February Chef's Club: Mardi Gras Themed

We have officially started the second round of Too Many Chef's Club rotations! So exciting. Chuck and Tracey kicked off this rotation choosing February as their month of choice - and using the timing to celebrate with a Mardi Gras theme! I would say this was one of my fav meals yet! The bar continues to rise...

Adorable Menu

Tracey's table settings are unbelievable

Grillades & Grits!
So far this goes down as my favorite entree so far. And that says a lot because we have had some amazing entrees!

Look at the cute placecard!

Salad

King Cake FROM Louisiana.  Chuck's dad was in town - and it was really fun to have one of the grandfathers of Chef's Club join us. He and his wife have started a few TMCC's over the years - some lasting YEARS! I hope that is the case for our group!

Lucky gets to come to Aunt Tracey's house with us and play with her friends Jazzy and Bandit! She has come so far!

Chef's Club at Lundeland

January, the Lundes hosted Too Many Chefs Club. As per the rules, we were in charge of the recipes and ingredients, cooking something we have never cooked before! As most of you know - I LOVE hosting, so the table may or may not have been set two days in advance!

Mustache "wine charms" - LOVE

Yes I made laminated name tags 

I went with a rustic theme

Matt gave all of the boys aprons - So ADORABLE - just missing Rob

Appetizer: Bacon wrapped shrimp and pineapple

The ladies of TMCC - doing what we do best!

Entree: Homemade flatbread with balsamic chicken and grilled peaches

Salad was a homemade dressing with sauteed almonds and pears

Such a fun group

The idea was to have oreos for dessert - so we made homemade icecream with crushed oreos! 

Too Many Chefs Club

One afternoon when Chuck was over (helping plan Tracey's 30th Bday bash) we got on the topic of dinner parties - and just how much fun they are. Chuck mentioned that his parents started a "Too Many Chefs Club" that they participated in for years! It took Matt and I all of 3 seconds to say "Let's do it!" We wanted to keep the group small so we have 4 couples and we meet monthly. We just had the 3rd dinner at Rob and Mindy's house and next up is Lundeland! I must say - each month gets better and better as the host couple looks to top the previous dinner (in a good way). Our dinners have turned into an excuse for the guys to challenge the other "chefs" and us girls have an excuse to use the fine china, and all of those fun dishes we registered for!

While this is a fun-loving group of people that just enjoy spending time together and eating good food...don't be fooled. There are strict bi-laws that all four couples have agreed to! Here is a sneak peek at the invitation email that went out to the group 3 months ago...

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,
You are cordially invited to join the "Too Many Chefs Club." This will be a commitment of once a month - we are currently proposing the first Thursday of October (date is flexible upon discussions at first club meeting). If you would like to accept this invitation your presence is requested the first Thursday of October at 7:00pm. Tracey and Chuck will be the first host couple. Bi-laws have been posted below - times, and details to be nailed down at the first meeting. Also, dessert will be discussed by the group. Suggestion is oreos and milk each time.

Bi-laws1. Host couple must have ingredients to make a new recipe - that neither you or your significant other have tried before
2. Must have ingredients to make an appetizer and an entree
3. GOLF kitchen rules: Guys Only, Ladies Forbidden...in the kitchen that is. Women will be expected to enjoy a beverage of their choice while making conversation and relaxing

4. Each couple will keep a 3 ring binder at home - host couple will print 4 copies of the recipe they are making for the other 3 couples to take home and file in their three ring binder
5. Should at one time another couple be identified as "an it couple that just has to join the group," a presentation will be made to the group, full background checks will be made, and group vote must be unanimous.
6. Host couple will provide drinks - both alcoholic and nonalcoholic - appetizers and entree
7. Both appetizer and entree will be cooked by all 4 gentlmen upon arrival of the entire group
8. Tardiness will not be acceptable

Our cooks: Chuck, Matt, Rob and Joe

Because everyone prints out menus for their dinner parties...

....and makes placecards...

...and makes binders for the recipes with the group's logo!

After a dinner party filled with Joe telling us stories from his Chemistry classes - he brought home a copy of the test for us to all take. Are you smarter than a 9th grader? Not the smart ones. lol!