Friday, November 23, 2012

Christmas Memories Dinner


Christmas memories dinner. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books
I've always said that my church is covered up in talent and this is especially evident one night a year at the Christmas Memories Dinner. The women of the church decorate tables and serve as hostesses, while the men of the church serve the meal. There's music, giveaways and a featured speaker. This year, motivational speaker Christine Martinello guided us through Christmas 9-1-1, helping us to choose what's important to our families during the season.

The mission of this dinner is to prepare our hearts and minds for the Christmas season. To enter into it with peace, love and joy, and to share that with our families and friends. Every other year, I host a table, and this is my off year, so I brought along my camera and took pictures of the lovely and creative decorated tables. If you're ever invited to First Presbyterian's Christmas Memories dinner, arrive early so that you can see each beautiful table.

Christmas Memories dinner. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books





Christmas memories dinner. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books


Christmas memories dinner. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books




Christmas Memories Dinner. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books




Christmas memories dinner. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books




Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books




Christmas memories dinner. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books




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Christmas memories dinner. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books




Christmas memories dinner. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books




Christmas Memories Dinner. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books



Christmas Memories Dinner. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books



Christmas Memories Dinner. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books




Christmas Memories Dinner. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books




Christmas Memories Dinner. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books


Christmas Memories Dinner. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books




Christmas Memories Dinner. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books



Christmas Memories Dinner. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books




Christmas Memories Dinner. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books



Christmas Memories Dinner. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books


Christmas Memories Dinner. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books



Christmas Memories Dinner. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books


Christmas Memories Dinner. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books



Christmas Memories Dinner. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books

For many of us, it's a treat to be served a meal that we didn't have to cook. It's even sweeter when it's on antique bone china.


Christmas Memories Dinner. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books
And speaking of sweets, dessert was a choice of a Red Velvet Brownie (and I've got to get this recipe!)


Red Velvet Cake Brownie. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books

or cheesecake.

Cheesecake. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books
The Barbershop Quartet 129 and Counting entertained us with songs both secular and sacred. This was "In the Still of the Night."

129 and counting Barbershop Quartet. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books

Christmas Memories Dinner. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books
Did I mention that the men of the church served the meal?

Christmas Memories Dinner. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books

Many thanks to Lucie Morris and Cheryl Buck who organize this event each year. And to all the table hostesses and the men who served the meal, the entertainment and speaker, thank you for a lovely evening. Bring on Christmas, I can handle it!

Text and images copyright 2012, Lucy Mercer.

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Harvest Dinner at Le Tre Lune

Lauren & Luca of Le Tre Lune at Glover Family Farm. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books
These are my friends Lauren and Luca, who have a farm sort of near my house. And this is how they throw a dinner party on a glorious November Saturday afternoon.

Chef Ben McPherson and helper with the main dish. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books
They invite Chef Ben McPherson, who arrives at 7 a.m. to roast an entire pig and prepare mouthwatering dishes using the organic produce from the farm. This is farm to table cuisine where the farm is literally steps away from the tables.

Harvest dinner at Le Tre Lune. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books
While the piggy roasted and the vegetables were prepared, Lauren and Luca took us on a tour of the farm, which they call Le Tre Lune. It is on the grounds of the Glover Family Farm, which has been operated as an organic farm for more than 50 years.

Glover Farms. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books

Lauren at Le Tre Lune. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books

Some of the beautiful produce we encountered on our tour of the garden...
Le Tre Lune produce from farm to table. Lucy Mercer/ A Cook and Her Books

A few items from the menu. On left, short rib on crostini, above right are the shishito peppers and the brandade. Right bottom is the salad with pecans, goat cheese and roasted beets.
Of course, we love our veggies, but if you're a meatatarian, it's hard to resist the smell of roasting pork. This is the Berkshire pig after nearly eight hours on the fire.


Roasted pig. Lucy Mercer/ A Cook and Her Books
 Glover Family Farms is a beautiful spot in west Georgia. I can think of no better way to end this evening and this story than with a few pictures of this lovingly tended farm.


Chickens at Glover Family Farm. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books


Beware of Angry Rooster sign. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books



Circles on fence. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books

Fence. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books

Fence. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books

Honey for sale sign. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books

Glover Family Farm. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books

Glover Family Farm. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books

 The menu for the evening:


Starters

Brandade Montadito

Blistered Shishito Peppers, Sea Salt

Roasted Baby Beets, Goat Cheese

Beef Short Rib Escabeche Montadito


Dinner

Whole Smoked Pig, Pickled Radish, Red Chimichurri

Salad of Field Lettuces, Fennel, Meyer Lemon, Olive Oil

Broccoli Raab, Garlic, Anchovy, Chili

Wilted Mustard Greens, Daikon Radish, Mushroom-Adobo Sauce

Variety of Fresh Winter Kimchis – Daikon Radish, Napa Cabbage

Wood Oven Roasted Winter Radishes, Brown Butter, Rosemary

White Balsamic Vinegar

Smoked Sweet Potatoes, Cumin, Skip’s Honey, Orange

And for dessert, Warm Sticky Apple Toffee Pudding

Lauren and Luca sell the gorgeous produce from Le Tre Lune at Atlanta area farmers markets and also offer a CSA. For more information about Le Tre Lune and Glover Family Farm, see http://letrelune.org


Monday, November 19, 2012

A walking tour of Fairhope, Alabama

Downtown Fairhope, Alabama. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books

Fairhope, Alabama, is the cutest town on the planet.

 I know that many may disagree with that statement, particularly if they live in other contending towns. But I bet they've never visited Fairhope on a clear, warm October day, when the downtown merchants have their doors open and the restaurants patios are filled with tourists and townies alike.


Fairhope, Alabama. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books

Fairhope is on the eastern side of Mobile Bay and is filled with memorable restaurants like Panini Pete's, a must-visit sandwich shop that you just may have seen if you follow Guy Fieri's Food Network show "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives."


Panini Pete's. Fairhope, Alabama. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books
The decor is Gulf Coast funky.


Panini Pete's. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books
And the food is dynamite. Like my favorite, the Seared Tuna with cucumbers, sliced tomato, baby greens and Key lime aioli on ciabatta.
Seared tuna panini. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books
Grilled cheese for the kidoodle.

Grilled cheese. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books
After lunch at Panini Pete's we walked around the downtown area and my friend introduced us to R. Bistro and Pastry, where the pastry case is filled with lovely sweets and the decor is all about Southern charm.


Caramel apples. R. Bistro, Fairhope, Alabama. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books


Autumn display at R. Bistro. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books



R. Bistro, Fairhope, Alabama. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books


R. Bistro desserts. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books
Downtown Fairhope features art galleries.



Art. Fairhope, Alabama. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books
Fairhope museum. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books


Fairhope has a  fascinating history featuring socialists, economists, dreamers and doers. The town museum covers it all.


Fairhope mural. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books


Antique fire engine. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books

The museum is located in the city's former jail. And this is the lock-up, a former ship's brig.

Jail at Fairhope Museum. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books
The museum currently spotlights the area residents' participation in World War II.

World War II Memorial at Fairhope Museum. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books
This was an afternoon excursion and we didn't allow enough time to fully view the museum. I will definitely be back!

On our way back to the beach, we relived the day in Fairhope with a piece of R. Bistro's lemon meringue tart...

Lemon meringue tart from R. Bistro. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books


If you've been to Fairhope, please tell me where I need to visit on my next trip. If you've never been, please tell me your vote for cutest town on the planet.


Text and images copyright 2012, Lucy Mercer.