Step into the thrilling world of “Carnival Zombie” on our Board Game Dinner Party Podcast!
Welcome to an exciting episode featuring the heart-pounding “Carnival Zombie” board game. Imagine Venice during Carnival season: masks, music, and mouth-watering delicacies. But a sudden tremor shatters the festivities as the dead rise from the canals. This is “Carnival Zombie”!
Embark on an epic journey with us, guiding survivors through Venice’s labyrinthine streets, fleeing from hordes of the undead. Will you find an exit point or make a daring last stand at Doge’s Palace? The game follows a day-night cycle, offering exploration by day and survival by night.
As night falls, the game transforms into an intense tower defense showdown. Can your team outwit and outgun the relentless undead horde?
Our hosts are joined by special guests, setting the eerie mood with a Brain Hemorrhage Shot. Indulge in delicious Porchetta and broccolini sandwiches, followed by frittole with gelato for dessert. It’s a treat for your senses!
Join us as we unravel the mysteries of “Carnival Zombie” in an episode that combines gaming, storytelling, and culinary delight. Don’t miss this pulse-pounding adventure in a city overrun by the undead!
Will we escape Venice alive, or will the horde take us?
Tune in now for a podcast episode that’s a true carnival of the senses!
Listen Here:
Sections and Timestamps:
Intro – 00:36: Begin your journey as we set the stage for an evening of culinary delight and board game excitement.
Table Talk – 10:31: Dive into the lively conversations and interactions around the table as we share stories and laughter.
Set The Table – 39:39: Discover how we transformed our space to immerse ourselves in the world of Carnival Zombie.
The Menu – 44:44: Explore the highlights of our Venitian feast, featuring Brain Hemorrhage Shot, Porchetta-Broccolini Sandwiches and an irresistible Frittole with Gelato.
The Play – 57:56: Join us as we fight the hoard of zombies. Did we escape Venice or were we consumed by the undead?
Music: “Caffè Concerto Strauss – Venezia, la città dell’amore” By Dakheel is licensed under a Creative Commons License. https://on.soundcloud.com/MSDxJ
For today’s episode we’re traveling back in time to Messina 1347, a worker movement euro with the theme of Messina during the black plague outbreak of 1347. On the menu we have an Orange & Olive Salad, with a keto focaccia bread followed by a Ragú Bianco and Zaida’s take on keto Cassata Cake! So take a sit, grab your fork and get ready to play Messina 1347.
Our guest Pete brought this drink to our party and it was a hit. Who would have thought that lemon and coffee would go well together? But it does! This drink is refreshing and consider making a large batch to keep your friends hydrated and focused while paying the game(s).
Right on time for Star Wars Day (May 4th) we are playing Star Wars: The Clone Wars from Z-Man Games. The dinner party starts with the Qui-Gon Gin-Zinger cocktail. For food we have Admiral Ackbar “It’s a Trap” Soup, Porg on a Stick, Roasted Pill Bug, and Galaxy Cakes. So get a drink, grab a bite and get ready to play Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
Nestled at the foothills of the Atlas Mountains, Marrakesh is a city that embodies the essence of Morocco’s rich cultural heritage. Stepping into Marrakesh is like stepping into a magical realm where history, tradition, and modernity coexist in perfect harmony. As you may have guessed, for this dinner party, we’re embarking on a culinary adventure that allows us to experience the enchantment of Marrakesh through Stefan Feld’s board game of the same name.
The choice of Stefan Feld’s “Marrakesh” for our dinner party was intentional and meaningful. Stefan Feld, a favorite game designer among our guests, embarked on a fascinating project with Queen Games, the “Stefan Feld City Collection,” featuring city-themed games set in captivating destinations worldwide. Marrakesh, with its rich culture and vibrant atmosphere, was a natural choice for a dinner party.
The Feld’s city collection, which blends new designs with reimplementations of older games, allows us to virtually explore diverse cities—a perfect fit for our group of board gamers and travel enthusiasts. With the world’s current challenges, board games like Marrakesh offer a way to “pretend travel” and experience the essence of a city without leaving home.
