MNP Week 9: Green Chile Victorious As Bacon's Reign Ends

This week's Monday Night Potluck blog was cancelled due to the author succumbing to a potluck-induced food coma. 

Ahhh, we jest. We will say, however, that if all you phenomenal home chefs out there continue to supply such a wonderful smorgasbord each Monday evening, these fingers may soon be too fat to type. 

This week's turnout was one of the best yet, with an incredible spread including 16 dishes, excellent fare all over the table. In what is becoming a highly difficult feat, Nathan Claus's (no relation) Green Chile took first place with 40 points, narrowly edging out Rick Galgas's 2 Bangers And 2 Mash Surprise (which I'm fairly certain is what the sign-in sheet said?) who finished with 35 points. Tom's delectable Coconut Porter Chocolate Fondue (still drooling about) and BK Munger's Mac N' Cheese rounded out the podium with 23 points apiece.

Faced with a multitude of excellent competitors, Green Chile blasted past them all with a combination of spice and pork (which really never can go wrong). With no bacon on the menu (please read MNP Week 7 recap for a rant about bacon), Green Chile was able to hold on to its lead despite a late push from 2 Bangers And 2 Mash Surprise (is that really what that dish was called? Come on).

"It's like Thanksgiving every week," one excited potlucker said. "Except without the turkey, I guess. Or any of the other Thanksgiving dishes. But still."

Broken Compass would once again like to thank all of those who brought food for yet another amazing potluck. Here are all the awesome people and the dish they brought:

Dog House - Doggie Style Mac N' Cheese
The Groundwaters - Christmas Salad With Walnuts 
Tortilla Soup - Torilla Soup with Cotijo Cheese and Avocado
Mema's Latkes - Mema's Latke's (I'm starting to think that you guys may have misinterpreted the "Name" column of this week's sign-in sheet)
Stacey T. - Salad (leave it to the sensible person who brings a salad to correctly understand how to sign in)
The Redner Bunch - Red and Green Christmas Fettucine
Jess M. - Buter Spritz Cookies
BK Munger - Mac N' Cheese 
D Munger - Choco Chip Cookies
Nathan Claus - Green Chile
Kelly Russo - Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread
Grant Robinson - Pasta Carbonara
Nick Shaffer - Pad Thai
Isaac Manobla - Homemade Hummus
Tom - Coconut Porter Chocolate Fondue
Rick Galgas - 2 Bangers and 2 Mash Surprise

Monday Night Potlucks will continue next week (Dec. 22) at 6:30, with eating commencing at 7. We will be off the following week (Dec. 29). We can't wait to see what you make next! 

(Editor's note: Broken Compass Brewing's Monday Night Potlucks are popping off every Monday night, with eating starting between 6:30 and 7. We encourage everyone to contribute a dish every now and then, but everyone in the brewery is welcome to sample the food and vote for their favorite dishes. First place wins a 64 oz growler and fill, second place a 32 oz. growler and fill and third place a free pint. See you there!)

MNP Week 8: Carnivorous Ribs

There is something both satisfyingly primal and inherently right about the act of eating ribs. 

It starts with the utensils needed. Which are exactly none outside of the tools you bring to the table. The tearing of tender meat from bone. The mess of sauce on both hands and face. The lack of caring about said sauce. The inevitable, "Ahh well, I suppose I'll go get another 17 napkins," upon realizing that no, those two napkins you thought would cut it are in fact only succeeding in kind of cleaning up your left hand before being rendered utterly useless by sauce. The pile of bones scattered on your plate, proof of your carnivorous conquest.   

No other food can compete with the total experience offered by eating ribs (except, perhaps, for the turkey leg, which is undone almost every time by its inexplicable inferiority). No other food makes the eater push back his or her chair, stand on wobbly, meat-fattened legs and raise both sauce-covered hands to the skies while releasing a primal roar (wait...I'm the only one that does this? Well this is awkward).

These eating displays were on full display Monday night at Broken Compass, as Michael Cliff Cardone's Ribs (which could be given a longer and more descriptive title usually seen in this blog like "Dry-Rubbed For 36 Hours Then Dipped In Chocolate Coffee Stout Based BBQ Sauce Ribs" or "Gloriously Delicious Meat Sticks Descended From Heaven". You're right. We'll stick with just "Ribs") turned in a dominant Monday Night Potluck performance. Ribs's 43 points are the most ever recorded in MNP's two-month history, and came despite facing a stacked field of competitors. 

