Sunday, September 7, 2008
Sunday Morning Brunch Hosts
This weekend was one that you dream about, weather was great, friends from all over visiting Louisville, Emily and Kevin marrying in the late afternoon sun at Gardencourt, and the finale, Sunday brunch at our house. Dan and my Mom were the only thing that kept this from being about the best weekend, ever. The journey to our house was aborted around Waynesburg, the new puppy decided he wasn't in the mood for car travel....Chole and Perro wanted to meet him but another time~~~The hosts had to scramble to fill in for Dan's artistic talents in melon carvings and food arranging. As you will see, we survived and brought forth an absolutely magnificent day. The bride and groom were bright eyed and blissful. The guest started arrivng around ten...we( the hosts) had a little time BEFORE the guests arrived to eat the top off the tower of Krispy Kremes. We all decided no brunch allowed with out the Krispy Kreme tower. You, dear readers, will have to imagine those warm, fat laden donuts towering in front of the rose bush. They were consumed too quickly for photography. Cynthia Yeager,came all the way form Knoxville to make the most stunning centerpieces for our table. Mike and Kristi, from Portland, brought two lovely children and a bountiful amount of energy for shopping, lifting, hauling and food styling. Jane and Dan, bedrock. They have one of the most important events of their lives tomorrow, Dan will be vested as the newest Supreme Court Justice of Kentucky. The ceremony is tomorrow in Frankfort. We beamed with pride to just KNOW them....busy as their schedules are, they were here, putting together ham and biscuits in the early morning light....The two Bill's wandered away for hunting and gathering, they returned with Starbucks coffee and four dozen Krispy Kremes. Just in time!
Mark Thompson was invaluable, he brought tables from his conference room,he and Mike ran, literally ran, at the last possible minute to Ballou's rental for some extra chairs when the guest numbers swelled beyond our seating capacity. And speaking of numbers, Mark was appointed official secretary of BRUNCH 2008. We had no budget, a strict game plan and five couples ready to execute the details....... the only detail left was: how to decipher the numbers game. Mark, Mark, Mark!!! What can we say? He adjusted his visor, sharpened his pencil and gave us the final tally. It was the easiest check writing in history. That brings us to Marizey. Brainchild of BRUNCH 2008. She is hostess with the mostest. She single handedly brought the whole party into focus.
Our menu was exciting and other than black, billowing clouds of smoke filling the kitchen, we had nary a hitch. The smoke was a tribute to Julia Child, there are NO mistakes in the kitchen. Our quiches, ham and biscuits, cheese and fruits plates, Mimosas and donuts were great....the guests: the very, very best.
Sara and Charlie were so proud of Emily and Kevin, plus, having family and friends to commemorate the weekend ~~~~~ The talented musicians playing in the background and the stunning September sky made it a morning to remember.
Friday, September 5, 2008
211 Clover
We had brunch last Sunday at 211 Clover. It is truly one of the very best places to eat and relax on Sunday~~~~~if you are in the mood to be a little dressy and very sedate. The food is perfect. I had a fresh spinach and Kenny's white cheddar omelet with oven roasted tomatoes and Wisenberger grits. The tantalizing memories linger, still.
Our date card is fully punched this entire weekend. Wedding, wedding and more wedding. Close, dear friends from all over the US are in town this weekend. WFS and myself, aided by four other couples, will host an after-the-wedding brunch in our garden on Sunday morning. I will keep you posted on the fun and flavors~~~We have an old timey musical trio playing, flowers are blooming and our friends~ some coming from as far away as Canada!!!! We have a splendid menu planned. We are doing a French theme brunch, the newlyweds are going to Paris, so we thought a bon voyage might be appropriate. I think going to Paris might be the best thing lovers can do. Would be for me.
I feel dreamy land coming forth~~~~~~~
Our date card is fully punched this entire weekend. Wedding, wedding and more wedding. Close, dear friends from all over the US are in town this weekend. WFS and myself, aided by four other couples, will host an after-the-wedding brunch in our garden on Sunday morning. I will keep you posted on the fun and flavors~~~We have an old timey musical trio playing, flowers are blooming and our friends~ some coming from as far away as Canada!!!! We have a splendid menu planned. We are doing a French theme brunch, the newlyweds are going to Paris, so we thought a bon voyage might be appropriate. I think going to Paris might be the best thing lovers can do. Would be for me.
