Food talk is interesting talk. So much good food out there. I love variety and change as well and I now make much more of an effort on that front. So much so that as a result I have been about 6 months in between returning to some of my best and long-term favourite meals. This includes the traditional NA Christmas meals, so I'm in no rush to them change up; I hardly ever cook the traditional Christmas meals (turkey or ham) and frankly look for more opportunities to have them.
Most of my cooking day to day is now all-about variety, with lots of cultural variation. Lots of great options in the what's for dinner thread that can always be used as a holiday meal. I can't wait for my next Asian or spicy Caribbean/South-Asian cook
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It helps that in my experience I cook super tasty traditional Christmas meals. I've been refining and improving all aspects of cooks and meals for years now, which includes getting a world class grill. A high quality grill/bbq is worth it; it takes cooks to the next level itself. My weber summit grill on gas gives great control and cooking opportunities, from unlimited fuel to ceramic burner cooking to the smoker box. It's even more important than my personal contribution. A great grill is very much worth it.
As mentioned, my go-to christmas meals are fresh turkey and picnic ham. Here are a few details on the cook and menu for each.
From many turkey cooks I now go for a fresh butter injected turkey, something like the PC butter turkey using Normandy style butter.
I use the Weber summit grill and rotisserie the turkey, which cooks better than any other method I've tasted or tried; perfect skin and super tender tender juicy white meat. Best. Turkey. Ever.
Add to that scratch home-made stuffing, scratch-made gravy from the drippings, garden mashed potatoes (made with cream cheese), garden carrots (can be so many ways... fresh, butter fried, candied, pickled, sweet pickled, creme fraiche), garden cold pickled pickles, fresh grilled asparagus in olive oil and sea salt, a light salad option and blueberry pie dessert and it's all more than enough great food. Consider candied yams if you want more carb awesomeness and an even more extravagant spread. From much experience, I now do the stuffing outside the bird with a 13.5 inch cast iron skillet, finishing the cook with the weber summit grill; it makes for the best stuffing as well as a better cooked bird. I have turkey pictures from previous cooks earlier in the dinner thread if interested. Basic dishes but lots of attention to the details/cook. What a great meal.
My other special meal cook is a picnic ham. Something like this.
I use the Weber Summit grill and a great foodie bbq guide/cook. It includes a quality (smoked) picnic ham, an excellent scratch home-made spicy apricot glaze, and smoking the ham again a second time myself with apple wood, cherry wood and hickory. The result is amazing ham that the family devours.
Add to that scratch home-made garden scalloped potatoes, fresh salad, fresh bread/buns, garden carrots, cold pickled pickles and a quality dessert and it's all a big hit with everyone. Many of the turkey sides also work well with this cook for tailoring side dishes to taste/wants. Again, I have some pictures of these cooks earlier in the dinner thread. Amazing meal.
I don't get around to having turkey and ham meals very often, so I have been making an effort to cook them a couple times a year.
Other holiday meals I'd consider or suggest; they all lean on main-stream popular offerings as well as grill cooks since I've got the most experience there and can give feedback.
Instead of turkey, consider a turducken. Great alternative. There are two versions; the smaller turducken which is an awesome meal but ' somewhat compromised' offering
rolleyes:
who doesn't love turkey, duck and chicken cooked with a ceramic burner rotisserie), though the full version (which by its very size typically feeds 25-30 people) is even better if you have the crowd for it. I'd pick whichever version I have the crowd for and have used the smaller version for as little as 4 people. The variety from a turducken gives everyone an opportunity to enjoy a lot of awesomeness. I
Rotisserie duck. On the weber summit ceramic burner rotisserie. Awesome. Rich and different.
Beef rib roast cook. Amazing on the weber summit grill. Get a big multi-bone beef rib roast for a big family event and make perfect prime rib for everyone!
Steak and lobster/king crab legs. Steak may be the best cook I do, using the weber summit grill with a steak sear burner and searing at 600+ F. I posted a few pictures recently. I also have the name of some east coast suppliers for fresh east coast seafood, as well as some premium king crab legs suppliers. Not cheap, but what a meal....
Beef back ribs, pork back ribs and pulled pork meals on the weber summit also are also amazing, and draw crowds. Pick one for a holiday meal and run with it (adding a very good grill if you need it).
So many great meals. These examples are also fairly simple in my experience and excellent with small and large groups.
Getting back to the OP's original post that framed his request within a cross cultural food perspective, I'm always interested in variety and cultural meals; I've got 50+ different food suggestions in the what's for dinner thread (worth checking out) and I'm always looking to add/expand from what others post here. Cheers!
ver the years i have introduced quite a few gtam'rs to this place.Best baked goods on the planet!
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. Crazy. No turkey this christmas but I'll serve it up in an month or two :agave:. I'd have bought two if I had the room in the freezer.