Before we dive into the flavors and aromas of this culinary journey, let’s take a moment to explore the board game that has inspired our evening. Marrakesh, published by Queen Games and designed by Stefan Feld, takes players through three seasons, each consisting of four rounds. In this strategic game, you’ll send your assistants across the vibrant city of Marrakesh to perform actions and earn victory points. Your player board is a map of Marrakesh, divided into nine distinct districts, each associated with a unique action. These districts include The Sahara Desert with its Oasis, the Date Orchard, the River, the Souk (or traditional market), the Main Square, the Mosque, the Palace, the Madrasa, and the Medina. The heart of the game lies in the Keshis and the enigmatic TOWER.
The centerpiece of the game of Marrakesh is the TOWER. On every turn, players secretly select three districts to activate by choosing corresponding Keshis. Simultaneously, everyone reveals their choices. The suspense unfolds as all Keshis are collected, dropped in the tower, and then drafted in player order, with a twist—the tower may trap some Keshis, altering your plans and introducing unforeseen choices later in the game.
Our culinary journey begins with the “Sunset over Marrakech” cocktail, and what a splendid start it is! This elegant blend of flavors perfectly encapsulates the essence of Morocco. The infusion of Brewed Gunpowder Green Tea, Gin, Mint Syrup, Lemon Juice, and Orange Liqueur results in a refreshing, balanced, and exotic elixir. The cocktail’s subtle bitterness harmonizes beautifully with the botanical notes of the gin, while the mint syrup and lemon juice add layers of sweetness and zest. Sipping on this cocktail is like being transported to a tranquil Moroccan oasis, where the sun-kissed landscapes meet the cool shade of lush gardens. Here is how you can make your own:
Sunset over Marrakech
Ingredients:
2 oz Brewed (Double-Strength) Gunpowder Tea (cooled to room temperature)
2 oz Gin
1 oz Mint Syrup (homemade or store-bought)
0.75 oz Freshly squeezed Lemon Juice
0.5 oz Orange Liqueur
Ice cubes
Orange twist or mint sprig (for garnish)
Instructions:
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice cubes.
Add the cooled Gunpowder Tea, gin, mint syrup, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and orange liqueur to the shaker.
Shake the ingredients vigorously until well-chilled and combined.
Strain the mixture into a chilled cocktail glass filled with fresh ice cubes.
Fill the glass to the top with extra Green Tea if necessary.
Garnish the cocktail with an orange twist or a sprig of mint.
Serve and enjoy your refreshing cocktail and be ready to play!
For our first course, we prepared a beautifully presented carrot salad. Vibrant orange carrots are thinly shaved and dressed in a delicate blend of spices, creating a dish that’s as visually appealing as it is delicious. The salad’s sweetness and subtle spiciness evoke the vibrant flavors of Moroccan cuisine, setting the stage for the culinary adventure that lies ahead.
The iconic conical-shaped Moroccan tajin pot, featured in the board game, plays a starring role in our main course. However, we understand that traditional tajin pots can be challenging to find, so a suitable replacement for this dish is a Dutch oven. For our dinner party, we opted for the convenience of a Dutch oven.
We prepared a melt-in-your-mouth Lamb Tajin with almond couscous that delivered a rich and savory experience that was truly unforgettable. The almond couscous, with its nutty undertones, provided a perfect complement to the flavorful lamb. The combination is a symphony of textures and tastes, evoking images of Marrakech’s bustling food markets and the skilled hands of its culinary artisans.
To conclude our culinary journey through Marrakesh, we made an indulgent Orange Blossom Cake with yogurt icing—a sweet finale that left our guests thoroughly impressed. The yogurt icing adds a creamy and slightly tangy contrast, while the cake itself is moist and fragrant, with a delicate orange blossom flavor that transports diners to Moroccan gardens in full bloom. It’s a harmonious blend of sweetness and floral notes, a dessert that captures the spirit of Marrakech’s love for citrus-infused confections.
Orange Blossom Cake with Yogurt Icing
Ingredients:
For the cake:
18 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened
2 ½ cups of all-purpose flour
4 large eggs
3/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
2 tbsp orange zest
1 tsp Orange Blossom (or vanilla extract)
1½ cups granulated sugar
½ cup vegetable oil
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp salt
For the yogurt glaze:
½ cup confectioners’ sugar
1 cup Greek yogurt
1 tsp Orange blossom water
Pinch salt
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 350° F (180° C)
Whisk eggs, zest, juice, and Orange blossom in a medium bowl.
