I used to play a game with fellow home cooks and chefs way back in the MySpace days (but we called it Virtual Iron Chef… I feel like it’s more like Chopped, but I guess the name doesn’t matter).
Anyway, the way it works is you are presented with a list of ingredients. You create a tasting menu using those ingredients. Each ingredient must be used at least once, and each course must contain at least one of the ingredients. Menus can consist of 3 to 6 courses. Anyone who posts a menu gets to compete. Voting takes place over 2 days. Obviously the sooner you get a menu in the more potential you have for up votes.
Note: Rule above about number of menus and time limit were modified to better accommodate people submitting menus and giving people time to vote.
People vote by upvoting the menu they like the best. After the alotted period of time a winner is selected. The winner then gets to select a list of ingredients (the winner cannot compete during this round) and the game continues.
Would anyone want to play? Here is an example:
- Lamb
- Trout
- Ketchup
- Rice
- Tarragon
- Egg
- Blueberries
- Caramel
- Spinach
Amuse: Onsen quail egg. Togarashi. Hollondaise.
Appetizer: Yuzu cured trout. Tarragon and sesame oil. Crispy shallot.
Main: Spicy lamb lap chang. Sichuan dusted lamb chop. Ketchup fried rice. Fried spinach.
Dessert: Custard ice cream. Blueberry sorbet. Soy sauce caramel. Tarragon crumble.
Ah, got it. Maybe not as fancy but one I could actually produce.
Appetizer: salt & taragon cured trout with sourdough crackers and dry white wine.
Lamb vindaloo (ketchup as part of sauce - I do hate ketchup so it would be hidden) and sag paneer with basmati (ETA I think Temperanillo or Langhe Nebbiolo with these)
Cheese course goat cheese, blueberries and Semillon
Dessert dulce de leche custards (caramel) with tops torched.
Doesn’t have to be fancy! That looks great.