At the middle of this week, Matt and I received an invitation to join Jefferson Vineyards for their annual Bastille Day dinner. The event was catered by C&O, a Cville classic, and of course showcased the current Jefferson wines.
I worked until 6 while Matt took a long nap and put on a tie.
Snacks #1 and #2. I was starving by the time I did an hour of cleanup and biked home and had a cereal glass with more milk and less granola:
After a quick shower and my most French-inspired outfit, we left for the vineyard
Look out for spiders!
We were greeted with some amazing cheese (I LOVE cheese!) the 2010 Pinot Gris!
After meet & greet, we ventured into the barrel room for dinner
The tables were set with the first course: Andy’s Mom’s Chicken Liver Pate with cherrys, fig and greens paired with the 2010 Johannisburg Riesling
I tasted the pate – I like to try everything – and it wasn’t bad, but I just couldn’t finish it all.
Our second course highlighted the C&O crabcake with wasabi aioli, seaweed salad and toasted sesame seeds.
This course was paired with the 2010 Viognier – a favorite of mine!! – and it was a priceless pairing. Andy described Viognier as a “red wine drinker’s white” because it’s higher in protein and alcohol. That must be why I love it! It’s probably my favorite white wine, and thankfully, Virginia does it beautifully.
Course 3 was a Potage Billi-Bi, which I think has something to do with curried mussel broth! This soup was very unique – almost like lemons that were zested so much the pith was included because it was bitter like an IPA. I liked it though, and it went really well with the 2010 Chardonnay Reserve.
Interlude!! Sparkling Cassis Water and Ginger + Peach Sorbet!! I always LOVE this course, however, I do think it almost interrupts the meal! I could have ended with this, but there was more!
The reds arrived. The 2007 Cab Franc Reserve and the 2008 Meritage – two killer favorites of mine!
These were paired with a duo of meats – a quail and a lambchop in a wild mushroom duxelle. The mushroom sauce was incredible!!! I didn’t have too much of the meats, but I did love the quail. And I’m not a mashed potato person, but these were so good!!
Green beans on the side!
For dessert we sipped the Late Harvest (Great Harvest!) Vidal Blanc. I love dessert wines, but this one was almost tart with notes of pineapple when we paired it with…
A Peach Pavlova! This was like a meringue topped with whipped cream, peaches and pecans and it was such a perfect midsummer light dessert! Light meaning I ate it all 🙂
I actually did really well just sipping my wines because I was the designated driver. Matt, however, has crashed onto the couch watching some trashy TV show. I must put him to bed! Poor guy is exhausted despite a long nap this afternoon. Tomorrow is nothing but relaxation time!
Kim G says
Wow, the photography is just beautiful. Every time I check out the page, I’m struck with how gorgeous the food is. Really a skill! Nice job.
Doc (The Healthy PhD) says
Your pictures in the garden look very ‘Alice in Wonderland’! So cute!
Also, glad the tiger-cat is back in your life 🙂
Baking N Books says
I hope you guys sleep in.
Kath you need to do a closest post – your always wearing a different dress or style – good style!
Gina @ Running to the Kitchen says
Kath- gorgeous dress! It is very “french-inspired”, love it!
Annette @ EnjoyYourHealthyLife says
Hey, fun!! Yeah, go put that man ‘a yours to bed. And man, that cheese plate at the beginning looks tastttyyyy 🙂
Hannah says
Such a gorgeous dress! Love it!
Holly @ The Runny Egg says
Enjoy your day tomorrow — looks like yet another full day for you two. I don’t know how you have the energy — I love my quiet nights at home!
E says
I wonder how you have the energy, too! I seem to do nowhere near as much as the two of you, yet am still exhausted on my days off 😉
Robyn @ Blueberries and Oats says
What a lovely evening! You looked simply gorgeous in that dress!
J3nn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) says
Love the sunflowers! And that dress is super cute. 🙂
Everything looks fabulous. A perfect meal and great pictures!!
The Healthy Hipster says
Love the high bun & floral print! So Sartorialist of you! And the non-fashion pairings look great too! 😉
Mai says
Your dress is so cute!
Julie H. says
What a night! Wine, food, and relaxation! Oh yes!… Make sure your to-do list tomorrow has relaxing at the top!
Jess @ atasteofconfidence says
I am going to sound like a broken record, but I love that dress!
Angel7 says
Your dress is pretty!
