A Most Civilized Dinner - Autumnal Geekquinox 2018

Due to some travel timing, Geekquinox was 1-2 weeks later than normal this year, but that is nothing but a good thing, for a couple of reasons.

The biggest reason is that it not only allowed all the usual suspects to attend, but permitted Rob to jet in from Ottawa for the first time ever, which was delightful!

Pete had sent out the theme, "Cradle of Civilization" a couple of weeks earlier. Not knowing how to incorporate Mesopotamian fashions into our dinner wear, I assumed this meant that Audrey and I would not be able to dress up like we often do.

Audrey had other plans, and leaning on the Fertile Crescent of the Nile region instead of the intersection of the Tigris and Euphrates, she glommed onto a couple of Egyptian outfits courtesy of a co-worker with a costume dependency (like I should talk!).

Suitably attired, we were treated to a number of old (really old) world dishes by our host Pete. I was too busy having a good time and being impressed and rolling my eyes at the tastiness of what was being served to photograph all the dishes, sadly, but here they are in his own words and my commentary:

We started out in Lebanon, for Tabbouleh and Grape Leaf Rolls. I love tabbouleh, but it does involve a [shit]-ton of chopping, let me tell you! And since you want it fresh it's always a bit close to guests arriving. (I like tabbouleh, but would have put myself down as a 'meh' for grape leave until this night. Pete's version had firm, well-packed leaves that not only didn't fall apart when you bit them, but were brilliantly savoury as well.)

Then off to the North Mediterranean for some Saganaki, or flaming Greek cheese. They say you can do it with feta, and I tried, but at the last minute I also found some halloumi cheese at Superstore. The lesson here is stick to one kind of cheese; the feta was well liquefied and the halloumi wasn't gooey enough in the middle when I stopped. (To my mind this simply proves what I have long suspected: that it is nearly impossible to go wrong with toasted cheese, frankly. Very tasty, especially after squeezing some lemon juice onto it.)

Then some Roasted Eggplant with Tahini, Pine Nuts, and Lentils. It's kind of like a deconstructed baba ganouche. Tasty, and (though I didn't realize it until after I made it the first time and deemed it worthy) actually vegan. Not that I care, but you know. It's true. (Vegan food is not only edible, but can be tasty as well! Tell your friends. Seriously though, I was not expecting the creamy richness of the tahini; well done Chef Pete!)

After that it was the Middle East & Africa for Kofta & Aliyyeh, the beef-and-lamb kebabs with the cilantro walnut "pesto" sauce. A repeat, but thematic and really tasty so I didn't feel bad bringing it back. Followed by Ostrich in Blueberry Sauce. (The aliyyeh made a most welcome and appreciated return, but the ostrich was a real treat. The blueberry sauce also involved jalapenos so it was both sweet and spicy, and made a great complement to the meat, which I never would have guessed came from a birde; much closer to venison in both taste and texture than any chicken.)

The main course was from Ethiopia, which was Doro Wat (chicken stew), Sega Tibs (beef in onion paste), Injera bread (a kind of sourdough spongy flatbread), and finally Zebra... pasta in garlic and oil. There's probably zebras in Ethiopia, right? Actually it was just black-and-white-striped pasta, which I saw in the Okanagan in the spring and thought would be fun to use for Geekquinox. In fact it's probably the source of the whole Africa theme in the first place. (The zebra pasta made me uneasy only because it so strongly reminded me of the sandworms from the movie Beetlejuice. The Ethiopian dishes were tasty, spicy and saucy, so having a sourdough pancake on hand for wiping one's plate was ideal.)

Finally dessert came courtesy of Africa, specifically South Africa, in the form of koeksisters, essentially a wheat and corn flour braided donut, covered in a ginger cinnamon syrup. ("I ate the doughnut from Aaaaafrica  /Gonna take some Tums because it's almost two ay eh-hehe-hehe-hemmmm...")

The dining went until well past 1:00, another tradition, and the drinking and socializing a couple hours past that, for some of us anyways.

Pete always outdoes himself in terms of food and hospitality, but this time managed to get every single course to the table with no eliminations or substitutions, which is a most difficult trick (possibly the Geekquinox equivalent of a triple-play). More importantly, he delegated the late-night deep-frying to the two teetotallers in attendance, and even left himself enough time to sit down with a glass of wine in the middle of things (possibly a first).

In many ways, Thanksgiving is a perfect time for a Geekquinox - it's a time for family and friends,and friends who feel like family. Certainly I am thankful for both the friends and the opportunity, and most especially, the host - well done once again, sir!

¡Muy Caliente! - Vernal Geekquinox 2023

Pete, an experienced kitchener who wears his boots desert-style, and Ellen, The Shortener of the Ways, held their first Geekquinox dinner as a married couple yesterday, and it was, as always, delightful.

