it was the best bbq they ever had. I cooked the 10# brisket on the top rack of the 'dera and the 12# brisket just below it. Both dinoturds went in the smoker at 5:00 pm Saturday. I pulled, foiled, and coolered the 12 #er at around 9:00 Sunday morning when the internal temp hit 190. The 10#er came off five hours later when temps hit 183! Chicken thighs were brined over night then marinated in bottled Italian salad dressing, sprinkled with rosemary/roasted garlic seasoning then smoked on the lower racks of the 'dera for 2 hours. Placed the thighs in a deep foil pan covered with sauce and back on the bottom rack for another hour. Finished up the thighs by grilling on the Weber over direct heat to crisp up the skin.

 

[BrooklynQ]

Sounds like a great meal. Congrats.

 

[chad]

Congratulations! It appears that a good time was had by all! :razz:

 

[qman]

Congrats on a great cook. Sounds like a lot of work, but a lot of fun too, and for a cause:-D

 

[MrSmoker]

Congrats Neil,sounds like you did a fine job.

 

[VitaminQ]

Sounds great, Neil! There's nothing like feeding people to make you feel good. I know I love it; most of us here probably feel the same way.

 

[thillin]

Good job, by a good man!

 

[Trout_man22]

Neil, So proud of you. New house, good Q, a job this comming summer. WTG

 

[rbinms33]

I'm glad things went so well, Neil. And to get a catering gig on top of everything? Excellent!!

 

[jt]

Good job, Neil. I'm sure it tasted great! And the kudos from the diners made it even better!

 

[dapittboss]

Way to go, bro! It's gotta be a great feeling after the build up of the auction, the winner, then the meal turning out great with all the compliments. Congrats.

 

[icemn62]

Congrats, the best BBQ sauce: The smiles and gratitude of everyone who eats and enjoys your cooking.

 

[spicewine]

Only thing missing were a few of those World Famous Bread Sticks of yours!

Good job Brother!!

 

[Arlin_MacRae]

What a great feeling you must have gotten when you got follow on "business" right away.
Grats, bro!

 

[Ron_L]

I'm glad it worked out, Neil! It was nice meeting you at the bash...

 

[Jeff_in_KC]

Great job, Neil! So who was it that cooked the ribs? The kid that stole your rib crown this year? :lol: :lol: :lol: :wink:

Seriously, a few bucks spent to donate a BBQ dinner is cheap advertising to get a catering job! I know that wasn't the intent but you know, good things happen to people who give of their own time and resources! Take advantage of it!

 

[Samichlaus]

Great Job! Congrats! Will ya let me in on your eggplant recipe? I LOVE eggplant.

 

[rbinms33]

Sami.....do you have the Smoke and Spice cookbook? There's a recipe in there for ratatouille that uses eggplant and it's awesome. You can put it over a bed of rice or pasta and it's some good eating. The only other way I've ever had eggplant was fried.

 

[Aeynghus]

Congrats on a great cook.

 

[G$]

Fantastic Neil. Fantastic.

(If you catch this, can you compare the flavor and texture of your two briskets? One was signifantly lower than the other)