Buongiorno from sunny Venice.
We're ready for our October fall dinner -- and the theme is savory!
We'll be featuring pork, including cured pork, bacon, and pancetta (local, organic and free-range whenever possible). You can get it from Niman Ranch, Whole Foods, the Prather Meat Company or Golden Gate Meat in the Ferry Building, for starters.
Vegetables will be shell beans, green beans and lentils (there should be a nice selection at the market), leeks, and shitake mushrooms.
Fruit will be pears, Asian pears, apples and pomegranates.
A presto,
Marco Flavio
The plan
35 of us will cook and eat together on October 26th, 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 at the last event. There will be enough space for us to use the stoves and ovens in a couple of shifts.
I'm letting only 35 people register for this event, so act quickly, but please reed what's already been taken. Since I'm in Italy with limited Web access, this time it's hard for me to edit comments and respond to emails. It will also take me a little to approve the comments, so please be patient.
Every person coming (including any guest you bring, or your other half in a couple) will have to sign up for a slot and either cook something or provide local wine and beer (if beverages slots are available, see below).
Since participation is limited, please let us know at least four days before the dinner if you're not going to be able to make it, so we can invite someone else to join us. If you cancel closer to 4 days to the event, you can't join us for the following 2 events. If you didn't show at all, you can't join us for the next 3. Canceling on short notice (or not at all) is unfair to everyone, especially the people who wanted to participate and couldn't because all the slots were taken.
16 participants will make main courses for 3-4 people each (including some vegetarian options)
6 participants will make appetizers for 8 people each ALL SLOTS TAKEN
5 participants will make salads for 8 people each
5 participants will make dessert for 8-10 people each ALL SLOTS TAKEN
7 participants will bring at least 2 bottles of good *locally produced* wine per person (not per couple) and some *locally-brewed* beer. Consider that most cooks spend $25-50 (and up!) just on their ingredients. If you're not cooking, you should be prepared to spend at least this much on beverages, out of respect for your chefs.
2 participants will bring non-alcoholic beverages for 20 (sparkling water and juices, locally produced when possible)
Please let me know who is coming by name. Once we reach 45 people confirmed, I will close the event and start another post for the waiting list. 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.)
So post a comment on the blog (do NOT email me directly) under the call-for-participation post letting me know the following:
First and last name
Email address
What you'll be bringing (appetizer, main course, etc.)
If you brought wine last time, you should now cook something (unless you cooked as part of a couple and made a large entree).
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 the spaces are gone.
A presto,
Marco Flavio






One for a dessert please!
Posted by: Kelly Vargas | October 11, 2008 at 12:04 PM
I will make an appetizer.
Posted by: Brian | October 11, 2008 at 12:16 PM
I would like to come and bring some Marin county wine, if possible. This would be my first time.
Posted by: Nancy Grover | October 11, 2008 at 12:27 PM
I would love to make an appetizer that incorporate lentils. This will be my first time joining the group. Looking forward to it.
Ciao
Christine ( will be without guest)
Posted by: Christine Gaudenzi | October 11, 2008 at 12:39 PM
Marco, you clever guy! Posting the dinner on a weekend so you don't just select for people with desk jobs! :)
I'll make an entree and my +1 will make an appetizer.
Posted by: Scott W+1 | October 11, 2008 at 12:44 PM
It's been a while, but I would like to come. 1 person.
Appetizer
Posted by: Heather Thayer | October 11, 2008 at 12:58 PM
Bobby- main dish
Jennifer- appetizers
Ellery- Dessert
Posted by: Jennifer Knapp | October 11, 2008 at 01:46 PM
- bringing *locally-brewed* beer, if you please.
Posted by: Cynthia Sasaki | October 11, 2008 at 01:53 PM
We'll bring two bottles of wine...one pinot noir and one syrah.
Posted by: Marleen Brown and Jack Brooks | October 11, 2008 at 02:02 PM
Would love to attend, and cook appetizer, probably with pancetta.
Posted by: Michael Terrigno | October 11, 2008 at 02:06 PM
me plus one. i'll bring a bean dish and my friend will bring wine...
Posted by: Rebecca Weinstein | October 11, 2008 at 03:25 PM
A pear dessert, if there's still room!
Posted by: Allen Cohn | October 11, 2008 at 03:57 PM
Hello! I'm a newbie, hope I'm doing this right.
Entree: Steamed Pork Ribs with Sweet Potato
Bringing 1 guest.
Thanks!
Posted by: Aileen Shieu | October 11, 2008 at 03:57 PM
I will bring a desert with pears or apples.
Thanks!
Posted by: Irene | October 11, 2008 at 05:03 PM
hello marco!
am i really the first to reply to this?
i and a guest would love to bring entrees. we could each bring an entree, for 3-4 guests. something different each...
i cooked with you a long time ago (lavender lemonade guy) and would love to attend again.
congrats on your f&w article!
see you soon(?)
scott
Posted by: scott lawrence | October 11, 2008 at 05:14 PM
I'll cook a main dish.
See you there.
Michele
Posted by: Michele Caramello | October 11, 2008 at 05:25 PM
I'll prepare a main course of course :-)
My mum doesn't even know what an email or a blog are, please sign her up too and she will bring alchoolic beverages.
Thank you and see you there,
Iulia
Posted by: Iulia Badea | October 11, 2008 at 05:31 PM
Two people and dessert please!
Posted by: Lisa Carey | October 11, 2008 at 06:03 PM
I'll do a main course and my guest will do a dessert. Thanks, Rochelle
Posted by: Rochelle McCune | October 11, 2008 at 06:22 PM
I'm in for pork... Main course...
Andrea
Posted by: Andrea Baldini | October 11, 2008 at 07:14 PM
Hey Marco-Can you hold a spot for Dan. I'll check with him in the morning and confirm what he'd like to bring. Sorry, I won't be able to join you all. Too many soccer tournaments!! Hope all is well and you're enjoying Italy. - Amy
Posted by: Dan Schuster | October 11, 2008 at 09:33 PM
I would like to bring 2 bottles of local wines to share. Thanks!
Mary
Posted by: Mary Carion | October 11, 2008 at 11:43 PM
Mmm, pork! If there's still room available, I'll make an entree.
Posted by: Julia | October 11, 2008 at 11:59 PM
I'll bring a salad and my guest will bring wine.
Posted by: Ken Shultz | October 12, 2008 at 12:31 AM
Hi Marco!
Lyora and I will be there with an appetizer and a dessert.
See you soon,
benny
Posted by: Benny | October 12, 2008 at 09:10 AM
Hi Marco,
I just realized that appetizers/dessert are taken. We'll make a main course and bring 2 bottles of wine instead.
Benny
Posted by: Benny | October 12, 2008 at 09:14 AM
I'll cook a main dish.
Posted by: Mel Barti | October 12, 2008 at 09:53 AM