Since I have lived in Greenville over the past year I have engaged in many enjoyable events; Tailgating at Clemson, Low Country Boils, a whole slew of events downtown, wild Scottish Festivals, and many more.  Last night, at Mad’s and my house, we had the first of what I can only hope is long running future tradition.  We engaged in BACON NIGHT!

Okay, y’all just calm down, I know that you are probably almost suffocating on the involuntary saliva production and near orgasmic glee at hearing about this event, but just take a deep breath, I haven’t even shown you any photo documentation of this wondrous event. 

The event came about in this way.  Two Weekends ago Bear, Evan, Meg, and I participated in the Up Country Farm Tour, where we drove around and visited a bunch of farms.  It was pretty neat though probably the real enjoyment came from just getting to hang out all day (personal opinion to y’all who went, but I just really liked the good company). Anyway, one of the farms we visited was the Clemson Student Organic Farm and while we were there we took notice of some of the foods they sell, of which there was organic bacon . . . mmm so yummy sounding.  Now seeing as Meg works at Clemson she agreed to pick up some food stuff from the farm when they were doing the selling (which I think was on Wednesday).  Disregarding her own vegetarian instincts Meg graciously bought two pounds of bacon to bring back to Greenville for consumption.

I am not really sure who was the first to make the proposal to hold a bacon taste testing occasion through comparing the different cooking methods of the meat but it was from this initial suggestion that Bacon Night was born.  At the Low Country Boil, held this past Sunday at the Huska Plantation Mad and I agreed that we would host Bacon Night.  All day Monday the crowd of us communicated via the emails to work out the details (when to show up, what to bring, etc).  After work I rushed home to do some last minute cleaning and prepare for the arrival of the Bacon Night participants.  Besides Me and Mad those who cam included Mad’s parents and grandmother, Natalia, Walker, Bear, Even, Meg, Jimmy C, Monica, and Virginia (plus one Sarko Muppet dog) — it was to date the largest gathering Mad and I have hosted at our house. 

For the occasion the bacon would be cooked four different ways via George Foreman Grill, Frying Pan, Cookie Sheet in the Oven, and the Microwave (which, as my previous post has stated, was just purchased yesterday).  Once the bacon had all been cooked we we all sample the different cooking styles and attempt to come to a consensus on which bacon was cooked best.

  Yum, traditional fry pan bacon!

 I love Foreman grills, so useful.

 Baked Bacon! Insane!

 Nuke cooking is fun cooking.

After all the bacon was cooked we laid the different cooked styles on individual plates and invited the crowd to come begin the tasting.

The consensus at the end of bacon eating seemed to be that the oven cooked bacon (yes, the baked bacon) was the best.  Fried was a close second, with the grilled and nuked being in the last place.  Still as Bear has pointed out, does anybody really loose with Bacon Night (well besides Meg and the fact that she doesn’t eat bacon — but hey, you still got to hang out with a bunch of awesome people and enjoy the delight of bacon scent)?  Just look how happy the bacon eating made Walker!

Of course while bacon is very likely one of the most delicious food things that a human tongue can experience the reality stands that it isn’t exactly on top of a healthy diet. So Mad and Natalia were kind enough to provide some more food.  Mad made an awesome potato hash medley with cheese and onions and peppers and all around delight.  Natalia made a ton of wonderful spinach salad that had avocado, onion, boiled egg, a little bacon , and oil and vinegar on top. 

And what kind of gathering would we have if there were no beers to quench our bacon eating thirsts?

Yes, it was indeed a wonderful and amazing event.  I sure hope that we can do it again someday (like maybe sometime next month). 

Oh, and before I forget, behold the gradually acquired bacon grease!