Nothing could stand in the way of Ribs's destructive path to victory. Two-time MNP champion Seth Cohen's Bacon Wrapped Dates And Coconut Porter Glaze and Rick Galgas's Turkey Kielbasa And Potato Perogi With Onions, Sauerkraut And Bacon (TKAPPWOSAB) managed to keep pace with Ribs for a short time, but ultimately came up short. Bacon Wrapped Dates finished second with 32 points, while TKAPPWOSAB tallied 23 for third place (it's another testament to Ribs's dominance that it easily outpaced two dishes featuring bacon, which to this point in MNP history had served as a key ingredient in the last two victorious dishes. Bacon's track record of success even inspired a dish titled "Plain-Ass Bacon," which, in case you were wondering, was a plate stacked with bacon, served plain). 

Despite being a familiar face at Broken Compass, this was Cardone's first appearance at MNP, and a successful one at that. 

Broken Compass would once again like to thank all of those who brought food for another amazing potluck.  Here are all the awesome people who brought food and the dish they brought:

Jess McNary - Creamy Cornbread

Seth Cohen - Bacon Wrapped Dates And Coconut Porter Glaze

Aaron Redner - Taquitos With Salsa Bean Dip

Stacey Todd - Bruschetta (which totally undersells it. This was gourmet bruschetta if I've ever seen it)

Ant - Arancini

Rick - Turkey Kielbasa And Potato Perogi With Onions, Sauerkraut And Bacon (TKAPPWOSAB)

Maria - Black Tuffle Popcorn

Hali and Shahara - Jalepeno Dip

Rachel and Lauren - Shrimp-Coconut Green Curry

Michael Cliff Cardone Jr. - Ribs

Rory Dushman - Plain-Ass Bacon

Monday Night Potlucks will continue next week (Dec. 15) at 6:30, with eating commencing at 7. We can't wait to see what you make next! 

(Editor's note: Broken Compass Brewing's Monday Night Potlucks are popping off every Monday night, with eating starting between 6:30 and 7. We encourage everyone to contribute a dish every now and then, but everyone in the brewery is welcome to sample the food and vote for their favorite dishes. First place wins a 64 oz growler and fill, second place a 32 oz. growler and fill and third place a free pint. See you there!)

From left to right: Mike Cliff Cardone, Seth Cohen and Rick Galgas

Closed Monday morning

Broken Compass will open tomorrow (Monday December 8th) at 3:30 p.m. We apologize for any inconvenience. Monday Night Potluck will take place as usual at 7 p.m., and we will return to normal hours (11:30 a.m.) Tuesday. 

MNP Week 7: Beer + Bacon + Stew = Victory

Post-Thanksgiving food comas could do nothing to slow the potluck craze.

Eaters from far and wide gathered at Broken Compass on Monday for yet another phenomenal edition of Monday Night Potlucks. 

But it was Seth Cohen's Chocolate Pumpkin Pie Stout Beef Stew that stole the show, thumbing its nose at critics who claimed the general public didn't need to eat so heartily following mass Thanksgiving feasting only a few days prior. Beer Beef Stew showed nothing particularly flashy as it cruised to victory with 32 points, utilizing a series of classic, old-man post moves to simply overwhelm the competition. The presence of three different kinds of bacon - not to mention two growlers of beer - aided Beef Stew on the way to victory.

While we're here, let's talk about bacon, because this bacon thing is becoming a little unfair. It's essentially the HGH of Monday Night Potluck. Throw bacon in your dish and you're guaranteed to be a contender. Which is a method I wholeheartedly support, because let's be honest, we all know bacon is the greatest food in the world. But still, it's essentially the HGH of MNP. It's like Mcgwire, Sosa and Bonds slugging it out for the home run title. It's also what I'm having for breakfast as I write this post, because again, it's the greatest food in the world. So by all means, please continue bringing this performance-enhancing drug to MNP. There, that's settled. 

A feisty battle ensued for the final two spots on the podium. Pigs In An Electric Blanket (jalepeno cheddar smokies wrapped in, wait for it....bacon) put forth its best effort, tallying 16 points, but in the end it wasn't enough. Swedish Meatballs, made by Robby and Christi, and Scotch-A-Roos (Peanut Butter Rice Crispies), from Linsey put up 20 points to tie for third. The somewhat ambiguously titled Rhonda's Dish - Veggies, Almonds and Cheese! - snuck by with 22 points to claim second place, proving that it doesn't take a medley of unhealthy foods (and bacon) to win votes (editor's note: we are now receiving reports that Cream Cheese made its way into Rhonda's dish. We knew it was too good to be true).

