A FOODIE WEEKEND

I was a bit remiss with this past weekend's posting of Part 4 of my blog about our recent whirlwind wine excursion to the Finger Lakes. It was a busy gardening and foodie weekend. With the forecast of accumulating snow next week, I am busily closing up my unused beds for the winter. I'm happy to report that almost half of my garden is still fully functional and the fall crops are thriving, even after a few frigid nights in the 20's. Hopefully, the snow will melt quickly so I can keep harvesting for many weeks to come.

Saturday night we enjoyed a wonderful 6-course "Farmhouse Table Dinner" held in the local

butcher shop and caterer in town, Saylor & Co.. I had heard that the owner's wife Maria was a fabulous cook, and the rumors were definitley true. This was the first such intimate dinner event that Maria had thrown, and it was a huge success. A cute table was set in the middle of the shop for 14 people where Maria wowed us with dish after dish of her favorites including basil and garlic gnudi, cioppino, poached pears stuffed with blue cheese, Chianti braised beef brisket, goat cheese stuffed dates, and tiramisu. Diners had a choice of bringing their own wine, or enjoying the complementary Sauvignon Blanc and Beaujolais. The portion sizes were quite generous and for only $65 per person, it was a fantastic deal! Everything was perfect down to the selection of dinner music. Maria says she will be having another dinner in January and we'll be sure to attend.

Sunday was another day in foodie paradise attending a very unique bridal shower at Bar Lucca in Conshohocken, PA. Guests were split into three teams that competed to make the best pizza and pizza roll. After a quick strategy session with resident chefs, teams took turns selecting from a list of unusual ingredients like wild boar, braesola, bacon lardon, squash, kale, broccoli rabe, truffle oil, blood orange infused oil, gorgonzola, and Grana Padano. All of the results were delicious. We also enjoyed two different wines, a "Super Tuscan" from Italy and a rare Malbec from France. My preference was the Montergio di Massa Marittima, a bold, but well-rounded and earthy blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Franc and Syrah. It was an awesome idea for a bridal shower, and a fantastic alternative to the traditional silliness of most showers. And, Bar Lucca was the perfect venue. Too bad it is so far from me, or it could easily become one of my favorite spots for dinner.

I used the dwindling daylight hours on Sunday evening to trim my berry bushes and finish

some additional clean-up in the garden. By Sunday night, I was not only thoroughly stuffed, but sore and physically exhausted. It was a perect night to soak in the hot tub before crashing into bed.

#barlucca #saylorco #wine #gnudi #cioppino #poachedpears #tiramisu