Shared cabin food gotchas

[t_g_farrell]

So I've never done the DGRR shared cabin thing, this year is a first. I'm
wondering if some of the veteran DGRR cabin sharing folk have any hard learned
lessons to help a newb with this? Specifically with the pooling of resources for
meals.

Do some meals being shared and prepped by the group work better than others?

Can we really save money compared to eating out?

The cabin has an oven and grill. Is one easier or better to use than the other?

I'm just curious, I guess, to here about how this has worked for others in the past
or what you do now to make this easier or more fun.

Discuss!

Thanks.

[Sephitrask]

It can work, but you have to be prepared to have moochers who eat without donating. I would work out an agreement before hand with whoever is eating on who is contributing what so someone doesnt get stuck with the bill or feel like they got cheated. We are all going to have fun and it sucks to have something like that potentially ruin it.

[My5ABaby]

[Sephitrask]

Originally Posted by My5ABaby

[Rotary-Kytten]

LOL - in the past we had it setup so that one group made breakfast and another made dinner - pancakes and bacon and baked eggs are always pretty easy and can serve a crowd in the morning - coffee is a must - dinner we liked using the grill for brats and we did salmon and corn on the cob last year which was delish and super easy. Depends on how much space and amenities are in your cabin I guess but treat it like a family fourth of July picnic - having stuff in the fridge that is easy to reheat or grab and go because people will be coming and going at all different times. LOTS of beverages - the dragon makes you thirsty. As for free loaders, lol, well that is just "family". A good rule of thumb though is if you invite outsiders to the cabin then request they bring something - even if it is just more drinks and chips. Because space in my car at least is limited I only take the items I think are most expensive or would be hard to find in NC and then buy perishables and such at the big grocery store in Bryson City. Also don't forget if you go to the banquet Saturday night to bring snacks and drinks - makes it much more fun!

[t_g_farrell]

How are the prices at that local Bryson grocer? We're thinking about doing some steaks and
it would be nice not to have to cart them around till we get to the cabin.

[RedR1]

It depends on your group. We've been going with the same group for the past 4 years, and we have a science. One part of the group does the dishes and cleaning. another part of the group does the food preparation (we cook everything from scratch in our group, and have 4 chefs by profession), and another group does the cooking

We will being in about 30-40 pounds of ribeye wholes, 20 pounds of strip loin, Bluefin steaks, and 10 pounds of chicken. Everyone chips in for that, as it's about 9.99 a pound. However that 30-40 pounds is enough for two night's BBQ (we usually make 24 ounce steak slices per person (pre-cooked weight). We also bring in a 10 pound bag of jasmine rice (i bring that, since i normally have a 40 pound bag back at home), a solid box of herbs and spices, a bag full of mushrooms, zuccini, potatos, broccoli, and onions. then there's the booze, but that's for a different post

Everyone chips in, since everyone is aware that food isn't free.

Its not that cooking at the cabin is cheaper than eating out. . . but the food in that area is quite subpar. you have your fast food chains and little shops that are dismal at best. . . but we're really picky about our food. Plus we enjoy cooking.

Originally Posted by Rotary-Kyttn

A good rule of thumb though is if you invite outsiders to the cabin then request they bring something

this It always happens. . . if they don't bring anything or pitch in, they don't get any. It may sound like i'm being a tight wad. . . but nothing is worse than freeloaders

[RedR1]

Originally Posted by t_g_farrell

How are the prices at that local Bryson grocer? We're thinking about doing some steaks and
it would be nice not to have to cart them around till we get to the cabin.

their steaks are. . . . again dismal at best. flimsy little 7-11 ounce steaks sold in packs of 2 or there abouts. those just don't cut it for us, as the bone alone is 1/4 of that weight. you end up saving a bit if you have a large group, or even 6-7 people and everyone tosses you $30 and pick up a whole from your local butcher. freeze it and leave it frozen until the day before you leave. Night before, take it out the freeze and toss it into the fridge. then once your off for the drive, put it in a cooler with packed ice.

by the time you are ready to BBQ, the whole will have thawed, since it's a 10 pound hunk of meat. scale accordingly for how much you plan on bringing.

We love steaks. . .

[RedR1]

Originally Posted by t_g_farrell

The cabin has an oven and grill. Is one easier or better to use than the other?

it depends on your skill level. though the only steaks i've ever enjoyed in an oven, was from my Dad. no one else can match his skill in an oven steak. I only make steaks on the grill. Charcoal one at that

Originally Posted by T_G

I'm just curious, I guess, to here about how this has worked for others in the past or what you do now to make this easier or more fun.

for me, the best part of the weekend isn't the dragon. that's just a road. it's not DGRR. it's just a car meet. all car meets and track days are the same. It's the people you are there with. With our group, the road is amazing since we sing acapella out the windows (final countdown, don't stop believin, etc) while spiritfully blasting around. When we cook dinner via BBQ on the grill, we sit around the grill and talk about anything/everything with a handle of Grey Goose in my hand. Someone is always working on their car and we just berate them while cooking a delicious home coooked meal for them, we get in water balloon fights (fulled with beer), etc.

it's all about your friends. get a group together that you get along with, and make sure they are mature enough so that they know each person has "something to do" . . . and you'll be set.

[RedR1]

Here's a picture of our fridge from the cabin 2 years ago. The rest of the steaks and liquor was in the freezer. Depending on your group, you may get more or less miles out of the bottles. all those lasted us about two hours

always good times

[t_g_farrell]

LOL! Yeah we're old enough (but not mature ). We call ourselves the OGTA (Old Guys with 12As).

Sounds like getting the food ahead of time might be wise. Thanks for the eval on the steaks
at the local mart.

[RedR1]

Originally Posted by t_g_farrell

LOL! Yeah we're old enough (but not mature ). We call ourselves the OGTA (Old Guys with 12As).

Sounds like getting the food ahead of time might be wise. Thanks for the eval on the steaks
at the local mart.

You guys!!!! OGTA from the Blue Ridge Rotary camping trip. I know of you crazy hooligans

I was planning on making the next OGTA Blue Ridge trip later this year if I get my FB together in time. My birthday was just a few weeks ago, so now i qualify as a pensioner myself

[FC Zach]

Food?! What is that? Our fridge last year consisted of this:

[t_g_farrell]

No wonder you like my beer Zach. The only decent thing I see in that fridge is the Murphys
and maybe the Heineken. The rest of it is just piss in a can.

I'll drink Corona, but only at the beach

[FC Zach]

LMFAO! You got it! Nailed it right on the head, those were my choices