Let's cook and eat together: Sunday, December 3rd

Buongiorno.
We had a terrific dinner last Sunday, and the plans are already in place for the next one. Dungeness crab season is about to open, so that will be our meat choice, along with mussels as the season opens mid-November (hey Dan, much to our delight you can smoke them!) and oysters to round it up. Sign up early and come over hungry.
A presto,
Marco Flavio

The plan
25-30 of us will cook and eat together on December 3rd, starting at around 2:30.
The dinner will be in San Francisco. Jeremy has kindly offered his company's very large, multiple-range kitchen for our gathering. Thank you, Jeremy, for making this dinner possible.
There will be enough space for us to use the stoves and ovens in a couple of shifts.

Registration will be limited to 32 people (which means that realistically there may be around 28 people, with the California flaking-at-the-last-minute syndrome) and every person coming (including any guests you bring) will either cook something or provide wine and drinks (see below).

We'll divide the cooking among the participants this way:

4 participants will make appetizers for 12 each (please include some vegetarian options)
10 participants will make main courses for 3-4 people each (please include some vegetarian options)
4 participants will make salads for 8 people each
4 participants will make desserts for 8-10 people each
5 participants will bring 2 bottles of good wine (or one bottle of really good wine plus a six-pack of beer)
2 participant will bring non-alcoholic beverages for 15 (sparkling water, juices, soda)

Please let me know who is coming by name. Once we reach 32 people confirmed, I will close the event. If the slots are full for what you'd like to bring, please choose something else instead. (Don't worry: There will always be another event to showcase your skills.)

Ingredients
We decided to pick these together, so we'll work with what the group decides (Iron Chef-style, only without the competition bit). Dungeness crab, mussels and oysters are the already-chosen ingredients, and the others are up for voting.
Below I've suggested some seasonal November-December produce; now YOU get to vote the ones you want. We should pick 3 vegetables and one fruit.

Here are the possibilities: 
Vegetables: Beets, yams, Portobello and cremini mushrooms, winter squash, potatoes, artichokes
Fruit: Grapes, pomegranates, grapefruits

I'll go to the market one week before the dinner, if something else looks great, I will add it to the  ingredients we can use for the dinner, so we'll end up with four possible vegetables.

So post a comment here letting me know the following:
First and last name
Email address
What you'll be bringing (appetizer, main course, etc. and if it's vegetarian)
Your vote for ingredients (please pick 2 vegetables, 1 fruit and 1 meat from the list above)
If you brought wine last time, you should now cook an appetizer or an entree, (unless you cooked as part of a couple and made a large entree).

I'll tally the results and post a list of the chosen ingredients, and who's bringing what.
If too many people pick the same course, I'll have to assign a different course to the last entrant.
If the votes are tied for ingredients, I'll flip a coin.

This is going to be great! So sign up before we have no space left.
Precedence will be given to the people who came last time, but please feel free to pass the word to fellow foodies.

A presto,
Marco Flavio

Comments

[Marco Flavio]

Hello,
I'll bring an entree, my Italian focaccias and something else.
Vegetables vote: Portobello and cremini mushrooms, winter squash, potatoes
Fruit: Pomegranates

[Scott Weitze]

I'll bring an entree. I'd vote for mushrooms, yams and winter squash, as well as grapes for the fruit.

I'll also actually bring myself this time for real... sorry to have missed the last one. Long story... seeya in December.

[SYDNEY PETERS`]

I'll be there again (can't wait) with a dessert and a crab entree! See you all on 12/3. Marco, will contact you soon re Manga...XXOO Syd Peters

[Julia Kochi]

I'll try a veggie appetizer this time.

Here are my choices:

Vegetables: Beets, yams, artichokes
Fruit: Grapes

[SYDNEY PETERS`]

Opps forgot to vote on the food. (not the political elections). Also, Melanie...I lost your business card. It was in the pocket of my shirt and the shirt went to the laundry! Please send your# to sydsp@mac.com....let's see a flick! Syd

I'd vote for mushrooms, potatoes and artichokes for veggies; grapes for fruit. Again, see you all on 12/2.

[Joanna Tong]

Ciao,
La cena era molto divertente :)

Joanna Tong +1 guest (forse il mio amico italiano)

joanna_12@hotmail.com
I'll bring a vegetarian entree.
Vote: Crab (a traditional SF Christmas favorite)
Veggie: Mushrooms and potatoes/yams
Fruit: Grapes

[Samsara Oberle]

Hello All,
I'll cook an entree.
I vote for: Portobello and cremini mushrooms...hope this includes truffles, winter squash, Beets and Pomegranates :) Yummie!!

