Heirloom Harvest Barn Dinner

We finally made it to the Slow Food Seacoast Heirloom Harvest Barn Dinner (or SFSHHBD for short, haha). In all seriousness, we have wanted to go to this since it’s inception six years ago but it always falls the weekend of my husband’s birthday, my daughter Lucy’s birthday, and our Anniversary. (These are all the reasons why it took my 3 days to put this post up.) But we made it, and so happy we did:

The theme this year was poultry, and it was so well carried out in the food, decorations, even feathers on the tables. So let’s break it down in that order.

First, the food:

This is what greeted me at the cocktail hour. Corn Dog Quail Legs with an Heirloom Chili Pepper and Heirloom Onion Aioli at the bottom. This set the tone for all the mind-blowing that would follow, naturally.

I missed a photo for ‘Flint Corn Biscuit and Gravy’ with Duck Leg Confit and Heriloom Tomato Jam, but you can just take my word for it- I am still dreaming about this riff on Biscuits and Gravy. The corn biscuit was like fried polenta…dreamy.

But I did grab shots of this dish, which is Cured Embden Goose Breast, with Skin Cracklin, Crisp Rillettes, Boston Marrow Squash and Foraged Herbs. I love how the squash balls look like egg yolks. Food is life is art…:

This dish was Chicken Roulade with field herbs, Pekin Duck and Autumn Olive Sausage (SO good) with White Embden Goose and Corn Fritter.

I can’t tell you what all of these words mean, but I can tell you they were delicious and that they live on in my memory long after eating them.

Next, The Decor.  Nepotism alert (ok, not really. No reward comes from this news to anyone, it is just a fun fact.)  My sister has done all the decorations for the Barn Dinner for the last five years.

And she made these amazing chandeliers and arrangements:

If you are looking for a wedding planner, you could call her! Even though she is a momma and already has a job. So maybe don’t call her. But her husband is crafty too and can build beautiful things.

Lastly, The Cause. These people are chefs but are also making social change – they are letting people know where the food in New Hampshire comes from, keeping heirloom varieties of herbs, vegetables and animals alive, lobbying our politicians, and most importantly creating an amazing evening for us all (just kidding. I don’t really think that was the most important part). But thanks to Evan and Denise Mallet of The Black Trumpet and ALL these amazing people:

Can’t wait to come back next year. Oh, and Happy 10 Year to my husband Rob. I love you!! I hope our marriage ends up like this barn –  weathered and worn, it still houses love and joy. (Here is a cute shot of him listening to how to support The Slow Food movement).

I love you! xoxo

Katie