With an electric mixer, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt on the lowest setting in a large bowl. Add butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, and beat at medium-low speed until mixture is crumbly. Add egg and increase speed to medium-high, and beat until batter is light and fluffy.
Grease and flour a cupcake pan. Pour the batter into the prepared cupcake pan. Bake in the oven for approximately 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Take the cake out of the oven and let it cool for 7 to 10 minutes. Carefully remove the cupcakes from the pan and place them on a rack to finish cooling.
Prepare the glaze by whisking together yogurt, Orange blossom water, and confectioners’ sugar in a bowl until smooth. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before spreading on cupcakes. Drizzle over the tops of each cupcake to create different patterns.
In the wake of the recent earthquake in Morocco, our Marrakesh-themed dinner party underscores the unifying power of food and the importance of providing sustenance and shelter to those in need. Food brings people together, and by donating to a charity that supports earthquake-affected communities, we can make a significant impact in helping families rebuild their lives, heal, and move forward with renewed hope and resilience.
Our Marrakesh-themed dinner party successfully transported us to this magical Moroccan city, immersing us in its culture, flavors, and traditions. Guests were thrilled, asking for seconds and recipes to recreate these dishes at home. Some even used bread to savor every last drop of the delicious sauce. The board game Marrakesh was a hit as well, and we enjoyed it immensely. We hope this journey inspires you to embrace creativity and host your themed board game parties.
Listen to our podcast Marrakesh Board Game Dinner Party to learn more about our guests’ experiences before and after playing the game.
Join us in this unforgettable evening filled with delectable Argentinian cuisine and the excitement of The Great Western Trail Argentina board game. Inspired by Alexander Pfister’s design, we’ve pulled out all the stops to create an experience that combines mouthwatering flavors and thrilling tabletop gaming. In this podcast episode, we’ll take you through the various segments of our memorable dinner party, from the enticing menu to the thrilling gameplay.
Sections and Timestamps:
Intro – 00:40: Begin your journey as we set the stage for an evening of culinary delight and board game excitement.
Table Talk – 11:10: Dive into the lively conversations and interactions around the table as we share stories and laughter.
Set The Table – 36:24: Discover how we transformed our space to immerse ourselves in the world of The Great Western Trail Argentina.
The Menu – 40:36: Explore the highlights of our Argentinian feast, featuring Fernet Con Coca, chorizo, churrasco, chimichurri sauce, and the heavenly chocotorta.
The Play – 54:10: Join us as we bring The Great Western Trail Argentina to life, navigating the rustic trail, herding cattle, and making strategic moves to outwit our fellow players.
Don’t miss this fusion of flavors and the thrill of tabletop gaming. Tune in to relive the joy and laughter of an unforgettable evening.
Explore Marrakesh, both in a captivating board game (designed by Stephen Fled and published by Queen Games) and in the real world, in this episode. The game of Marrakesh immerses you in the vibrant streets and culture of this Moroccan jewel. We take you on a journey beyond the game, sharing culinary delights inspired by Marrakesh’s traditions, from aromatic tagines to refreshing mint tea.
In this action selection game, different city sectors offer various actions, with the catch that their strength depends on “keshis” in the area. Players draft keshis, but randomness from a tower adds a twist. We discuss strategies, anecdotes, and tips for navigating this dynamic game.
Join us for a unique blend of culture, gameplay, and delicious food. Elevate your game nights, savor Marrakesh’s magic, and experience this one-of-a-kind action selection game with us!
Continuing with the theme of EARTH we decided to go back to the basics and make pork fajitas. What’s more basic than smoked meat over a tortilla with simple vegetables? We used pork shoulder, but don’t be afraid to experiment even non-meat options are great.
Ingredients:
a 4 lbs pork shoulder
For the dry rub:
Dry Mustard: 1 tablespoon
Paprika: 2 tablespoons
Onion Powder: 1 tablespoon
Garlic Powder: 1 tablespoon
Salt: 2 tablespoons
Pepper: 1 tablespoon
Instructions:
Mix ingredients in bowl and rub it on the pork shoulder to cover it entirely. Wrap the shoulder and let sit in refrigerator for 24 hours. Smoke at 250 degrees or until internal temperature reaches at least 165 degrees, but closer to 195 degrees so that meat pulls apart, roughly 90 minutes per pound of meat. Baste with apple cider vinegar every 30 minutes. You can absolutely do this in an oven.