The victory was Cohen's second in the last three weeks, following up on his Coconut Porter Ice Cream's dominant performance two weeks ago. 

Broken Compass would once again like to thank all of those who brought food for another amazing potluck. Here's all the awesome people who brought food and the dish they brought:

LJ, Mary, Denny - Rhonda's Dish - Veggies, Almonds, Cheese! (wait, none of those people are named Rhonda...)

Bryan, Rachel, Emmett - Pecan Pie and Ice Cream

Chantal and Bill - Pig In An Electric Blanket

Nancy R. - Coconut Stout Chocolate Bundt Cake (How did this not receive more votes? How! I demand answers from you people)

Linsey - Scotch-A-Roos

Robby and Christi - Swedish Meatballs

Jake Lidard - Banana Bread Muffins

William Wallace - Quinoa Salad (wait a minute, William Wallace? Hmmmm)

Seth Cohen - Chocolate Pumpkin Pie Stout Beef Stew

Jason Lederer - Blue Cheese Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Dates (undone by a limited supply)

Maria Galgas - Carrot Cake 

Gillian - Carrot Muffins (what's with all the carrots around here all of the sudden)

Rory - Orange Mush

Lindsey and Amelia - Not labeled

Nick - Not legible

You guys and girls are awesome.

Monday Night Potlucks will continue next week (Nov. 24) at 6:30, with eating commencing at 7. We can't wait to see what you make next! 

(Editor's note: Broken Compass Brewing's Monday Night Potlucks are popping off every Monday night, with eating starting between 6:30 and 7. We encourage everyone to contribute a dish every now and then, but everyone in the brewery is welcome to sample the food and vote for their favorite dishes. First place wins a 64 oz growler and fill, second place a 32 oz. growler and fill and third place a free pint. See you there!)

The MNP Week 7 Winners

MNP Week 6: Unbeatable Bacon

No matter the potluck, talent will win out. 

That was the case Monday night for the sixth edition of Broken Compass's Monday Night Potlucks. No amount of game planning or strategy from the various assorted dips, soups or cakes could hope to stop the juggernaut that was Chantal Mings's Bacon Cheddar Tater Tot Bombs, which conquered the field with 41 points. 

Facing the stiffest MNP competition yet (17 dishes were brought this week. 17! And yes, that's including the pre-prepared plate of friend chicken, mashed potatoes and corn from City Market. You guys rock), Tot Bombs was unfazed, methodically and mercilessly laying waste to the rest of the field. 

Even strong performances from runner-up Buffalo Chicken Dip (made by Jasmine and Matt Smitg with 25 points) and third place Grilled Cheese With Basil Tomato Soup (by Billy Grow and Rachel Carpenter, 23 votes. And, c'mon, those mini grilled cheeses were hilarious how could you not vote for them?) could do nothing to slow Tot Bombs' momentum (we should pause for a moment and recognize the unfairness of Tot Bombs performance. Anytime you're combining bacon and cheese you're creating something delicious. That's two of the greatest foods in the world right there. Wrap them around a fried potato? Unfair). 

"Just a devestating performance by Tot Bombs tonight," said veteran potlucker D Buckets. "They just have too much talent up and down the roster."

Broken Compass would once again like to thank all of those who brought food for another amazing potluck. As we'll start doing every week, here's everyone who brought food and the dish they brought:

Robbie, Mel, Nancy and Andy - Spin on Artichoke Dip and Chips

Seth Cohen - Broken Compass Chili Pepper Pale Ale Wisconsin Cheddar Soup

Steve and Julia - City Market Chicken Breast and Bag of Chips (the night's true winners) 

Alex Dean, Grant Robinson, Nick Shaffer - All'arrabiatta, Haluski (I do not know what either of these are, but they were delicious) 

Aaron Vogt, Ryan Cram - Gooey Butter Cake  

Mel Sutherland - Shepherd's Brit-tasty Pie

Joe Napolitan - Pizza Crusts From a Dumpster

Jef Bryon - Penne Dankfredo (made, apparently, with "bacon, sausage, veggies and crack." See attached photo for details)  

Chantal Mings - Bacon Cheddar Tater Tot Bombs  

Rebecca Hearn - Sweet and Sour Meatballs

Kevin Gerbes - Buffalo Chicken Mac N Cheese

Billy Grow and Rachel Carpenter - Tomato Basil Soup and Grilled Cheese

Jasmine and Matt Smith - Buffalo Chicken Dip  

Keith and Janelle - Chicken Wing Dip with Chips

Jesina Bear and Julia Gulia - (Banana Popcicles, Stuffing) 

Katie McB - Broccoli Mac N Cheese

You guys are awesome.  

