newbie fest cook info

henapple

With the upcoming fests and newbies (like me) contemplating cooking...here's a few tips from a seasoned (lmao) fest cooker.

Cook. Just do it. You'll love it.

Have a placard or sign very visible with info about ingredients, cook time, variables, ...it'll be ok the first 50 times you're asked these questions but after awhile you'll feel like a robot. Next time i cook I'll have index cards printed up. Not being rude but it can be overwhelming.

Pre-prep as much as possible. Travis showed up with yellow fin tuna dip and venison meatloaf...both ready to cook and both a huge hit. He cooked while i prepped.

Simple is good. Sancho 65 was cranking out tortilla pizzas as fast as him and his wife could. Simple but a huge hit.

Dessert. After pounds of meat folks like dessert.

caliking

That's a lot of good info.

So many great items cooked. Travis' and Sancho's were for sure. I tasted the tuna dip first as soon as i got there and knew it was going to be a good day. I stopped going back for more of Sancho's pizza because I thought the cameras were still on. 

But your bacon wrapped pears were pretty freakin awesome too!

travisstrick

What henapple really means is that I sampled the local adult beverages while he cooked. 

Mickey

What henapple really means is that I sampled the local adult beverages while he cooked. 

I am ready for some more tuna dip.

henapple

Sample? I tripped over your throw aways all day but Mickey said my job was to clean up after you.....

henapple

Caliking...thanks. I had fun...even cooking beside the originator of the "Travis method".

Plano_JJ

Really looking forward to cooking at the Plano Eggfest. Went last year to observe and taste and had a ball. My kids want to help me, do they allow that? Also, a buddy and I want to cook together, do you get two eggs or do they just provide you with one to share? Either way is fine.

Foghorn

Plano_JJ said:

Really looking forward to cooking at the Plano Eggfest. Went last year to observe and taste and had a ball. My kids want to help me, do they allow that? Also, a buddy and I want to cook together, do you get two eggs or do they just provide you with one to share? Either way is fine.

It seems like it depends on the relative supply of cooks and Eggs.  However, one thing that Mickey and Spring Chicken tried to tell me (OK, they DID tell me) was that you don't want to be cooking the whole time. For example, I didn't know that there were any bacon-wrapped pears in Salado until after I got him and read about them - and apparently they were cooked about 20 feet from me.

 

caliking

Here's one thing I noticed that may help out in the future - some cooks had their prep tables raised up on those bed risers that Bed Bath & Beyond type places sell. Raised the table up 6" or so. Their backs must have thanked them later. 

Mickey

caliking said:

Here's one thing I noticed that may help out in the future - some cooks had their prep tables raised up on those bed risers that Bed Bath & Beyond type places sell. Raised the table up 6" or so. Their backs must have thanked them later. 

Saw that last year and forgot to get them this year.

Solson005

@Plano_JJ I will try my best to make it to the Plano fest and cook something that will be worthy of a fest in Texas.

nolaegghead

Mickey said:

caliking said:

Here's one thing I noticed that may help out in the future - some cooks had their prep tables raised up on those bed risers that Bed Bath & Beyond type places sell. Raised the table up 6" or so. Their backs must have thanked them later. 

Saw that last year and forgot to get them this year.

You can fabricate 2x4 super cheap, throw away risers for about $2-3 each.  Just lemme know.

nolaegghead

I mean for the plans, unless I get there early.

Plano_JJ

Foghorn said:

Plano_JJ said:

Really looking forward to cooking at the Plano Eggfest. Went last year to observe and taste and had a ball. My kids want to help me, do they allow that? Also, a buddy and I want to cook together, do you get two eggs or do they just provide you with one to share? Either way is fine.

It seems like it depends on the relative supply of cooks and Eggs.  However, one thing that Mickey and Spring Chicken tried to tell me (OK, they DID tell me) was that you don't want to be cooking the whole time. For example, I didn't know that there were any bacon-wrapped pears in Salado until after I got him and read about them - and apparently they were cooked about 20 feet from me.

 

Good to know, hadn't thought of that

Plano_JJ

Solson005 said:

@Plano_JJ I will try my best to make it to the Plano fest and cook something that will be worthy of a fest in Texas.

From what I have seen you cook, that wont be an issue. Cmon down, I'll buy you a col one

JRWhitee

I have cooked at the Eggtoberfest for the last 5 years and I think it works best when we share an egg with a friend. We will get together a week or two prior and do a sample cook and drink a little or a lot! We will have our menu and do our prep prior to arriving and work as a team so we can all enjoy the fest. Last year one of our cooks was Bacon Explosions, damn were those good. We have a group of 6 that cook every year (The Green Man Group) and we use either 3 or 4 eggs, it works great as you are not tied to the egg all day and can take turns sampling and talking to other cooks.

hornhonk

Plano_JJ said:

Really looking forward to cooking at the Plano Eggfest. Went last year to observe and taste and had a ball. My kids want to help me, do they allow that? Also, a buddy and I want to cook together, do you get two eggs or do they just provide you with one to share? Either way is fine.

I put on the Plano Outlaw Eggfest . Your kids are more than welcome to cook with you! We have always had plenty of eggs for our cooks. I'm sure you will be able to use two. If  we don't have enough for you to use two, I'll bring one of mine for you to use. See? Easy!

Plano_JJ

hornhonk said:

Plano_JJ said:

Really looking forward to cooking at the Plano Eggfest. Went last year to observe and taste and had a ball. My kids want to help me, do they allow that? Also, a buddy and I want to cook together, do you get two eggs or do they just provide you with one to share? Either way is fine.

I put on the Plano Outlaw Eggfest . Your kids are more than welcome to cook with you! We have always had plenty of eggs for our cooks. I'm sure you will be able to use two. If  we don't have enough for you to use two, I'll bring one of mine for you to use. See? Easy!

Steve, you and I met at Hirsch's then again at the Eggfest back in Nov. I had my in laws, wife and two little girls with me. Hope to see you soon. Are you still cooking at Elliott's?

Plano_JJ

JRWhitee said:

I have cooked at the Eggtoberfest for the last 5 years and I think it works best when we share an egg with a friend. We will get together a week or two prior and do a sample cook and drink a little or a lot! We will have our menu and do our prep prior to arriving and work as a team so we can all enjoy the fest. Last year one of our cooks was Bacon Explosions, damn were those good. We have a group of 6 that cook every year (The Green Man Group) and we use either 3 or 4 eggs, it works great as you are not tied to the egg all day and can take turns sampling and talking to other cooks.

I like your prep idea. The thought of cooking and drinking prior to cooking and drinking is just terrible :-O

Fred19Flintstone

As a noob to cooking for others not related or acquainted with me, I'm taking all this advice to heart.  Thank you!

Mickey

Take time to enjoy the Fest. Don't cook over 2.5 hours. Tough to meet people and not cut off a finger.