[Arisia] food

[magid]

I was not organized enough to make a list pre-con, so there's a decent chance this list is not complete. Better something than nothing, though, especially since this was the first four-day con, so the logistics were somewhat different, plus there's always the uncertainty of whether I'll get to feed a bunch of people or not.

• four loaves of When Pigs Fly bread [for Shabbat and Sunday brunch; they went over really well. I would have gotten rolls had they not been out when I was at the store. Also, freezing works fine, but it takes more than morning until dinnertime to defrost, so if freezing bread, either get it out of the freezer Thursday night, or bring the hot plate again.]
  
• multigrain and flaxseed water crackers [uneaten]
  
• long rectangular seeded crackers (TJs) [eaten]
  
• whitefish salad [eaten]
  
• large za'atar hummus [mostly eaten]
  
• eggplant "liver" [eaten]
  
• pop-top can (14 ounces) of stuffed grape leaves [eaten]
  
• pop-top can (14 ounces) of fried eggplant [not eaten]
  
• a one-pound bag of dried apricots [more than half eaten]
  
• crystallized ginger slices [uneaten; still worth bringing, in case some kind of cold thingie starts]
  
• one-pound bag of 'baby' carrots [eaten]
  
• bag of six baby seedless cucumbers [eaten]
  
• double-size container of grape tomatoes [eaten]
  
• four baked sweet potatoes [one eaten]
  
• a pound of lox [uneaten]
  
• spicy cashew soba noodles [mostly eaten]
  
• ground turkey sauteed with caramelized onions, green beans, and crimini mushrooms [uneaten]
  
• medium size plain Greek-style yogurt [uneaten]
  
• a box of some kind of breakfast cereal [to eat with the yogurt; uneaten]
  
• a single serving honey-flavored Greek-style yogurt [eaten]
  
• two single origin 71% dark chocolate bars [uneaten]
  
• at least half a dozen Lara bars in various flavors [some eaten]
  
• at least half a dozen soy/seitan jerky in various flavors [some eaten]
  
• oranges and grapefruits [for brunch; not sure whether any were eaten, left for the host]
  
• pint of homemade applesauce [for brunch; some eaten, the rest for the host]
  
• six spicy turkey knishes [eaten]
  
• three larger spicy lamb knishes [eaten]
  
• cheddar cheese [less than half eaten]
  
• goat cheese little log [uneaten]
  
• four boxes of grape juice [undrunk because other people brought more than needed for Shabbat dinner]

And I think that's it. With paper goods, aluminum foil, and sandwich bags, this ran to six bags of food (etc.) for the con. I brought home about two bags (including paper goods, etc., again).


I didn't really map out approximately what I was intending for each meal, which likely would've led to less to schlep home. On the other hand, I fed a number of people, and there was always something reasonable to offer, which felt great. And I never felt that I didn't have options I liked for the next meal. (I tend not to be happy when there's only one thing available, especially when other people are going off to restaurants and such).

Last day breakfast is never going to work with other people, between sleeping in and checking out. So having lots extra on the last day is pretty much useless.

More hand vegetables would have been good. Also reasonably neat hand fruit (bananas? really good apples?) would've been nice.

Plan better about appliances. I didn't use the hot plate except for finishing defrosting the semi-frozen bread. Much of that was a function of "eat now!" rather than waiting for things to heat, also not having plans to host at a particular time/meal.

For the most part, I managed to avoid junk food (except for the lovely brownies and bobka Toyb provided at the ZigguratLabs parties; many thanks again for the kosher corner), which was good.

Drink more water.

This was the first year I've had definite plans for three meals (rather than one or sometimes two), which was excellent. Two were potluck, and I was self-catering while a group got take-out for the third. Perhaps it's time to host a (non potluck) meal...

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

Ooh, where do you find kosher Greek-style yogurt?

[magid.livejournal.com]

Harvest carries kosher Greek-style yogurt.

[(Anonymous)]

Thank you!

[alandd.livejournal.com]

Yeesh! I think next year I'll come by just to bum a meal off of you! Wow. ;-)

(I really, really should have swung by the con. I don't really know why I didn't, other than lots of other plans and lots of sleep deprivation that desperately called for alleviation.)

[magid.livejournal.com]

Hey, I totally understand sleep dep; I'm still dragging around today from the weekend.

And though I have the excuse of it being a 4-day con, really, the biggest factor to all the food is that I have more flexibility with the con being in Cambridge, since I can drive over without paying for parking (I'm cheap). So instead of dealing with luggage and bags and things on the T, it all goes in the car, it's maybe a half-hour or so of carrying stuff back and forth. (This year was the record: 2 suitcases, 6 brown bags of food and associated stuff, plus my hot water urn, which went to a couple of parties (and will be coming home soon, I expect).)

[alandd.livejournal.com]

*laugh* The least it could do is bring you along! :-)

Makes sense though. That's a lot of bags... Not something you could do if you were flying. Or on the T without an entourage... Though I'm sure one could be arranged. ;-)

[magid.livejournal.com]

Exactly! My urn is a party beast :-)

When Arisia was at the Park Plaza, I brought less stuff (3-day-ness, too), but still a noticeable amount. Since my office is a block away from the hotel, I'd bring luggage/shelf-stable things to work on Thursday, more stuff on Friday, and sometimes I'd fit in a dash home by T for last stuff Friday afternoon.