I feel dreamy land coming forth~~~~~~~
Thursday, September 4, 2008
greyfield inn
have you ever seen the movie somewhere in time? christopher reeves goes back in time in the grand hotel in mackinac island to the turn of the century, falls in love, etc. great flick-but i did a little time travel myself one week ago today. to travel in time, ordinary transportation is a no-no. no conventional vehicles here- we went by ferry, the lucy b. ferguson, a beautiful wood boat that was fabulous. cumberland island, georgia was the destination for our excursion on a very hot, late august day. the island was first inhabited by andrew carnegie's brother, and then given to his daughter, lucy. lucy is deceased, but her many grandchildren currently run the inn and restaurant. as we took the 40 minute ferry ride to the island, from fernandina beach, florida , we started feeling the years roll backwards. we could tell we were going to a special place. the wild horses playing in the surf and the late afternoon sun filtering through the spanish moss on all of the beautiful live oak trees further solidified this notion.
once at the dock, we were met by a very cheery woman named emily. she was happy to lead us up the path to the beautiful 4 story inn with a front porch that is truly the focal point of the establishment. (it reminded me of that grand hotel in michigan, but not quite as large- the UP version even spawned a wonderful beer- big porch ale.) as we crossed the threshold to the 106 year old structure, the transformation was complete. we were in the 1900's. the windows were all open to let the georgia sea breeze blow through the well- crafted screens. we were first led to a sitting room where a fresh made cilantro guacamole was served with tortilla chips. next to this tray were four beautiful trout fillets with cream cheese, capers, finely chopped onions, and butterfly crackers. both hors d'ouvres were fabulous. i had been travelling literally, ALL DAY, so i was hungry. so hungry i took a plate of guacamole with me on our tour of the mansion. a library, the back kitchen, a gift shop, and the bar were viewed, and all led to the intimate feeling given by a by-gone era.
after the tour, we were given an hour of free time before the "dinner bell". we visited the bar for some wild horse chardonnay, and an atlanta brewed sweetwater georgia brown. off to the porch to enjoy our libations we went. we took three rocking chairs near the steps, for we knew we would be exploring the grounds shortly. we enjoyed the beautiful grounds as some of the 150 wild horses grazed on the large front lawn. this same front lawn saw john f kennedy jr.'s wedding reception a few years back. this made the place so popular for weddings, they had to limit the number of wedings to 8 a year. we walked between the brick pillars of a pergalo that led to another structure, and the slight overgrowth added more fuel to the time travel fire. one last walk for some photos of the sea framed by spanish moss, and it was time for dinner.
we went downstairs to the intimate dining room and were seated at beautiful wood table. i usually pay no attention to what kind of table i'm eating at. but this one i did. perfect size, natural wood, and sturdy describe this table. our first course was a corn pudding with sweet red peppers atop. the circular shaped dish was excellent. just enough egg to keep it all together, and very fresh corn rounded a spectacular flavor treat. there was also some long grain bread with a sweet butter. im glad there was not any more butter on the table, because i would have filled up on bread.
the main course showed me that, yes, i was not just in awe of my surroundings, this chef knew his stuff. a meaty, bone-in pork chop arrived atop peas and rice (as they say in the bahamas), and a brownish red roux that only enhanced to the flavor. the tenderness and especially the "juiceyness" of the chop is what made this dish. i don't order pork chops out very often, but i'll say this was the best piece of pork i have ever put in my mouth. words can't convey in this box how good the chop was, so i won't try.
for dessert, we were served a raspberry chocolate cream roll. fresh raspberries on the side. it was good, my parents loved it, but i thought it was middle of the road. it didn't matter, i was sold, this place is special. i breathe history, so i was in love. much the way i love cities. they evolve, and you grow with them, and I fall in love. san francisco, new york, dallas, santa fe. i could go on all day about my black book.
