Bon Appétit (aka Eat Fest 2010)

Note: The following blog was stolen, er plagerized, er modified from the April 2010 edition of Bon Appétit.

WHO
Friends from Syracuse University

WHERE
Hartland, VT

PARTY PHILOSOPHY
“When we're at the house, we entertain outside as much as we can—even if it’s just a picnic on a quilt.” (Bon Appétit version)

“When we're at the house, we entertain outside as much as we can—even if it’s watching a Star Wars movie projected onto a bed sheet.” (Alternate version)

Dinner for seven

Fresh Gazpacho
Champagne
Grilled Salmon with a Blackberry Buerre Sauce
Locally Grown Corn on the Cob
Beet Salad with Red, White and Orange Carrots
Almond Cake with Homemade Mint Gelato

There are certain things you can expect from a Labor Day weekend at the Craib’s place overlooking Mount Ascutney. You can look forward to tasting Vermont cheese at the farmer’s market, foraging for wild berries in the grasses beside the house, playing a round of afternoon croquet, watching Alistair dance to the White Stripes, and sharing great big dinners.

Just don't ask for chicken nuggets.

“This part of Vermont isn't really chicken nugget country,” says Bill. The open-air house with a large, dine-on porch the couple purchased just outside the little town of Hartland is perched on a hillside in the middle of the woods. And on Labor Day, they’re sticklers for Elizabeth’s (aka Lovely’s) long-held tradition of homemade ice cream sandwiches made from fresh baked cookies (using only the finest Ann Clark cookie cutters) and handcrafted vanilla ice cream. “You can't mess with beauty,” she says as she measures the sugar and puts the chocolate cookie dough in the oven. Especially, one could add, when you're literally surrounded by it. (Nod to the panoramic view and Melissa prancing around in her cute little buttoned undies.)

The view from the front porch hasn't changed a whole lot in the two years since the family first settled this spot. A stone’s throw from the front porch, just over the childproof gate and past a thicket of bushes, there’s a pasture that’s home to the beloved wiffleball field. Beyond that, gently rolling hills, dotted with leaves just beginning to turn yellow, are tucked below the lone Mount Ascutney.

The SU weekend is a traditional, informal affair for the Craib family and their gang of miscreants. Relaxed and not stuffy (but somewhat contentious during a highly competitive game of Apples to Apples – yes, Carnival Workers can be virtuous and yes, Tom Hanks does suck). It’s a gorgeous day, so they decide to have dinner on the porch. “Whenever we can, we'll eat all three meals outside,” says Elizabeth. The candles are lit on the chandelier above the old farm table along with the tea lights that surround the porch. She sets the table with her family china, along with artisanal wine glasses that she found at a local glass blower. When friends arrive, Elizabeth sends all the kids on a wild berry hunt while the grown-ups are greeted with glasses of champagne.

Elizabeth and Bill, who are both entrepreneurs/business executives, have a well-honed system for collaborating on special menus. And because the inveterate hosts love to cook, they can't help mixing things up just a bit. Today, elk bratwurst with ale from the local Harpoon brewery add a note of novelty to the table alongside classic holiday dishes.

Thanks to the Craib family for hosting such a fabulous weekend. Wejushluvya.