In America corn, beans, and squash are called the “Three Sisters”. A number of Native American tribes interplanted this trio because they thrive together, much like three inseparable sisters. And a three sister salad is the perfect combo for this EARTH themed party.
It is very gratifying sharing drinks and food with friends and family and playing a game afterwards makes the experience even better. Give this recipe a try and share your experience and your inspirations too.
Our group of avid gamers recently embarked on our own ‘Earth: The Board Game Dinner Party Experience.’ With eager anticipation, we delved into the intricacies of the game, searching for synergies between the flora, fauna, terrain and event cards to make the most efficient Earth engine and win the night. Every step of the way, we were tantalized by a menu inspired by the game. It was a night of laughter, friendly rivalry, and delicious treats—an evening that elevated both our taste buds and our gaming skills. As the host, I reveled in the joy of bringing friends together, combining my love for board games and culinary delights. And now, I’m excited to share this journey with you, in hopes that you too can create an unforgettable board game dinner party experience that will help you make lasting connections with your friends and elevate your game nights to new heights.
For this dinner party I invited a couple that love engine building games and are avid gardeners; so I knew EARTH from Inside Up Games would be a great choice as the main game of the night.
As guests arrived they were welcomed with a drink. The cards on EARTH have beautiful pictures of the flora and fauna of planet Earth; and the box cover features a stunning picture of the sun setting over mountains. I was inspired to make a cocktail with color transitions that evoked the rich colors on the cards and box cover. Gaia’s Elixir is a refreshing and herbaceous cocktail that incorporates the colors of Earth, and its floral aspects. This cocktail combines the refreshing flavors of gin, Elderflower liqueur, lime, orange, and mint, while the blue curaçao adds a vibrant blue hue reminiscent of the Earth’s oceans. The layered effect created by the tonic water adds visual appeal, especially when paired with the vibrant blue of the blue curaçao. The garnish of cucumber wheel and hibiscus flower adds a touch of natural beauty.
Continuing with the theme of EARTH I decided to go back to the basics and serve pork fajitas. What’s more basic than smoked meat over a tortilla with simple vegetables? For the fajita veggies I went back to Earth with a Three Sister medley. Native Americans interplanted corn, beans, and squash because they thrive together, much like three inseparable sisters. And a three sister salad is the perfect combo to showcase the synergies that exist in our planet EARTH and the game too. The pork was chopped and served with the salad over homemade tortillas. There is something primal about eating with your hands that perfectly ties to the theme of EARTH.
The guests really enjoyed the meal. And as I served them, it provided the perfect opportunity to talk about the game and start the teach.
EARTH is about finding synergies between the cards you are dealt, and the game begins before the starting hand has even been drafted. Players will receive an Island, Climate, and Ecosystem card during set-up. Using these double-sided cards, each player shows their strategy by selecting one side of the card to place face-up in their play area. The combination of these three cards introduces asymmetry to the game by providing variable starting resources, bonus abilities, and unique end-game scoring objectives.
On EARTH you’ll be taking actions to plant cards from your hand into your island (a 16-card tableau arranged as a 4×4 grid), compost to gain the soil needed to plant, water flora of your island to help it sprout, and grow the flora.
On your turn you select one of the four actions: plant (green), compost (red), water (blue) or grow (yellow); and everyone performs that action. As the active player you get a more powerful version of the action. Subsequently, all players activate any cards on their player-board, and in their island, which match the color of the chosen action. Players continue taking actions, growing their Island, sowing Plants and developing Terrains to attract elusive Fauna, and unlock the scoring bonuses of diverse Ecosystems. Once a player has added a sixteenth card to their island, they earn a completion bonus and trigger the end of the game.
After the play, it is time for dessert. Continuing with the theme of simple, and close to Earth ingredients I went with a corn cake topped with berries, creamed cheese whipped cream and drizzled wild honey.
As we said goodbye to an evening filled with laughter, friendship, and delicious food, we marveled at how seamlessly the “EARTH” board game and the dining party merged to create an immersive experience. The ambience led us to engage in a game discussion about other games that played similarly, about how much we enjoyed the art and particularly the simultaneous play mechanic. We all agreed we wanted to share this experience again. At the end of the night the board game dinner party experience enabled us to connect at a deeper level than just a game night. After all, what connects more than food, maybe drinks or games?
