So I have invited 7 couples to dinner a week from tonight. Essentially, I've invited my pod of six couples to say goodbye to a couple who was never part of it but who, with the others, were the core of the Wine Society I used to put on monthly tastings for. 'Core' as in the people I could always count on to help, and without whom I couldn't/wouldn't have done what I did. The 7th couple is moving to eastern Washington, and they have requested red wine and Mexican food.
It is not a requirement to bring food, but several will want to contribute and having a large buffet will add a festive feel to the evening. There will be rice and beans of course, which I'll make if no one offers those. I'll do a cabbage, pepito, cilantro, red onion slaw because something has to be fresh and healthy, goshdarnit. Might add a scallop and tomato ceviche. Or to nachos, too. One couple has already volunteered cilantro shrimp.
I'm considering:
Mexican meatballs (heavy cumin and garlic)
Pastel Azteca (chicken enchilada pie, all white and green)
Smoked pork and tomatillo enchilada pie*
Yucatan roast pork tacos (oranges, banana leaf wrap)
Braised beef in mole (chiles, chocolate)
A wet beef stew of beef, potatoes and tomatillos (might be too juicy)**
*Appeals to me because I'm going to make this up based on a dish I loved in Hawaii. No one will be able to say, "Had that last week."
**Ingredients would be excellent layered into an enchilada pie, too
I'll need to do two main courses. Everything has to be fork- or hand-friendly because people will be eating out of their laps so they can't be slicing with a knife.
Thoughts? Ideas?