as we were wrapping up dinner, we said good-bye to our new friends from lexington, made a few purchases at the shop from mary ferguson, who along with the captain of the boat that brought us over were the two fergusons i met on the visit. thats what it felt like,a visit with friends at their summer home. every member of the staff i came in contact with while AT the inn were some of the most genial people you could meet. that is what you get in the south. a place that i hold as dear to my heart as any. something about the "genteelity" of our people. and yes. kentucky is a southern state in my eyes. we left on a faster fishing boat for our return trip. the captain was cool, and an evening lightening storm rounded out the experience and prepared me to come back to the present time and make the 1 hour 10 minute drive back to sea island. another wonderful property that will get its day very soon. ****stars excellent worth the trip any day of the year. AE
once at the dock, we were met by a very cheery woman named emily. she was happy to lead us up the path to the beautiful 4 story inn with a front porch that is truly the focal point of the establishment. (it reminded me of that grand hotel in michigan, but not quite as large- the UP version even spawned a wonderful beer- big porch ale.) as we crossed the threshold to the 106 year old structure, the transformation was complete. we were in the 1900's. the windows were all open to let the georgia sea breeze blow through the well- crafted screens. we were first led to a sitting room where a fresh made cilantro guacamole was served with tortilla chips. next to this tray were four beautiful trout fillets with cream cheese, capers, finely chopped onions, and butterfly crackers. both hors d'ouvres were fabulous. i had been travelling literally, ALL DAY, so i was hungry. so hungry i took a plate of guacamole with me on our tour of the mansion. a library, the back kitchen, a gift shop, and the bar were viewed, and all led to the intimate feeling given by a by-gone era.
after the tour, we were given an hour of free time before the "dinner bell". we visited the bar for some wild horse chardonnay, and an atlanta brewed sweetwater georgia brown. off to the porch to enjoy our libations we went. we took three rocking chairs near the steps, for we knew we would be exploring the grounds shortly. we enjoyed the beautiful grounds as some of the 150 wild horses grazed on the large front lawn. this same front lawn saw john f kennedy jr.'s wedding reception a few years back. this made the place so popular for weddings, they had to limit the number of wedings to 8 a year. we walked between the brick pillars of a pergalo that led to another structure, and the slight overgrowth added more fuel to the time travel fire. one last walk for some photos of the sea framed by spanish moss, and it was time for dinner.
we went downstairs to the intimate dining room and were seated at beautiful wood table. i usually pay no attention to what kind of table i'm eating at. but this one i did. perfect size, natural wood, and sturdy describe this table. our first course was a corn pudding with sweet red peppers atop. the circular shaped dish was excellent. just enough egg to keep it all together, and very fresh corn rounded a spectacular flavor treat. there was also some long grain bread with a sweet butter. im glad there was not any more butter on the table, because i would have filled up on bread.
the main course showed me that, yes, i was not just in awe of my surroundings, this chef knew his stuff. a meaty, bone-in pork chop arrived atop peas and rice (as they say in the bahamas), and a brownish red roux that only enhanced to the flavor. the tenderness and especially the "juiceyness" of the chop is what made this dish. i don't order pork chops out very often, but i'll say this was the best piece of pork i have ever put in my mouth. words can't convey in this box how good the chop was, so i won't try.
for dessert, we were served a raspberry chocolate cream roll. fresh raspberries on the side. it was good, my parents loved it, but i thought it was middle of the road. it didn't matter, i was sold, this place is special. i breathe history, so i was in love. much the way i love cities. they evolve, and you grow with them, and I fall in love. san francisco, new york, dallas, santa fe. i could go on all day about my black book.
as we were wrapping up dinner, we said good-bye to our new friends from lexington, made a few purchases at the shop from mary ferguson, who along with the captain of the boat that brought us over were the two fergusons i met on the visit. thats what it felt like,a visit with friends at their summer home. every member of the staff i came in contact with while AT the inn were some of the most genial people you could meet. that is what you get in the south. a place that i hold as dear to my heart as any. something about the "genteelity" of our people. and yes. kentucky is a southern state in my eyes. we left on a faster fishing boat for our return trip. the captain was cool, and an evening lightening storm rounded out the experience and prepared me to come back to the present time and make the 1 hour 10 minute drive back to sea island. another wonderful property that will get its day very soon. ****stars excellent worth the trip any day of the year. AE
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Waterlily
Last night we went to 21C. Our old friend(and Dan's) Julius Friedman had an art opening for his new work, Images and Ideas. A stunning book of photography, I must say. We arrived timely, greeted by friends abundant. Daniel Mayes was the first friend I recognized. Laura Lee and Steve could not have been more gracious. They send greetings to you brother, Dan! Steve took a moment to show us a private compilation of photos Julius did over a year at their farm. Julius captured the essence of a beautiful farm on the banks of the Ohio and the eclectic world of Laura Lee and Steve. The crowd was overflowing. Yeah, Julius! We left a little early and drove over to our favorite little pub, Jack's. One must strive for balance and this was a perfect way to end our day. A burger,fries and Dean's Nacho's at Jack's always makes the struggle of artistic achievement or just a merely over-wrought day seem much more tolerable.