Listen to our podcast Earth Board Game Dinner Party to learn more about our guests experiences before and after playing the game.
1 ½ cups plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, divided
1 cup buttermilk, room temperature
14 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
3 large eggs, room temperature
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon almond extract
¼ cinnamon (optional)
Cream Cheese whipped cream:
4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1/3 cup white sugar
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch salt
Toppings:
4 ounces blueberries and strawberries,
2 tablespoons wild honey
Instructions:
Corn cake:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease cupcake pan or similar pan.
In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and cornmeal together. In a large bowl, whisk 1½ cups sugar, buttermilk, melted butter, eggs, vanilla, and almond extract
Whisk flour mixture into sugar mixture until just combined. Do not overmix.
Portion batter into cupcake pan, for about ¼ cup of batter and do not overfill.
Bake for about 20 mins, rotating pan to ensure even cooking. Cakes are done when browned and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Let cakes cool for 30 minutes. Remove from the pan and let cool completely in a cooling rack for about 1 hour. 4
Cream Cheese whipped cream
In a bowl, whisk cream cheese until light and fluffy,
Add vanilla and beat at medium speed until combined,
Lower speed to low and slowly add heavy cream; then increase speed to medium-high and beat until soft peaks
Cover and refrigerate until slightly firm, at least 30 minutes or up to 2 hours.
Assembly:
For each individual cake top with frosting, add berries and a drizzle of wild honey.
Game Night Tips
Cakes can be made ahead of time and wrapped individually in plastic wrap and kept at room temperature. Frosting can be made ahead of time and kept refrigerated until serving.
Listen to our podcast Earth Board Game Dinner Party to learn about our guest’s experience before and after playing the game.
It is very gratifying sharing drinks and food with friends and family and playing a game afterwards makes the experience even better. Give this recipe a try and share your experience and your inspirations too.
Earth by Maxime Tardif (Inside Up Games) is a visually stunning game that deserves a visually striking drink. Gaia’s Elixir (in reference to Gaia, the ancient Greek goddess personifying the Earth) is a refreshing and herbaceous cocktail that incorporates the colors of Earth, and its floral aspects.
This cocktail combines the refreshing flavors of gin, Elderflower liqueur, lime, orange, and mint, while the blue curaçao adds a vibrant blue hue reminiscent of the Earth’s oceans. The layered effect created by the tonic water adds visual appeal, especially when paired with the vibrant blue of the blue curaçao.The garnish of cucumber wheel and hibiscus flower adds a touch of natural beauty.
Cheers to Earth!
Ingredients:
1 1/2 ounces gin
1/2 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
2 oz freshly squeezed orange juice
1 ounce blue curaçao liqueur
1/2 ounce Elderflower liqueur
1/2 ounce simple syrup *optional
A handful of fresh mint leaves
Ice cubes
Cucumber
Soda water
Hibiscus flower in syrup – make simple syrup of 1:1 water to sugar and ½ of dried hibiscus flowers.
Instructions:
Pour blue curaçao liqueur into a highball glass filled with fresh ice
In a cocktail shaker, muddle a few mint leaves to release their aroma and flavor. *You could add cucumber as an optional step.
Add the gin, lime juice, orange juice, elderflower liqueur and simple syrup to the shaker.
Fill the shaker with ice cubes and shake vigorously for about 15 seconds to chill the ingredients.
Strain the mixture into the highball glass filled with fresh ice.
Add cucumber to glass
Top the glass with soda water to your desired level.
It is very gratifying sharing drinks and food with friends and family and playing a game afterwards makes the experience even better. Give this recipe a try and share your experience and your inspirations too.
On today’s episode we play EARTH, designed by Maxine Tardif and published by Inside Up Games. We received our guests with Gia’s Elixir a cocktail we developed inspired by Earth; and continued with the theme by preparing pulled pork and three sister salad served on home made wheat tortillas. Keeping with the Americas and Earth theme we finish the evening with a corn cake with fresh berries and cream cheese whipped cream. So, grab a chair and get ready to experience EARTH.