[Dan Schuster]

I'm on for this meeting! Sunday was wonderful.

Put me down for dessert - I won't try a tart tatin but something more American. Maybe somthing citrus...

I will bring a guest.

Votes for Vegies: Winter Squash, Spuds

Fruits: Grapefruits

To all the main dish folks using crab- Most years the crab fishermen go on strike for the first few days or weeks of the season to get the price up. November 25 is the opening day so there there may not be any fresh crab available. Have a back up plan!

Dan

[Anne]

Anne + 1 guest
We will bring the wine and a six pack beer, also an appetizer (Mussel with Herbs and wine)

Love mushrooms, so definetely vote for the mushroom. Grape sounds good too.

[Elizabeth Sousa]

Elizabeth Sousa
elizabeth_sousa@yahoo.com
Bringing: Appetizer - not vegetarian and bottle of wine
Veggie Vote: Portabella Mushrooms, Potatoes
Fruit Vote: GRAPES!
Looking forward to my first one!
Liz

[Heather Thayer]

I will come and make an appetizer. Sunday was so fun; I just want to be able to walk without groaning with each step after the next one!

I vote for
Veggies: mushrooms and potatoes
Fruit: Oh, I don't have a preference, grapefruit could be interesting.

[Amanda Darnell & David Joud]

We are ready for round three!
I have decided to provide drinks this time around. I am hoping that everybody is up for Mojitos and Pomegranate Margaritas!
David will be doing a Paella with crab, clams, mussles, sole, italian sausage and chicken, wow! I will definately be sous cheffing for this gastronomic undertaking.

Cheers!
Amanda & David

[Unhei and Ben]

Hi Marco,

Too many choices! I can't decide what I want to make!? Can I select whatever is left, whether it's veg or meat or appetizer or entree?

unhei@yahoo.com, benkhoo@pacbell.net
veg: beets, yams, mushroom
fruits: pomegranates

[Jacqueline G]

First timer: Jacqueline + 1 guest

I'm bringing wine to go with the dungeness crab. The guest will bring a dessert.

Definitely vote for: portabella mushrooms, artichokes, yam and Grapes.

[Becky]

Firt timer: Becky + 1 guest

I will bring the salad,
vegs: artichokes and potatoes
fruit: grapefruit
Meat: Crab

Also I will bring wine

[Marco Flavio (the organizer)]

Hello,
we are good with appetizers and wine. Please pick something else.
Thank you so much for participating!
ciao,
Marco Flavio

[Margherita Navarro]

Ciao,
I'll bring an entree and my guest bring a seafood salad.
My vote: yams and mushrooms
pomegranate

[Eve Diamond]

I'm a first timer and would be happy to bring a salad.

My vote is for beets, mushrooms, and artichokes and for fruit - pomegranates! (But really all selections sound great)

Let me know if you need anything else! Looking forward to this!

[DeeAnn and Dave (aka Eater)]

We had a great time Sunday, and are still full! I will bring a crab main course (I was raised cooking Maryland Blue crabs, so I'm looking forward to working with Dungeness). Dave will be bringing vino bianco. I'll be ready for a potential crab sourcing problem--thanks for the heads-up.

I vote for artichokes, mushrooms, and pomegranates.

[Walter Scott Martin]

I would like to bring the non-alcoholic drinks. It's my first time and I want to ease into this.

[Andrea Jadwin]

Ciao Marco - I just met you at the Mole Festival. I'll bring a salad that includes the chosen veggies.

I vote for beets and mushrooms. Grapefruit for the fruit!

I'll also bring a bottle of white wine.

Andrea

[Benny]

Ciao Marco & friends,

I'm going to come despite my fears of the seafood smell.

If there is a slot available, I'll do a salad this time. Otherwise, a vegetarian entree.

Vegetables: Portobello and cremini mushrooms, yams
Fruit: pomegranates

Benny

[Leora Zadik]

Sorry I missed the last one! I will make a dessert for this one. I vote for pomegranates for the fruit.

[Amélie and Björn]

Hi Marco,
we would love to participate again! This time, we could make an entree (mussels!) and a dessert.

Our vote: Potatoes, Beets and grapefruit.

Amélie + BJ

[Marco Flavio (the organizer)]

Hello everyone.
We are sold out!
Let me know by leaving a post if you want to be waitlisted, I can let you know about 3 days before the dinner (or sooner if I hear of cancellations).
Thank you so much for participating!
Marco Flavio

[Melanie]

Hi I will be coming from Monterey so I will be on the later side and will bring wine if you let me come

[unhei]

Hi Marco,

Ben and I are interested in mussel gathering on Saturday.

I will also rsvp to Jeremy.

Thanks.

Unhei