Another QBT come and gone
May. 19th, 2008 04:42 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
snousleWell, the run did not start off very easily. I got up at 6 AM on Friday morning to discover that the hot water heater was not working. Fortunately, we have two, with a cross-connect feature that took a LOT of arguing with the plumber to put in. And here we were, our first big event, and we needed it.
Then, I turned on the oven to bake a loaf of fruit bread that was the prototype for Saturday and Sunday breakfast. I'd never used the oven before, so I wanted to see how the bread turned out. Well, it started smoking, and didn't stop, and when I opened the door there were yellow flames coming out of the combustion area. Some Internet searching revealed that it was burning too rich - so scratch the bread. Not a problem, except for the panic of it all.
Then we had some water pressure problems, unrelated to the hot water heater. Our carbon filter had gunked up and was limiting the flow - though after we removed it, the water continued to taste just fine as well as flow faster.
Then three different sets of contractors showed up, all wanting things. Kitsune goes crazy with barking and growling at one of them - he's really quite creepy, and if I were a dog I'd be doing the same thing. But it didn't exactly calm the situation down.
Did I mention that the temperature was topping 100 degrees, and I didn't get a chance to set up the camp kitchen before the heat came up?
Anyway... it was NOT a good morning, and probably the worst start I'd ever had for a camp catering event. Or any event, for that matter. But once some lunch had been provided for the early arrivers, things calmed down considerably. Dinner was individual stir-fry in the style of a mongolian grill restaurant, which went OK but not as smoothly as it might have - that still needs a little more planning and organization. After that, it was all as easy as pie.
Oh, well, almost. Saturday morning, I discovered that my bike would not start, so John helped me try to jump it, but the situation was hopeless. I ended up riding bitch on Ted's bike, which was perfect - his back seat is like a Barcalounger, and totally relaxing. For all the riding I do, I don't get to look at the view very much on those mountain roads, so being a passenger for once was glorious. I declared myself the "designated drinker" at lunch at Queenies, and polished off a half-bottle of wine, which made the ride back even better.
At 35 guests the attendance was over our usual limit of 30, but it wasn't too bad. I've been able to open up more territory by just raking and moving large stones, so there was plenty of camping space. My budgeting is getting much better, too - there's essentially no food waste, and only one garbage bag of trash for nearly 200 meals. Having Gypsy there to wash dishes makes it super easy, and he loved the makeshift station I put together for him from recycled wood and an old enamel sink I dug out of the woods. Even with two kegs of beer taking up $250, the total cost was just $800, and was more than covered by individual donations. Truly, it's a model of gourmet frugality, and cooking outdoors is so much fun I wish I could do it all the time.
The newly installed, but still-incomplete commercial kitchen played little role in the food prep, since it was full of contractors for the days leading up to the event. Now, it looks like something exploded in there - I've got lots of work to do to get it in shape.
Mother arrives for a visit tomorrow. Should be interesting.
Then, I turned on the oven to bake a loaf of fruit bread that was the prototype for Saturday and Sunday breakfast. I'd never used the oven before, so I wanted to see how the bread turned out. Well, it started smoking, and didn't stop, and when I opened the door there were yellow flames coming out of the combustion area. Some Internet searching revealed that it was burning too rich - so scratch the bread. Not a problem, except for the panic of it all.
Then we had some water pressure problems, unrelated to the hot water heater. Our carbon filter had gunked up and was limiting the flow - though after we removed it, the water continued to taste just fine as well as flow faster.
Then three different sets of contractors showed up, all wanting things. Kitsune goes crazy with barking and growling at one of them - he's really quite creepy, and if I were a dog I'd be doing the same thing. But it didn't exactly calm the situation down.
Did I mention that the temperature was topping 100 degrees, and I didn't get a chance to set up the camp kitchen before the heat came up?
Anyway... it was NOT a good morning, and probably the worst start I'd ever had for a camp catering event. Or any event, for that matter. But once some lunch had been provided for the early arrivers, things calmed down considerably. Dinner was individual stir-fry in the style of a mongolian grill restaurant, which went OK but not as smoothly as it might have - that still needs a little more planning and organization. After that, it was all as easy as pie.
Oh, well, almost. Saturday morning, I discovered that my bike would not start, so John helped me try to jump it, but the situation was hopeless. I ended up riding bitch on Ted's bike, which was perfect - his back seat is like a Barcalounger, and totally relaxing. For all the riding I do, I don't get to look at the view very much on those mountain roads, so being a passenger for once was glorious. I declared myself the "designated drinker" at lunch at Queenies, and polished off a half-bottle of wine, which made the ride back even better.
At 35 guests the attendance was over our usual limit of 30, but it wasn't too bad. I've been able to open up more territory by just raking and moving large stones, so there was plenty of camping space. My budgeting is getting much better, too - there's essentially no food waste, and only one garbage bag of trash for nearly 200 meals. Having Gypsy there to wash dishes makes it super easy, and he loved the makeshift station I put together for him from recycled wood and an old enamel sink I dug out of the woods. Even with two kegs of beer taking up $250, the total cost was just $800, and was more than covered by individual donations. Truly, it's a model of gourmet frugality, and cooking outdoors is so much fun I wish I could do it all the time.
The newly installed, but still-incomplete commercial kitchen played little role in the food prep, since it was full of contractors for the days leading up to the event. Now, it looks like something exploded in there - I've got lots of work to do to get it in shape.
Mother arrives for a visit tomorrow. Should be interesting.
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no subject
Date: 2008-05-20 01:56 am (UTC)Sorry I wasn't there!