As mentioned the Multi District Rotary conference in Gettysburg brought out a lot of folks and general hoopla.
It was a pretty full program with lots of speecifyin’, breakout sessions, workshops, plenary sessions and so forth. Since there were a lot of spouses (mine was in Wisconsin), there were always something for them to do while the Rotarians talked about more weighty subjects. So, your loyal feeder found himself attending the off topic ones. There was one from “General Grant” who spoke about the battle in Gettysburg (which of course is marketed heavily). Of course old “useless” was ensconced in Vicksburg at the time, but he gave a nice recap of the battle (more later). Another was given by a guy who owns a local winery: Adams County Winery. Yet another was the executive Chef of the hotel, Claude Rodier, who gave a little demo on easy appetizers, and the last one was a couple of historically costumed characters from Gettysburg about stuff to see and do there.
It’s always interesting to go to presentations about wine appreciation (the Adams County part). Unfortunately he took the tack that “you don’t know anything about wine, and I’ll teach you”. He was one of those anti wine snob guys, and made statement like “there are two kinds of wine: ones you like and ones you don’t”. Nothing about the making of wine, just the appreciation part. He said that 90% of wine drinkers liked “sweet wines”, so as a marketing strategy, that’s what they make. After lecturing about how to taste: Swirl, Sniff, Slurp, and Roll, he passed out their first sample a Riesling. As usual, it was what some people consider sweet, but generally reflected the grape. I asked if there were any residual sugar to which he haughtily replied “I don’t know, I don’t care anything about that stuff”. Sorry to trouble you pal. I did meet another guy who used to grow grapes in the area many years ago and he was a lot more interesting to talk to.
The appetizer session had Chef Rodier with trays of appetizers (cleverly scheduled right AFTER lunch), and were pretty much based on a Tuna Tartare, which he did make, along with a little info on various grades and types of Tunas. He was an engaging sort and definitely French. I don’t have much of an opinion of his talents. The stuff he brought was good.
Speaking of food, it was pretty much institutional, and all meals (except one) were a buffet presentation: Salads first (cheaper than mains) then usually a protein, a starch, and vegetables. One day was an Asian theme, then an Italian and so forth. The only plated meal was the big deal Saturday night banquet which consisted of a “surf and turf” meal of a little filet and also a salmon, served on polenta. I was a big hit at my table when I was able to answer the “What’s this stuff? Potatoes?” question. The salmon was pretty tasty it had a little glaze on it, but my steak had just a odd metallic overtone that caused me to leave most of it on the plate. And, again, I’m too picky. If everybody at the table (of ten) is having the same plate, why can’t you serve ladies first? Everybody is going to have the same thing, so why not put it in front of the ladies first instead of just going clockwise? Oh, well.
Before each dinner was a cash bar, and we had some notable guests:
With each dinner came a little (losing) door prize ticket.
After the evening meal, there were hospitality suites (drinking den), each featuring some theme: Chocolate and Wine; Coffee and Liquers; Tequila Sunrise – a Mexican Fiesta; do you get a common theme? Anyway our local Southern Maryland Clubs featured “Seafood Supreme” with guess what? (among other things like crab balls and dip):
Oh, and
As I said, the area leans heavily on the history of the Civil War and the battle that was fought there.
“General Grant” gave a very nice little presentation on the history of the battle, and there is also of course a National Park Service Military Park for the battlefield. In our one free afternoon, I went over to the visitor center (recommended for initial visits) and saw the movie “We are Met on a Great Battlefield” and the “cyclorama” which has recently been restored and opened. Although I’m not bad on early Maryland History, I really am not all that knowledgeable on Civil War stuff. But, every time I am exposed to some of it, it amazes me. I cannot fathom what horror it must have been when wave after wave of Confederates came across open fields (Pickett’s Charge) right in the face of withering cannon and musket fire. Thousands of people killed and maimed. Were they so dedicated to preserving/separating the United States that they figured one person would make that difference? I know this isn’t new to anybody more conversant in that history than I, but I can’t help but think what a waste. War is, indeed, Hell.. I wasn’t able to take the time to see the actual locations of the battles, but I think maybe a re-visit is in order for that. The museum in the visitor’s center contains very nice exhibits.
The country around there is that southern Pennsylvania rolling hills, stone based barns, bringing Wyeth to mind. Lovely. And to think what went on there just 150 years ago.
And for the dinners at the conference, I was indeed
DFD
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