I came home and peeled off my 1950's dress and headed out to look at my moon flowers~~~to my amazement, on the way, I saw a water lily bud. I dashed out first thing this morning to see if it was true! Yes! A yellow water lily, just beginning to open. After a cup of coffee and the NYT, I got my little camera and revisited the water lily. She's a beauty,as you can see. I am dedicating this blog and the water lily to Dan. He inspired to to blog, he inspires me to see and write, write and see. He just plain inspires me and always says, "write, you should write"...now, hopefully, he'll say, you SHOULD take photos......His water lilies are sunk under a dried out pond, so this little yellow one is for him~~~~~
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Spider on orchid
this pleasant little spider(cleverly disguised with the same color) was clinging to my orchid. I found her so cute...she probably is having babies and they will be nourished on my blossoms...but hey, a little something for everyone...Nature provides.
Holiday weekend
While my writing partner was experiencing the food and adventure of low country, we spent Labor Day weekend laboring. Not all the time, save the violins~~~but certainly, we caught up on many of the unfinished chores and projects that lurked around every corner. Yesterday it was hot and dry. One of those late summer days I love. Folks around me do not share my enthusiasm for late summer heat blasts. Our next door neighbors had a very exciting weekend. They welcomed their fifth child, a little girl, Phoebe!
As the day began to wind down, we decided to go to the bookstore for a little respite. After we left the bookstore, it seemed as if cooking might be a little more work than I needed to do on a holiday. Where to go? What is open? We found Havana Rumba open and drifted inside. This Cuban restaurant was bight, cheery and certainly bustling! Havana Rumba had a rumba singer that made me want to dance~~~~~~It is rare for me, generally speaking, to like a singer with canned music. When I hear a singer with canned music, I run like it's a bad Elvis revue show. This guy was cool and a terrific singer. He enhanced the canned music with some stunning Maraca moves.
We were seated immediately...this was a good thing because within 10 minutes, Havana Rumba was packed. Our server was knowledgeable, pretty and eager to get us started on the evening. She suggested I have a Hemingway Daiquiri, this was described as a rum, grapefruit, lime and sugarcane daiquiri. WFS ordered white wine. My drink was...hummmmmmmm. interesting. Cool and tart, not so icy... after a few sips, it had the distinct flavor of Donald Duck grapefruit juice. This wasn't entirely a BAD taste, just one I am not sure where or how I honed....
My eyes were too busy cruising the menu to be bothered much by a drink. The menu is Cuban, the real deal.... a fusion of Caribbean and Spanish foods, with an interesting twist. I decided on a a beef dish named Vaca Frita~~~~~ shredded beef with peppers, onions, garlic and lime juice, served with black beans and rice and sweet plantains. It was a hearty plate but visually very inviting. My taste buds were squealing with just one bite. This dish reminded me of all that is good about plain, solid, home style foods. No matter the origin. WFS ordered a tower of seafood, Tapeo Marino.. His dish came from the Tapas menu. The Tapeo Marino was three plates set in a stainless plate tower...The lower tier was Shrimp prepared in olive oil and garlic, tasting much like an escargot preparation...the shrimp were perfect and this dish very caliente! The middle tier was calamari, served lightly breaded and in a sweet, hot sauce. The top tier was ceviche, an icy cocktail glass was filled with shrimp in lime juice with fresh salsa. Our server brought extra warm bread for sopping up the hot liquid from the lower tier dish. This combiantion was a complete winner. We had no intention of having such a large dinner but the food was irresistible. We ate and we ate. Our bill came to $51.45, I left our server a generous tip but our time at Havana Rumba was finished. The line was back out the door, time to relinquish our table.
Monday, September 1, 2008
Jacob B. Waletzky Award
My son, Dr. RC Pierce, received the most prestigious award for his work in neuroscience this year.
This photo says it all~~~~ a prince. I couldn't let another day go by without acknowledging his accomplishments.
Off to PENN! We'll be blogging Philadelphia soon.
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