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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