Pete created an assortment of spicy (but tasty!) dishes, centered around the proverb from Frank Herbert's Dune, "the spice must flow."

We gathered earlier in the afternoon than usual and kicked things off with a delightful ancholoma cocktail. This brilliant libation combined spicy ancho reyes liqueur for heat, mezcal for smokiness and Grand Marnier to bring a beat of zesty fruit and cognac aromatics to the party, centered around an immense block of ice and topped with grapefruit juice. Probably not a great mimosa replacement for brunch but dang tasty and very popular, based on the number served over the day.

Next up we had a chance to sample six hot sauces from the popular web series "Hot Ones," in which celebrities answer questions while simultaneously eating increasingly spicy chicken wings. To preserve our appetites, we sampled them on tortilla chips accompanied by the most guacamole I have ever seen outside an industrial or catered setting.

I have never been one for confections or condiments that are "I dare you" hot, but tried all six. We all agreed that the second-last sauce, Da Bomb, felt the hottest while providing the least flavour, and most people preferred the Loc Calientes and Ginger Goat. Luckily a shot of creamy mango liqueur was on hand to rescue my palate afterwards - thank you Scott and Margaret!

After that we dove into some of Pete's rightfully famous chili verde, made with chicken this time instead of pork, but still tremendously flavourful and nourishing.

Then, the welcome return of the hamachi shot! This delicious sushi shot, featuring hydroponically grown radish sprouts, tuna, toasted ginger and ponzu sauce, made its debut a decade ago at Pete's first Star Trek Geekquinox, and has lost none of its appeal among his delighted guests.

But if it is 4:00, it must be time for another cocktail, this one coffee-based! A simple cup of joe transformed by a jigger of spiced rum and topped with a generous dollop of thick, rich, butterscotch-infused whip cream.

After some minor assembly assistance from Scott and I (and my trusty pineapple corer that I had brought at Pete's request), our host trundled off to the patio to grill up some al pastor pkr and pineapple skewers that were just astonishingly good. The smoky heat of the marinade was complemented perfectly by the zesty sweetness of the pineapple.

And the pineapple hull was put to good use as well - waste not, want not!

Pete had actually planned to follow this up with another chicken dish, but we talked him out of it since everyone was already pretty full, and visiting with him is more difficult when he is tethered to his many cooking devices. So the main course was a delicious bowl of aromatic black beans and Mexican street corn on the cob, slathered with a feta, sour cream and garlic/chili dressing!

We rounded out the evening with a scrumptious cayenne and chocolate custard, topped with leftover butterscotch whipped cream. Reminiscent of Mexican hot chocolate (or the many delightful items inspired by this Meso-American treat, such as the Heartstopper hot chocolate stout that Sherbrooke used to sell), this was the perfect capstone to a spicy (but not too spicy!) meal.

After that, there were a few more ancholomas, a few beers, lots of laughs, and some great conversation among the long-time friends who have gathered under Pete's Geekquinox banner since 2010 - and hopefully will do so for many years to come!

Mm, Canada - Autumnal Geekquinox 2015

Never before has so much drama preceded one of The Rare Hipster's semi-annual dinner parties, at least for Audrey and I: massive scheduling conflicts, events for both girls during the day AND in the evening that required us to arrange chauferring for them, and worst of all, the special guest stars from Vancouver Island couldn't attend because of a terrible and debilitating ailment that afflicted their youngest as she attends her first year of university away from home. To top it all off, I was not only part of the lay worship team leading church service the next day, I was actually delivering the sermon!

So it was not without trepidation that the two of us rolled into this edition of Geekquinox, but after all the maneuvering that had been required, we felt we had earned a night out experiencing Pete's unparalleled hospitality.

The theme this year was "Mm, Canada", with dishes representing all of our nation's provinces. We were encouraged to dress appropriately, and while for most guests this meant red and white apparel or maple leaf accoutrements, Audrey and went in a different direction, representing Canada's youngest and Easternmost province.

The warmth of Harrishal meant my cable-knit sweater would only be a temporary part of my ensemble, but my Goats On The Roof t-shirt underneath assured representation for Canada's other coast, and an homage to our absent friends on the Island.

As usual, Pete was kept exceedingly busy preparing and serving a grand variety of dishes, ably aided by the engaging Ellen. He had planned yet another culinary extravaganza, with 8 courses. One of them was a spirit, simply served, but not only was it one of the strangest highlights of the evening, but a later course included both the surf and complementary turf done to an exquisite standard, so I consider 8 courses to be a bit of an understatement, frankly.

