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A summer barbecue with Butter on the Endive

5 Comments September 8, 2008

This post chronicles a fantastic day spent with the fine folks of Butter on the Endive.  Be sure to check out their recap on what is currently my favourite Vancouver food blog.

A summer BBQ with Butter on the Endive

As recent entrées to the Vancouver food blogging scene, myself and Owen of Butter on the Endive (which will be referred to as BotE for short) struck up an online acquaintance over the past few months. We thought a joint cooking affair would be a fabulous way to meet each other, and plans were soon laid out for a gastronomic get-together. Our schedules were at odds for most of the summer, but happily, we found time over Labour Day weekend to bask in the sun at Spanish Banks for a pork-tacular barbecue.

A summer BBQ with Butter on the Endive

Owen was joined by fellow BotE blogmates Mark and Amorita while I was accompanied by my husband.  The group was rounded out by friends that were happy to contribute to and indulge in the communal table.

A summer BBQ with Butter on the Endive

A summer BBQ with Butter on the Endive

Knowing that our food would be eaten alongside those of an accomplished cook, we defaulted to our tried and true grilling recipes:  my family’s Filipino pork satays (recipe below) and a selection of grilled vegetables dressed in a simple olive oil and balsamic vinegar marinade. We also made sure to pick up a handful of spicy chorizo from our favourite West Vancouver meat purveyor, Sebastian & Co.

A summer BBQ with Butter on the Endive

Owen and crew delivered a spectacular menu:  homemade limoncello; potato salad with capers and gherkins; grilled corn on the cob; pork terrine; and 2 cuts of mouth-watering pork that Owen and Mark had on the smoker for hours.  The resulting pulled pork sandwiches were worth every minute of the wait.

A summer BBQ with Butter on the Endive

A summer BBQ with Butter on the Endive

A summer BBQ with Butter on the Endive

Dessert was handled by a couple of my friends, consisting of a tasty Spanish olive oil cake topped with pecans and an apple crumble whose leftovers were highly prized.

A summer BBQ with Butter on the Endive

A summer BBQ with Butter on the Endive

Thanks to the efforts of Owen, Mark, and Amorita of Butter on the Endive and the contributions of our esteemed friends, we enjoyed a luxurious outdoor dining experience surrounded by the blue skies and sparkly waters of our beautiful city.  What a perfect way to wrap up the long weekend.

Filipino Pork Satays (we just call ‘em barbecue)

A summer BBQ with Butter on the Endive

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs of pork shoulder, or a cut with good marbling
  • 1 cup of 7-up (do not subsititute with Sprite, which will add too much sweetness)
  • 1 cup of soy sauce
  • 1 cup of white vinegar
  • 1 cup of brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon of whole peppercorns
  • 1 head of garlic, crushed
  • 3-4 green chilies, chopped

Directions

  1. Slice pork into thin pieces approximately 1/4″ thick and roughly 1″ square. I try not to be exacting with the 1″ parameters as I like the pieces to look rustic.
  2. Marinate in a large, non-reactive (ie, glass or ceramic) bowl for 2 – 4 hours in the 7-up.  Don’t marinate in a metal bowl or your meat may taste a little tinny in the end.
  3. Add the rest of the ingredients to the bowl and mix until dissolved / thoroughly incorporated.  Marinate for another 2-4 hours.
  4. Place 2-3 pieces of pork on each skewer (soak wooden skewers in water for 20 minutes beforehand).  If you are not grilling immediately, return skewers to soak in the marinade until ready.
  5. Grill skewers on direct high heat for 5-10 mins on each side or until meat is cooked through and slightly caramelized, taking care to baste with the marinade to prevent the meat from drying out.  Stop basting about 5 minutes before they are good to go.

A summer BBQ with Butter on the Endive A summer BBQ with Butter on the Endive A summer BBQ with Butter on the Endive A summer BBQ with Butter on the Endive A summer BBQ with Butter on the Endive A summer BBQ with Butter on the Endive A summer BBQ with Butter on the Endive A summer BBQ with Butter on the Endive A summer BBQ with Butter on the Endive A summer BBQ with Butter on the Endive A summer BBQ with Butter on the Endive A summer BBQ with Butter on the Endive A summer BBQ with Butter on the Endive A summer BBQ with Butter on the Endive A summer BBQ with Butter on the Endive A summer BBQ with Butter on the Endive A summer BBQ with Butter on the Endive A summer BBQ with Butter on the Endive A summer BBQ with Butter on the Endive A summer BBQ with Butter on the Endive A summer BBQ with Butter on the Endive A summer BBQ with Butter on the Endive A summer BBQ with Butter on the Endive A summer BBQ with Butter on the Endive A summer BBQ with Butter on the Endive A summer BBQ with Butter on the Endive A summer BBQ with Butter on the Endive A summer BBQ with Butter on the Endive A summer BBQ with Butter on the Endive A summer BBQ with Butter on the Endive A summer BBQ with Butter on the Endive

Categories: Events, Filipino, Food, Recipes

Comments

5 Responses to “A summer barbecue with Butter on the Endive”

  1. Owen Lightly on September 8th, 2008 10:00 pm

    What a great post Karen. We had a really good time! Who knew you could cook with 7-up.

  2. Karen on September 9th, 2008 9:23 am

    As did we. If you want any more dubious recipes, I’d be happy to share the variations on Spam, tinned corned beef, and Vienna sausages that Filipinos have honed over the years =)

  3. Amorita on September 13th, 2008 6:05 pm

    Great post Karen, and thanks to everyone for the great food! Could I have a copy of the picture of me? I like it!

    cheers!

  4. Karen on September 15th, 2008 7:42 pm

    Amorita: Glad you like the photo =) Check your inbox…should be there now!

  5. Tiny Bites 2008: a year in review : Tiny Bites on December 31st, 2008 8:04 am

    [...] A summer barbecue with Butter on the Endive (plus BotE’s corresponding post) [...]

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