Party for Peter

This past Saturday we had a party at the marina to wish our friend, Peter Barker, bon voyage since he will be leaving us after a 6 month stay in the harbor to continue his sail around the world. To honor Peter's Australian heritage I thought we should cook something from the land down under, but the only Australian cuisine I've ever had consists of food from the Outback Steakhouse. I decided we would throw some "shrimp on the barbie"...sounds Australian, right? 8 pounds of Key West Pinks were purchased first thing Saturday morning from Keys Fisheries, and my friend, Megan, and I headed to the S/V Exposure to wrap them in the 5 pounds of bacon purchased the previous day and put them on skewers. We made bloody mary's and set ourselves to the task. It took about 2 and 1/2 hours to get the shrimp cleaned and ready, but in the end we had 4 big bags of skewers ready for the grill. Next we headed in to get the keg and the cake. Upon arriving at the liquor store, we found that the keg we had ordered had not been delivered but they had a smaller one we could have instead. We supplemented with a few cases of cans and called it done. The cake turned out lovely with a picture I had taken of Peter on Australia Day somehow magically transferred on the surface.
The cake was actually quite lucky to make it to the party since I tripped coming up the steps to the marina while carrying it. I banged my knee pretty good but somehow saved the cake. By the time I took it's picture though, it was a little worse for the wear and the heat...but you get the gist of it.
We had a great turn out for the event.
Most people showed up with a dish to throw on the table and socialized around the keg while Peter said a few words about his stay here in the harbor and presented Richard Tanner, our harbor master, with a plaque noting all the unique amenities of the Marathon City Marina and proclaiming it to be the best. Richard, in turn, presented Peter with the last remaining flag from the now defunct Boot Key Harbor Sailing Association featuring [just as you would suspect] a boot and a key.
Over at the grills, I barbecued the shrimp and Tut [Sloop d' Jour] finished up a few legs of lamb. It may not be very Australian, but I made a huge pan of cheese grits [topped with bacon and parmesan cheese and loaded with butter and cream] to accompany the shrimp. Call it a "Kentucky Twist"...it was Derby Day, after all! Then the line formed and judging by the way party attendees snarfed up the food until there was no more, I'd say things turned out pretty tasty. I tucked a few shrimp kabobs and a bit a lamb away for later and vacated the chaos of the serving area. Peter's boat, Bowtie Lady, was tied to the nearby seawall and a small gathering congregated there on the sidewalk. I had a bowl of jello of the spiked variety and was willing to share as soon as somebody found me a spoon. As the evening continued, more and more people assembled around the Bowtie Lady. Some came to tour the ocean-going vessel, some just came for the jello, and some were holding out for cake, but the party ended up on the sidewalk alongside Peter's boat. After much conversation, laughter, and an empty jello bowl, Peter cut the cake...or at least he attempted to. I took the knife away from him when he started to cut the rectangular cake into wedges. The last of the party-goers ate cake with their fingers served on napkins since we had no plates or plastic-ware and then with sticky fingers and big smiles meandered back to their respective boats.
I had a GREAT time with my girlfriends both planning the party and attending it, but I do believe a good time was had by all who came.
We will certainly miss Peter with his charming accent, interesting idioms, and debonair ways but we wish him well in finishing his quest. I'll be following his blog and keeping track of his progress and hope to see the Bowtie Lady and her Captain another time.

Good Luck & Bon Voyage, Peter!
[And thank you for the tulips! XXOO]