Geekquinox had rolled around again and Pete had decided to (somehow) theme it around Ridley Scott's influential sci-fi/noir classic, Blade Runner. Released in 1982, its story is (was? will be?) set in November of 2019, so this is the closest one of these dinners will get to it. Blade Runner is one of my favourite films, but Audrey and I were disappointed at being unable to come up with anything thematic to wear for the first time in ages. A church commitment the next morning also meant we could not spend the nights as we usually did, and really should pack it in much earlier than usual.
Unsurprisingly, it was still a wonderful time.
In terms of dress, it is probably just as well that rush-shipping some appropriate t-shirts was prohibitively expensive, as Pete and Ellen's level of commitment and flawless execution would have left us looking especially meager in their resplendent get-ups depicting Gaff and Rachel.
(46 bobby pins in that hairdo, by the way.) Totty played his hand well, noting that in the sequel, Blade Runner 2049, Deckard is wearing a grey t-shirt... Japanese and advertising-influenced decor set the tone.
And as always, the menu itself was a treat in both its presentation and the tastily tenuous ways it connected to the film.
The very first dish was a Hungarian fried bread called langos because Hungarian is one of the languages used in the film to create the dystopian patois of Cityspeak. I was astonished that something so simple could taste so good, but the crispy exterior, chewy insides, and toppings of garlic and a bit of coarse salt made this a very popular appetizer.
Since Blade Runner is based on the Philip K. Dick novel "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?", it was appropriate that the next course was"lamb lollipops." These were very generously cut lamb chops with the bones neatly frenched so you could eat them with your fingers. Seasoned with rosemary and other spices and cooked/smoked to perfection on Pete's Big Green Egg, these may have been my favourite dish of the evening.
The lamb was followed by shots of tequila poured from a bottle in the shape of a .45 automatic Pete had picked up when the two of us visited Texas in February. It paled in comparison to some of the other tequilas he had around, but the novelty of the receptacle was sufficient to pique our interest, even amongst some of those disinclined to do such shots. A worthy stand-in for the iconic blaster used in the movie!
Referencing the tortoise flipped on its back in the empathy test from the movie's opening scene, the mock turtle soup was a real treat. Almost more like a chili or stew than a soup. it combined ground beef and shredded boiled egg to create a number of intriguing textures in a thick, savoury base.
In terms of broth, it would be difficult to top the delicious shoyu ramen Pete made from scratch, topped with seaweed and served alongside four pieces of succulent wagyu skirt steak prepared on the Egg. Far better than the streetside dumplings or sushi the Harrison Ford's Deckard is eating when we first encounter his character in the film.
I must confess: the current cachet that ramen carries had escaped me up until this point, but the texture of the noodles coupled with the aroma and lingering taste of the soup made it clear that I have given this treat short shrift. And of course, the wagyu beef was astonishingly tender and tasty, prepared with Pete's custom rub.
The final meat course was crispy skin duck breast Pete had prepared in his sous vide rig, in honour of the derogatory term "skin jobs" used to refer to replicants in the movie. I'm not usually the biggest fan of duck, but this was indeed a pleasure to eat. Less crispy than one might expect from the name, the pieces of duck were tender but firm, without being chewy.
And as the main, the duck was served alongside hashed-brown potatoes and Swiss chard, both of with were delicious.
For someone who doesn't have much of a sweet tooth, Pete is a dab hand at producing tasty and intriguing dessert courses, often eschewing complexity in favour of a dramatic presentation. Last night was no exception, as he put together a simple but comprehensive ice cream sundae bar (complete with chocolate, raspberry and butterscotch sauces made from scratch!) and topped with a pane of caramelized sugar.
This delicious brittle was listed on the menu as "shattered glass" in tribute to the demise of the first replicant in the film, Zhora, who is sent crashing through a succession of plate glass windows by Deckard's blaster. Breaking this sheet was done in a likewise dramatic fashion:
As promised, it made the ideal topping to the ice cream sundaes, adding both a smoky sweetness and a contrasting texture to the ice cream and toppings.
As good as the food was though, the real treat was the company.
It was after 1:00 a.m. when we finished dessert, but approaching 2:00 when Audrey and I finally said goodnight and made our way back to the north side to catch 4-5 hours of sleep before church the next morning. We left earlier than we have at many other Geekquinoxes, but perhaps a bit later than we had anticipated. It was well worth the sacrifice, and we didn't dream of sheep, electric or otherwise, but of friends, and food, and grace and hospitality and the simple joy of getting together.
Thanks again, Pete and Ellen!
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