Kobayashi Would be Proud of All This Eating: A Weekend of Extreme Shabu, Grill Mastery & Cocktail Shakedowns

We recently tested the limits of our shabu pot by seeing just how many people can eat out of one bubbling cauldron and come out alive. The limit is 10 in case you're wondering and even at 10... it's a little hectic.

Shabu Shenanigans

The problem isn't so much room in the pot. It's losing your food and then fishing out someone else's that isn't quite cooked yet... although room in the pot is tight. We also had the problem of the vegetarians. I don't have a splitter for my shabu pot so unless our two veggies didn't mind cooking their tofu in our meaty, fishy broth, I had to devise another solution.

Fighting for Your Food

My brilliant (if I do say so myself) answer to this problem involved a fondue pot and four cans of sterno. I mean... vegetables don't really need to be "cooked" all that much anyway and I only have one heating element so the Sterno kept the veggie pot hot. Next time I might just bring my camping stove upstairs although I know that's very unsafe.

Prepping the Sterno

Sheryl & Josh Enjoy the Veggie Pot

At this Project SF family dinner - seating was also a bit of an issue. Our booth seats about 6-8 people pretty comfortably but 10 is definitely pushing it. We had people on stools and employed some unorthodox seating options but all in all, things worked out pretty good and we demolished another shabu shabu din-din.

Side Sauce Showdown

I'm a huge fan of shabu and communal dining in general for large parties. It's way more fun than sitting around and eating off your own plate the normal way. It's very interactive and people get into the meal in a way they never would if they were just eating food that was put in front of them. I'd like to get a tabletop grill because I think this would be another fun group thing.

Seafood Platter, Corn & Tofu

The best part about shabu is that cooking for 12 people is a lot of work, but there is almost no prep because all you do is lay out a bunch of raw meat, fish and veggies. Sure, you gotta rinse and cut stuff up but that's nothing compared to the work that goes into making an actual meal. Plus... if you invite Fumika over, she does everything for you! I tell her not to but I just can't make her stop!!!

Oondah Goes in for the Kill; Katie Gets Noodley

People always want to know about the shabu meat. You can get it at most Asian grocery stores. I like Ming's in the South End (thank you to Jeremy for introducing me to this mecca of all things Asian), but Super 88 (not my favorite) has it, as does Cmart and there's a new one at the end of Washington in the South End that has a pretty decent selection of stuff. The *BEST* place I have ever gotten shabu meat is a Korean grocer (go figure) in Waltham. Nice and thin and not too fatty.

The Bountiful Shabu Table

For veggies, I like cabbage sectioned into leaves, organic watercress, corn on the cob and baby bok choy. We also did some broccoli this time. I always go to a fish market or whole foods after a suspect encounter with seafood purchased from the Asian grocery store. I like to do some salmon and white fish (cod works), shrimp, scallops and squid. I also do tofu.

Anyway, shabu for 12 while highly ambitious, was a lot of fun and we'll definitely do it again.


The day after our shabu showdown, we headed South to enjoy the first truly beautiful weekend on the Cape with our neighbors A&B who have been MIA for the past few months. It was a pretty monumental two days of cocktails, food and lounging if I do say so myself.

View from the Deck

My Contribution: A Mojito

Adam and Beth have been living down on the Cape while their loft is being renovated and we took this opportunity to flex our bar tending and grill tending skills.

A Snack Before Dinner; Peep the Gouda I Brought Back from Amsterdam

With bottles of gin, vodka, bourbon and only fresh lemons and limes - we set out to make every cocktail we could think of or had the ingredients for, which included: mojitos, martinis, Bourbon smashes, Tom Collins (my new favorite) gin & tonic, vodka gimlets... and many, many more.

Gettin Goofy w/ Kabobs

Ready for the Grill

Grill Meisters

A Glorious Grill


MANY MEATS

Shrimp & Veggies

We also grilled enough meat (& shrimp, veggies, swordfish and potatoes) to feed an army and Beth invented the BEST new campfire dessert the world has ever seen. Originally dubbed the PB S'more, this amazing concoction involves peanut butter spread on a graham cracker and then topped with chocolate and a molten, toasted marshmallow, sandwiched between another graham cracker.

History in the Making

Just like the original only so much better. We later ditched the family friendly product name in favor of the more compelling and far more illustrative "S'morgasm"... I mean, I really think that says it all, don't you?

S'morgasm Ingredients

The peanut butter not only makes the s'more so much more complex and delicious than it's inadequate half cousin by marriage, but it also serves to keep that chocolate in place so there is no slippage. It's a thing of beauty and I fully expect General Mills to steal the idea and package it up for the masses. No bother - everyone should experience. I for one, will never eat a normal s'more again.

Adam Mixes Something Special

We consumed and imbibed freely for a full 12-15 hours and when we were done - we rested. The next day, we assessed the leftovers, and did what any normal, responsible person would do. We turned them into breakfast.

Leftover Scramble

Cakes a'Cookin

A crazy egg scramble of veggies with a side of steak and some really amazing corn meal pancakes definitely hit the spot after we had finished playing Tom Cruise in Cocktail for several hours.

Corn Cakes

Breakfast of Champions

Of course, we still had a lot of booze left and there was a Celtics playoff game on so a round of Tom Collins (how do you make that plural) was in order... and that is when I discovered my new favorite drink! What a refreshing and delicious specimen.

My Friend Tom (Collins)

I may have to say goodbye to my reliable gimlet for the summer and say hello to my good friend Tom. Where have you been all my life???