As usual, Pete, his ample kitchen, sous chef Ellen and the Big Green Egg all came together in great form and decadent synergy to comfort and challenge our tastebuds in equal measure.

Chez Pete is not a restaurant and this is not a review, but suffice to say the food was all amazing. However, you've all eaten amazing food before, so let me talk to you about the unconventional and the surprising.

I am no stranger to eating raw meat, but in a fairly limited capacity. I've always been a big fan of sushi, and a couple of years back, Audrey shared a dish of beef carpaccio, which I didn't realize until afterwards was not just rare, but actually uncooked. No less delicious, either.

At past Geekquinoxes Pete has made ceviche, a Latin American dish contain crisp vegetables and raw fish, denatured by citric acid, which I thought was absolutely delightful. This year he upped the ante with not only a delicious steak tartare, a pâté kind of deal with capers and a delightful zip, but also the same recipe made with elk, which I have only ever had, I believe, as a burger in Churchill.

I will say this about the Geekquinox crowd: they are game fish, the lot of 'em. Everyone took a sample of each, and most went back for more. In terms of tasting great while pushing back our culinary boundaries, this was probably the hit of the night, with elk narrowly edging out cow for best in show in this particular preparation.

The second big surprise for me was the potato vodka, from P.E.I. Some spirits I like straight better than others, and vodka is one I would be far more likely to consume in some manner of cocktail, as opposed to, say, whiskey or rum. This vodka was served straight up on a single large ice cube (shaped like a Companion Cube from the game Portal, because: Pete) which gave me a singular opportunity to taste the vodka more than feel it.

Now, I know that vodka was once made almost exclusively from potatoes (not unlike Irish poteen), but that pretty much all the stuff we drink none is made from wheat or neutral grain spirits, and usually distilled multiple times to smooth it out, which can also remove, it turns out, a tremendous amount of character from the beverage.

Well.

Not so with the potato vodka; even the nose can tell you that this drink is brought to you by the letter D and that stands for dirt. There is an intrinsic earthiness that pervades the liquid in its entirety, from the first tentative sniffs, to the tip of the tongue and right on through to the aftertaste.

And for a lot of folks, it was a little too much.

For whatever reason (and let's be clear: not dipsomania, reckless abandon or fear of the next day's sermon), I found this terrestrial tipple absolutely intriguing, and said so. Audrey offered me the remainder of hers, and having lived the maxim 'waste not, want not', I dutifully finished the half of hers that she felt unpalatable.

Apparently, many of the womenfolk shared both my wife's antipathy for this pomme de terre potable, as well as my own axiomatic approach to inappropriate disposal of useful liquids, and I soon found myself with 3 more portions to deal with.

Possibly 4; I wasn't paying as close attention as I might have by the time I finished discharging my duties.

Where so many of them had found the soilish characteristics of the potato vodka unbearable, and I myself could not in good faith describe them as particularly pleasant, per se, I was captivated. It helped that the vodka, despite its homeliness and lack of pretension, had a fairly smooth finish, and I wouldn't dream of diluting it in a cocktail. What the heck would complement a potato vodka anyhow, ketchup? Mayonnaise? Blech.

As late as the night went (we tucked into the absolutely incredible steak and lobster with truffle butter and green beans after midnight), it really felt like it was over far too soon. Audrey and I normally stay the night, but the looming sermon, as well as an afternoon concert featuring Cantilon Chamber Choir and Pro Coro at the Winspear, convinced us, regretfully, to return home and sleep in our own beds.

We didn't achieve this goal until after 3:00 am, but time spent with such wonderful company compels one to stay well past last call, and without regret, even standing at a lectern 6 the next day with 4 hours sleep and a bad case of dry mouth and damp palms.

A tip of the sou'wester to Pete and Ellen, and all our Geekquinox companions, for continuing to make these events one of the things I anticipate most, and better even than Christmas, they happen twice a year.

 

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It's All Greek and Delicious to Me - Autumnal Geekquinox 2025

Having travelled to Greece as part of their comprehensive European honeymoon earlier this year, Pete & Ellen theming the most recent Geekquinox as "My Big Fat Greek Honeymoon" makes a lot of sense. The hit 2002 movie of the same name is fondly remembered as a lot of fun, and obviously that region boasts some spectacular cuisine. (Although their overlooking of 'Greekquinox' as a name until I mentioned it was a bit surprising...)

Audrey was a bit saddened that we didn't have anything particularly Grecian to wear, until I chanced to ask Totty if he still had the toga sheets from G&G XVIII around. Turns out he was planning the same thing himself, but luckily enough he had exactly three of them on hand!

Things opened up with a cocktail featuring ouzo, lemonade and mint leaves that was an absolute delight for both Audrey and I, with the anise flavoured liquor cutting some of the acidity that normally makes lemonade a risky proposition for her.

