POIVIEROIPS

and an unlikely choice, "Nifty
"We have never repeated any-
`50s."
thing in all these years," she
The suggested menu for a said.
`50s gathering includes Peppy
Her group usually includes
Party Mix, Molded Waldorf Sal- an appetizer, soup, entree,
ad, Super-Duper Meatloaf ac- dessert and sometimes a salad.
companied by young Italian Only rarely does a purchased
Chianti and, for dessert, Lemon item sneak in.
Meringue Pie, which goes to
"One time we were having
show that a gourmet club din- our kitchen remodeled," Mont-
ner need not be nouvelle with gomery said. "I stopped by
starched linen napkins.
Marie Callender's and picked up
Menus and recipes can come two lemon meringue pies. I nev-
from magazines, cookbooks, er heard the end of it."
newspapers and other sources.
With food as the focus, hard
If you have never made a dish liquor does not figure promi-
before, it pays to try it out in ad- nently in gourmet clubs. But the
vance.
groups may consume four to five
The cooking can take two bottles of wine in an evening.
routes. Club members might
"It's not necessarily a time to
take turns doing all the work: If booze it up," said Bill Reichert,
it's September, it's my time to who started the first Gourmet
shine. More often, each couple Grub Club in Seattle in 1988
prepares a separate course, with and moved to San Diego sever-
the host responsible for the al years ago. Each recipe gen-
main dish.
erally calls for a different wine,
Items are usually chosen so he said. "You've got to pace your-
they can be prepared in advance self"
Besides food, gourmet club
events can involve theme-relat-
INIUM1111 ■ 11 ■ 1
ed costumes, elaborate table and
home decorations, games and
The theme is what entertainment. Some groups or-
ganize summer dinners around
sets the gourmet
a croquet theme, with everyone
dressed in white.
group gatherings
At Middle Eastern meals,
guests may sit on the floor and
apart from potluck eat with their hands. If it's
Greek, wear a toga. If it's New
dinners.
Year's, it's black-tie.
Invitations may come in
brown paper bags for a South-
ern Fried Chicken Party. They
might be hand-lettered in the
and brought to the dinner site best formal script or designed
ready to serve. Even the most on a computer.
elaborate gourmet kitchens can-
"You're only limited by your
not accommodate 10 cooks cut- imagination," Walkoe said. "We
ting, boiling and baking at the had parties where the theme
same time. However, the host was red. The food was red, we
may need to make room in the wore red, the lights were red,
refrigerator to keep some trans- everything was red. That was
ported items cold.
great."
The themes can be selected
But Montgomery said her
as much as a year in advance, group has yet to agree to one of
with each member or couple her more exotic suggestions for
taking a month. A more unpre- a gourmet dinner party — a
dictable approach is for the "woodland picnic" theme.
hosts to pick the theme and
"We'd dress up like teddy
send out the menu and assigned bears or other animals," she
recipes a couple of weeks in ad- said. "Nobody wants to do it.
vance.
They think it's a weird idea."
Walkoe and her sister orga-
nized their first club for area IDEAS AND ASSISTANCE
Shields has written two books
friends by having each host take
to help you start your own
a turn cooking all the food.
"We wanted to get away from group: The Gourmet Grub Club:
the cafeteria, potluck feel," A Guide to Cooking and Enter-
Walkoe said. 'Being invited into taining With Your Friends and
somebody's home for a nice Creative Theme Parties. To or-
der, contact TSI, 111 James
cooked meal was wonderful."
Montgomery said her group St., Edmonds WA 98020; (206)
ends each meal with a discus- 672-2963. You may also order
sion of the menu and wines for through your local book-
store. ❑
the next event.

Let us help you
guests this

Poached Fish Trays

r

Lake Trout • Salmon
Whitefish

Breads, Cakes, Pies
& Cheesecakes

entertain your
holiday season

10% OFF
PARTY TRAYS

Create your own
Shrimp • Crab
Smoked Fish
Vegetable Trays
Deli Trays
Relish Trays
Beef Tenderloin

Pure Fed Amish
Turkeys & Chickens

All natural - no additives
Wholesome and pure

DAILY SPECIALS
• Live Lobster
• Incredible
Fully Cooked
Chowder
Lobster Dinners
• Salmon Patties
with all the fixin's
• Crab Cakes
• Stuffed Salmon
Homemade Gefilte
Must mention coupon
when ordering
Fish & Free
• Fresh Cooked
Expires 12-31-96
fish grinding
Shrim
Open Sundays • M-Th 9-6, Fri 9-7, Sat 9-6, Sun 1 1-4
Finest Fresh Fish Daily 626-7595 Over 60 Varieties
6535 Orchard Lake Rd., W. Bloomfield • Old Orchard Center

Baked daily on
premises

L

It's Crunch Time!

Ie

HELPING JEWISH
FAMILIES GROW

TM

PUBLISHED BY THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

Va// your Account Representafive

(8 - 0) 354-6060

7aday,/

05