Monday Night Potlucks will continue next week (Nov. 24) at 6:30, with eating commencing at 7. We can't wait to see what you make next! 

(Editor's note: Broken Compass Brewing's Monday Night Potlucks are popping off every Monday night, with eating starting between 6:30 and 7. We encourage everyone to contribute a dish every now and then, but everyone in the brewery is welcome to sample the food and vote for their favorite dishes. First place wins a 64 oz growler and fill, second place a 32 oz. growler and fill and third place a free pint. See you there!)

Food line out the door

MNP Week 5: Coconut Porter Ice Cream Reigns Supreme

(Editor's note: We apologize for the delay in the posting of this blog. As a result of mass potluck consumption, the author was in a deep food coma for a majority of Tuesday and only recently awakened to the world) 

The spirit of winter continued to manifest itself at Monday Night Potlucks, as a frozen, delicious dessert carried the day for the second straight week.

The final polling was hotly contested, but Seth Cohen's Coconut Porter Ice Cream (made with real Broken Compass Coconut Porter! Because only the best ingredients and all that jazz) squeaked out a one-point victory over a collaborative effort by Dave Radcliffe (no relation to Daniel, or Harry Potter, and if you don't get that reference, well congrats, you're not a huge nerd like me), Kendall Turcotte and Dustin Flory, who supplied a stellar French Onion Mac N Cheese. CocPo Ice Cream finished the night with a MNP record 34 points, while Mac N Cheese fell just short, recording 33 points. Hearty Bison Hash rounded out the top three with 17 points (and could have put together a stronger showing, but was unable to sustain a hot start after it's supplies were depleted early in the feast).

It was the deepest and most competitive MNP field to date, as 11 excellent dishes were provided by our amazing patrons (11! You guys rock. If I knew how I would make Coconut Porter ice cream for all of you. And then I'd eat it all before I could give it away). But nothing could steal the spotlight away from Crazy-Good-Melt-In-Your-Mouth CocPo Ice Cream. 

"This ice cream is the greatest achievement in the history of man," one delighted eater said. "It is singlehandedly responsible for changing my outlook on life."

The same could likely be said for the rest of the fortunate crowd gathered at Broken Compass. 

Once again, Broken Compass would like to thank everyone who brought food. Many amazing dishes were consumed that were not included here (bacon-wrapped jalepenos, homemade bread, stuffed portabello mushrooms, gumbo, pot roast to name a few. I'd include more but I was in food heaven and don't entirely recollect everything from the night. And no, alcohol was not involved in this particularly memory loss), and we appreciate every one of them. Congratulations to Seth Cohen on his extraordinary, growler-winning ice cream. 

Monday Night Potlucks will continue next week (Nov. 24) at 6:30, with eating commencing at 7. We can't wait to see what you make next! 

(Editor's note: Broken Compass Brewing's Monday Night Potlucks are popping off every Monday night, with eating starting between 6:30 and 7. We encourage everyone to contribute a dish every now and then, but everyone in the brewery is welcome to sample the food and vote for their favorite dishes. First place wins a 64 oz growler and fill, second place a 32 oz. growler and fill and third place a free pint. See you there!)

Monday Night Potluck Week 4: It's a Tie!

With the falling snow creating an epic backdrop, food wars were waged once again at Broken Compass on Monday night. 

For the first time ever, Monday Night Potluck goers witnessed a tie, as Dave Johnston's Frozen Mocha Cheesecake used a late surge to catch Autumn Moses's Saffron-Spiced-Scalloped-Potatoes With Pancetta, Prosciutto And Parmesan-Reggiano (ummm, so that was a mouthful...let's just call them Super Potatoes), both finishing with 21 points apiece. Tom Hollinshead's Baked Beans With Smoked Brisket rounded out the podium, finishing a near third with 19 points. Despite laying claim to perhaps the most pure talent on the night, Hollinshead's Cherry Wood Smoked Chicken Thighs received 17 points and just missed a top three finish. With only six thighs and an abundance of empty stomachs, Chicken Thighs simply ran out of gas in the fourth quarter.