The first dish was a amazing homemade spanakopita, with loads of homemade tzatziki to go with it. A tandem effort that saw Ellen looking after much of the folding and re-folding of the filo pastry (which would have driven me utterly mad) while pete worked on other dishes, these crispy, creamy hors d'ouevres were absolutely fantastic. Good enough that I reached for a third when two would have been plenty!

Not nearly long enough after that, the grilled souvlaki chicken and Greek rice arrived at the table for lunch proper; Geekquinox begins at noon now to facilitate our aging difficulty in remaining up long past midnight. The grilled chicken was juicy and flavourful, and not tremendously salty (a challenge I often face with grilled chicken), but the rice almost stole the show. Cooked with lemon juice and zest as well as chicken stock and a bit of parsley, this was one of the best rice dishes I have ever tasted, with just the right amount of stickiness.

After a slightly longer break (and some more delicious lemonade cocktails), the main course arrived at the table: a delicious slow roasted lamb leg, Greek potatoes and a Greek salad.  Seasoned and roasted potatoes are one of my favourite sides, but I am generally too lazy or time-pressed to make them myself, and these ones hit the sweet spot right between crispy and fluffy. The salad, with tomatoes, olives, onions, celery and feta in a mild vinaigrette was light and fresh, an ideal accompaniment to the succulent, boneless lamb. How succulent? The first piece that I forked off the platter to hand to another guest, broke apart under its own weight - and it was not an enormous piece. And with au jus for the roast and tzatziki for the potatoes, there was no worry about dryness to be found anywhere.

There was ample time for drinking and chatting before the dessert course was served: a custard dish in an impossibly flay filo pastry shell called galaktobourekos. I would sing the praises of this dessert based on its crust alone, knowing how finicky filo is to work with, but the rich custardy heart of the dish was neither too flaky nor too runny, challenges I have encountered with custard in the past. A delightful finish to the evening, even if it did push me almost to the bursting point!

But there we were, sufficiently fed and watered with full stomachs and fuller hearts even before 9:00 rolled around. And the two dishes that ended up not making it to the table were not even missed, and frankly, might have pushed some of us beyond our limits.

As always though, the wonderful fellowship among dear friends who have done this for well over a decade now, put even the glory of the dishes to shame. Thanks again Pete and Ellen - opa!

The Game's Afood - Vernal Geekquinox 2016

Geekquinox is the name for our friend Pete's biannual dinner party, commemorating the two days every year that have equal amounts of darkness and light. It's become a real highlight of the year for all of us attendees, and looking at the amount of creativity and preparation Pete brings to the menu alone makes it fairly obvious why.

In addition to pushing the envelope of his culinary skills with new techniques like sous vide, or exotic dishes like kofta (a type of meat loaf common to an astonishingly wide range of places), Pete brings his considerable creative prowess into play by crafting the menus around a strong theme. This year's theme was 'games' which is appropriate since that seems to be the common thread that brought, and keeps bringing, us together.

Some of the gaming links were admittedly tenuous, but the highlight for me were the icosahedronical cakes made to look like the 20-sided dice so ubiquitous to nerdy gaming. Ellen's daughter Elizabeth put a day's work into aiding Pete with his preparations, including icing said cakes, and displayed tremendous focus and perseverance in doing so.

Watching Pete bring new tastes and technology into his dining machinations is always a treat, from the immense scale of his roast beast...

...to the sous vide controller he used to prepare the carrots...

...to the sartorial choices he makes in his safety equipment...

...Pete brings a sublime blend of ingenuity, hospitality and gourmanderie to his dinner parties. But, as hard as it might be to believe, the dining, as good as it is, is probably less half the appeal of Geekquinox, at least to me.

The people though, continue to amaze and delight, and this time, Island Mike and Kelly were able to come out from Vancouver Island to join us. Being no strangers to epicurean delights and tremendous sushi fans, they greatly enjoyed the Hamachi shots (as did we all, even those who aren't necessarily fans of sushi!), among other things.

Even more, it was a chance to talk about, well, everything, from movies to parenting to the challenges in our respective workplaces.

And perhaps have a sampling or two from Pete's cellar.

Pete has been doing these crazy shindigs for 5 or 6 years now, and like the wine he serves, they seem to keep getting better with age. Or maybe it's us? At any rate, I can't describe the evening as inimitable, because I know 6 months from now, Pete will likely have outdone himself again. I will content myself by expressing how grateful we all are to have a friend so dedicated in spoiling us as thoroughly as he does, all in the name of friendship!

UPDATE

A lovely group photo, courtesy of Earl J.Woods and The Earliad.

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