Monday, May 7, 2012

Lodging and Food - done right...

From a busy Saturday…

The day started sort of early with MFO leaving to go over to Tudor Hall in Leonardtown which was a station on the House and Garden tour.   She was to meet people and give them a little background and history on the place.  I dragged myself up and out a bit later, and went to a few houses.  Of special interest was Ocean Hall, believed to be the oldest brick building in Maryland dating from the late 17th century.. 



Another interesting spot was River Springs, a piece of land that was part of the original St. Clements Manor.   The present house is not extremely old but is a beautiful place.  It is out of the Blackistone lineage.



These tours are a great way to see places that (at least I) would never otherwise be able to see.  The owners are always proud and love to talk about them.

Done right…

Anyway, that was just a pleasant start of day leading up to the main event (for the feeder).  I think last we spoke, I mentioned that we would be going up the road to attend the annual reception hosted by the umbrella organization for one of the many local boards I participate in.  Every year they thank their volunteers (i.e., we don’t get paid) by hosting this event.

As you know, I am a big fan of “just right”.  Well, folks, this is how a first class, over the top event is catered.  No Eddie Bailey chafing dish of fried oysters here.

It was held this year in the National Museum of Women in the Arts (corner of 14th and NY Ave, NW).  It wasn’t just one floor, or a corner someplace it was the WHOLE museum.  Upon arriving there was an army of valet parkers ready to take your car (we rode in a rented vehicle with other attendees)



Upon entering the foyer we were greeted by several young people in tuxes, giving us a lovely folded “map” of the museum and what was served on what floor.  In the third floor galleries were Cocktails and Passed Hors D’oeuvres, the second floor was just art (no food please), currently featuring French inspired artists (from the Louvre, Versailles, and another French National Collections).  The French theme carried over to the food.  On the Mezzanine were Plateau de Fruits de Mer; a French Bistro; and an “Open Air Cheese Market – (Pairing French wines and cheeses).  The great hall offered Savory Crêpes; a French Market (Traditional French Favorites); and Desserts, Espresso, and Cappucino.

The same young folk dispensing the maps guided you to the elevator where two more waited to take you to the third floor.  Welcome to the ….  Upon exiting the elevator, the first thing you saw was a young man (or woman) again in tux, with a silver tray of Champagne flutes, glasses of Chardonnay and some kind of mixed drink.  “Good evening, would you care for something to drink?  Why, yes, yes, I believe I would.  Just past that was the CEO of the organization welcoming everybody.  He even remembered the feeder from the time the valet parker caved in the front bumper of the fluttermobile (at the Renwick Gallery).  And then you were released into the gallery to enjoy scenes like this:



Quiz one:  who’s the artist of the piece on the right?

And for your auditory senses:



There were many wonderful drawings, paintings, and sculptures around, and you listened, admired the art, strolled, sipped, and selected little bits from a constant stream of silver trays presented with “we have….”, with arm behind back and after you selected a cloth napkin was offered.  I didn’t take notes, but there were things like escargot with garlic aioli on a (dice sized) crouton, a little fluted tart with creamy sauce topped with caviar, feta cheese gougeres, little cups made from a cucumber containing a piece of tangerine and a tiny shrimp.  What a lovely visual. And many more.  Never was there a tray with a mound of limp shrimp presented.  Everything was bite sized, and easy to consume.   How wonderful.  People kept circulating with bottles to refill your glass with whatever you had, or there were also bars for liquor set up in corners here and there.  Dewars?  Crap!  Johnny Walker Black.  Gilby’s?  How about Tanqueray?  Smirnoff?  I think not! maybe Gray Goose.  And there weren’t those stupid little red meter things stuck in top of the bottles either..  Johnny Walker Black on the rocks sir?  Please.  Rocks and glug, glug, glug.  One had to be careful!

After absorbing the art and chatting with other guests for a while, we descended to the Mezzanine, to be greeted by the Fruits de Mer display (note the photographer)



Which featured



I talked a bit to the gentleman who was shucking the (Blue Point) oysters and introduced myself as King Oyster and informed him of our festival.  He seemed mildly interested (or perhaps bemused).  Anyhow, we put together a plate



What a grand and almost royal scene



Before descending to the Great Hall, we visited the cheese “market”, which contained among others, a lovely blue, fresh and tangy goat cheese, and no freaking Brie, all paired with a Cotes du Rhone or a Sauvignon Blanc, then over to the Bistro where you could select from a little menu card offering “lollipop” lamb chops, petite filet mignon; a croque madam,  and a couple of others.  They were brought plated to your seat.  “may I get you something more/different to drink?”

I could go on, but you get the idea.  Everything was just right.

We then went down to the Great Hall where you could enjoy


Quiz two:  there is an error here.  Do you know what it is?

I hate to quit, but what a pleasure to have good food (and it was by golly) for hundreds of folks.  Service that was personal – a used glass or utensil was gone before you noticed, another offered, amazing.  It can be done.  The name of the caterer was Occasions.  A real big boy..

On the way home we detoured by the Hirshhorn which is featuring a show projected on the exterior walls.  Lots of people out enjoying that.

What a great evening.  You know, places like that museum are treasures.  Maybe you have to be my age (or a little less) to appreciate them.  It means a lot.  Go and absorb and think..

And of course we were


DFE(verything)










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