But MNP's true drama came in the battle for the top spot. Cindarella-story Super Potatoes jumped out to an early lead, surprising eaters with it's delicious, rag-to-riches presentation of one of the more basic foods on the human menu (seriously, I'm not sure I could tell you what half of those garnishes are. But I do know the word "garnishes." So shut it).

But as the night wore on, Frozen Mocha Cheesecake slowly gained traction (it should be said, "Frozen Mocha Cheesecake is one of the undersells of the century. Ladies, gentlemen, this is a cheesecake with a crust made of CRUMBLED AND CONDENSED OREO'S. It's a force of nature. It's a marvel. It's also sitting in my fridge as we speak. And.......now....... it's being shoveled into my mouth by the forkful). As dessert plates were pushed away and burps sounded, Cheesecake's final melting push closed the remaining gap for the photo finish. 

"I'm genuinely speechless," bartender D Buckets said. "And that's mostly because I ate so much that if I'm worried what will happen if I open my mouth. But oh yeah, also because I've never seen two foods dueling it out in such epic fashion."

When offered a chance at a tiebreaker (whoever can eat the most food from among the leftovers), both Johnston and Moses declined, citing "full stomachs" and "food babies" and "little desire to become Potluck champion of the world" (fine, I made that last one up). 

The tie left MNP with two champions, but everyone in attendance was a winner, with the best spread to date. 

Broken Compass would like to thank everyone who braved the snow and roads to make it out for the potluck. Congratulations to Dave, Autumn and Tom. We all appreciate your phenomenal work in the kitchen. See you all next Monday for Week Five!

(Editor's note: Broken Compass Brewing's Monday Night Potlucks are popping off every Monday night, with eating starting between 6:30 and 7. We encourage everyone to contribute a dish every now and then, but everyone in the brewery is welcome to sample the food and vote for their favorite dishes. First place wins a 64 oz growler and fill, second place a 32 oz. growler and fill and third place a free pint. See you there!)

Our winners from left to right: Autumn Moses, Tom Hollinshead and Dave Johnston

Monday Night Potluck: Week 3

It isn't a potluck if it isn't full of surprises. 

For the first time ever (a significant achievement considering our Monday Potluck's extensive, three-week history), a foreign power has prevailed on our shores, as Bruce Lederer's Gougeres (aka a French cheesy puffy bread, and don't ask me how to pronounce it because I've mangled it seven times already, in fact autocorrect is trying to tell me it's actually "gougers," which sounds awful, and whoops this parenthetical rant has gone on far too long and you are probably now "gouging" your eyes out. Get it? OK, I'll shut up now) took a convincing victory in the third Monday Night Potluck. 

Gougeres easily outpaced Erica Ohmes' runner-up Gluten Free Soft Pretzels With Beer Mustard Sauce and Becky Walter's third-place Asparagus Beef Roll-UP (which should, however, be commended for its admirable strategy of disguising itself as a vegetable when in fact it was small parts vegetable large parts roast beef and cream cheese), while Italian Sausage In Tasty Tomato Sauce, Deviled Eggs and Spicy Sweet Potato And Bacon Pancakes* rounded out the field. The Gougeres (can't believe I'm still spelling this correctly) employed a sophisticated game plan, using exotic foreign tactics to run away with the victory. 

"They were just so puffy. And cheesy. And glorious," an anonymous source (that may also be writing this post) said. "It was like eating a cloud. Made of bread. And cheese."

Bruce Lederer's win was the second straight for the Lederer family, as Bruce followed up on his son, Jason's victory from the previous week. The Lederers now have an opportunity to go where no one else has gone before - a three-peat. The father-son duo declined to give any indication of what dish to expect next week, but assured the adoring masses that it would be delectable. 

Broken Compass would like to thank everyone who participated in this edition of Monday Night Potlucks, whether they brought food or simply drank beer and voted. Congratulations to Bruce, Erica and Becky on their excellent food, and join us next Monday at 6:30 p.m. as the Lederers attempt to etch their names into the history books!

*Spicy Sweet Potato And Bacon Pancakes, it should be noted, were excessively delicious and garnered enough votes to podium, but were disqualified as a result of being prepared by Broken Compass's own The Muse.

(Editor's note: Broken Compass Brewing's Monday Night Potlucks are popping off every Monday night, with eating starting between 6:30 and 7. We encourage everyone to contribute a dish every now and then, but everyone in the brewery is welcome to sample the food and vote for their favorite dish. First place wins a 64 oz growler and fill, second place a 32 oz. growler and fill and third place a free pint. See you there!)