Anyway, that's all I got. A lotta eating. A lotta laughing. The way food should be. Shared with friends, enjoyed over communal pots and rounds of terrible jokes, or warm, languishing spring afternoons on Cape Cod. If only life could always be so sweet and simple.

Birthday Food Coma: Shabu-Shabu & Easter Smorgasbord Extravaganza

I celebrated my 23rd birthday last weekend with three amazing meals, the first of which I already babbled about in my Dining at O Ya post. You might think after a meal of that magnitude I might need a break... but if you think that, you don't know me very well. I woke up the next morning ready for more.

Josh & Mel Get Psyched About Shabu

Whose Hot Pot Is It?

We've been doing a lot of shabu-shabu these past few months because our great friends, Jeremy and Abbey who were also present for the birthday meal bought us a shabu pot and heating element for our wedding. I'll go to Ming's, the Asian market in the South End for thin sliced beef and veggies like baby bok choy, enoki mushrooms, cabbage and watercress, as well as the sesame and ponzu dipping sauces. I also buy a spicy soup base because I find it's easier than making your own and the broth takes on the flavor of everything that gets cooked in it so there's no need to go crazy making an elaborate broth.

Kenji Gives Me a Creepy Look

I like really fresh seafood so I usually buy scallops, shrimp, white fish and squid at whole foods or a fish market. I also get tofu, noodles and rice to serve with the meal. We're doing shabu at home this Friday so I'll get some photos.

How Every Civilized Meal Ends - Squid Swimming In Water Glass

Anyway, we're always wondering what the origin of shabu shabu is and I don't know why I never looked it up but our brilliant friend Jared was present last Saturday and he informed us it's Mongolian so that ends the argument. Mongolian hot pot. I think I probably knew that but I'm glad we've put it to rest. I was tired of telling Kenji it wasn't Japanese.

Shabu Zen West

We decided to try out the new Shabu Zen outpost in Allston. They have the exact same menu as the Chinatown location but it's literally ten times the size with some private tatami rooms. It's nothing special but it does the trick if you want shabu. All the meat and seafood dishes are served with a giant platter of veggies and they have a decent selection of Asian beers and sakes.

Bountiful Veggie Platter

Shabu is a great option for large parties and everyone always has a really good time trying to find their food in the big communal pot and mixing their own ponzu. We had some gyoza and edamame and went through a few bottles of sake during the meal and many beers... all for less than the cost of movie and a large popcorn.

Split Pot of Two Broths

It was a good time and the waiter who actually believed that I was turning 23 bought be a Xingtao which was nice. The best part is, everyone gets to eat like kings and then walks out the door without spending more than $40 and even that's a little high.

Gift from Josh

Cute Little Carrot Cake Made By Mel

Extreme Close Up of Best Carrot Cake EVER

Blowin Out the Candle

The Best Part

Easter Smorgin

Once again I got to share my birthday with Jesus which means a big ole feast and an egg hunt... which actually has nothing to do with Jesus. My 21st birthday was also on Easter which wasn't quite as cool but now that I'm 23, I really didn't mind it. Spending time with the fam, eating good food and chillin out was just my speed this year.


As I have discussed before, my in-laws take a Smorgasbord approach to family meals which provides a great variety and makes meals fun and communal. This year, everyone was responsible for contributing something.

Scalloped Potatoes, Green Bean Casserole & Asparagus Risotto

Dana's parents still made the bulk of the meal with some classic Americana that I can never resist, including green bean casserole, scalloped potatoes, as well as their famous Swedish meatballs (yes, they are of Swedish heritage) and some amazing desserts which included my favorite - strawberry rhubarb pie :)

Many Types of Pork

My parents and sister Katie were on hand because it was my birthday and they brought a spiral ham which was delicious served with pineapple and deviled eggs. My brother-in-law Erik and his girlfriend Alyssa made a great asparagus risotto, my sister-in-law Kristen made some great desserts and her famous Swedish coffee bread.

YUMMM

I brought a new concoction - a salad of baby romaine, sliced celery and scallions, pea shoots, crumbled chevre, sliced toasted almonds and mandarin oranges. I made a dressing of balsamic, olive oil, parsley, garlic, a little sugar and lemon juice. It was good and nice and light.

My Springy Salad

And Then There Was Dessert... Again

Our family always goes large when it comes to the sweet stuff. The smorgasbord concept gets extended beyond the main event to include a buffet style dessert extravaganza. After such a big meal, it's always hard to find room for dessert but when you see all the great homemade treats that get paraded out for these events, it's hard to say no and the good news is... there are always plenty of leftovers to take home!

Mom's Strawberry Shortcake

Kristen's Decadent Peanut Butter Balls


Kristen's Pretty Sugar Cookies

More Candles on Mom's Daffodil Cake


World's Best Strawberry Rhubarb Pie

Yummy, Yummy, Yummy I've Got Love in My Tummy

It was a busy food-filled weekend from high to low... amazing sushi at one of the best restaurants in Boston if not the entire U.S., a great communal shabu meal and comfort-filled Easter dinner among family. I really am a lucky girl. I also got some great gifts - an authentic Rondo jersey just in time for the NBA championship (kids size XL), a laptop backpack, a Wii Fit, an amazing new flat iron that I love more than anything... a down comforter for our new King sized bed, some awesome and very unqiue glassware for our new bar and money to buy an All Clad frying pan!

Can you say JACKPOT!!!!