After a wonderful time in Worcester, we are back to reality and having our regular Monday Night Dining nights. Tonight gave us a chance to deprogram and reminisce about our time away, as well as connect with old friends. The garden is yielding up some wonderful produce, so this week we wanted to use that bounty. This week we have our trio, Mary and Bruce, as guests. For a starter, we had fresh made Grissini wrapped in Prosciutto, with cheese, grapes and crisps.
For the main course, we had chicken skewered on fresh rosemary skewers, potatoes and stuffed peppers and tomatoes (all from our garden). We accompanied this with an amazing charred tomato risotto, with cherry tomatoes from out garden. We also had our best collaboration of the night, Caprese Salad, with yellow tomatoes from Mom’s garden, red tomatoes, from the cottage garden and pesto, made from basil from Steph’s garden. Freshness at its best.
Just as we were finishing, the rain started, so we moved inside and started our musical selections, Shawn, Steph and Bruce took turns on piano, with Steph accompanying on violin (possibly at the same time as playing piano). We had selections of art songs, Lieder and wonderful selections of Parry’s Judith (which will be performed for the first time ever in North America on May 3rd, by Pax Christi Chorale (shameless plug)). Dessert waited until this true main course was complete. For our dessert we had Chocolate Pots de Creme with fresh raspberries and mint from Steph’s garden, accompanied with Southbrook Framboise. We might have snuck a few Wilkies buttertarts in there too ( they won for best buttertarts in Canada 2 years in a row).
There may have been rain and wind, but inside was a tribute to fresh produce and more importantly old friends reconnecting in the spirit of friendship and breaking bread.
Thank you Dave and Shawn for a most delicious dinner and a hearty thanks to the hostess as well. Amazing photographs: I want to rip some of that delicious Grissini off the internet right now!
It may be that Dave’s Pot de Crême is my favourite dessert. But then again, there’s cake. I have a slightly melancholy feeling that summer is drawing to a close, now that we are harvesting the fruits of our garden labours. But then again, there’s so many Monday nights to look forward to this Fall. God bless you Shawn and Dave!
Fond memories of our time together will linger well into the fall and beyond. Bless you all and bon appétit !
OMG…wish I was there!….yummmmm
Thanks for sharing! Lovely menu, lovely photos. And fresh berries and mint right from the garden. Perfect.