Good eats!
http://faithfulsolutions.blogspot.com/
Olena (The Fit Gourmet) says
What an incredible meal. Gastronomical fireworks! As good as the food is at such occasions, my only regret at fancy dinners is that each course cannot be given enough justice. It’s just too much food and wine.
Hannah says
Love your hair like that Kath 🙂
Lorin says
All that food looks delish! I love cheese too. I went to a family friend’s party tonight and they had the Trader Joe’s Berry Goat Cheese Log and I had it with dates. It was really good, I htink I had about 5 dates with some cheese total :] My willpower is a little weaker than yours..but I enjoyed it all and definitely recommend it if you see it at Trader Joe’s. I love your clothing style btw.
Khushboo says
Love the dress- you are rockin it 🙂
Aine @ Something to Chew Over says
Love the dress Kath!
I love French food – lucky you 🙂
Brittany @ Itty Bits of Balance says
You should wear your hair up in a bun more often! It suits you very well 🙂
Heather @ Health, Happiness, and Hope says
Sounds like such a fun evening! Love those pictures by the sunflowers! 🙂
Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga says
like a meringue topped with whipped cream, peaches and pecans = WOW that sounds awesome! I would have eaten it right up too 🙂
you look beautiful in the sunflowers, Kath 🙂
Luna says
I see I am not the only one that really love that dress!You look gorgeous in it! Where is it from, if you don’t mind me asking?
Simply Life says
I love your dress (as well as others :)! And WOW!…what a meal!
Lauren @ What Lauren Likes says
Love your red earrings with the dress! you are one classy dresser! haha. Glad you have a rest day today enjoy 🙂
Ashley @ Coffee Cake and Cardio says
Love your jewelry and headband!! I also love all the invites y’all get. Y’all must have a blast.
Elizabeth says
cute dress and jewelry! you look really nice.
chelsey @ clean eating chelsey says
That food looks to die for. I would have had to be rolled out of there!
Katie says
you’re so lucky! I’ve always wanted to go to an event like that; with lots of courses and all of them paired with the perfect wine! I did have the most delicious oatmeal this morning: half a white peach (they were on sale at whole foods!) and half a banana with a spoonful of creamy natural peanut butter! Thanks for the inspiration to start spicing up my plain oatmeal!
Hillary says
Oh, Kath! Your hair and that dress are absolutely adorable. Love it!
Katelyn @ Chef Katelyn says
Oh my god you looked BEAUTIFUL in that dress!! What a cccclassy night! <3
Ma Fea says
Oh, what a delicious night! I would do things like that all the time, but it’s not as much fun when you’re on your own. Enjoy your relaxing Sunday, and thanks for letting me live vicariously through your adventures, Kath.
Joyce @ Flowing to Fifty says
What a fabulous way to spend the evening, and end the week! The dinner looks amazing. By the way, your dress has a lot of “Kate Middleton” flair – very cute.
KathEats says
Fran says
So much wine, so little time…Wish I knew more about wines. I guess that’s a challenge for me to live up to!
Kerri Beth says
Love all the pictures in the sunflowers. That dessert looks divine.
kaila @ healthy helper! says
What an awesome spread! The seaweed salad and crabcake looks delicious….that probably would have been my favorite course!
Miranda @ Working Mom Works Out says
That looks like a lot of fun, but OMG at the food! How is any one person expected to eat all of that?
Cait's Plate says
Oooh that’s good to know about the Viognier! I tend to exclusively drink red wine (just prefer it) so it’s nice to know there’s a white out there that can keep up!
I love all the sunflowers – they’re beautiful.
We did a wine tasting in Provence last year and it was absolutely amazing – getting to walk the vineyards and just see how it all happened – I too tried pate at that time (wasn’t so much a fan)!
KathEats says
Thanks for all of the nice dress comments! It is from Loehmann’s (where so many of my clothes are!)
Foodie (Fab and Delicious Food) says
Love your dress! So pretty!
What a fancy dinner! Each course looks amazing!
lynn @ the actor's diet says
was obsessed w sunflowers growing up. they’re gorgeous!
Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin says
Wow look at all that food! I love going to fancy dinners with lots of courses like that, but I always have trouble pacing myself. 😛 I usually get too full for dessert, but at least you managed to save some room for yours. It looks delicious!
Balancing Sylvia says
Cereal, sunflowers, wine, and great food. Looks like a bunch of my favorites all in one day. 😀 Glad you had fun!
Molly @ RDexposed says
Way to live up the French! Love the “knotted” hair!
Namaste Gurl says
You look beautiful- what a fun night!
JenATX says
lucky girl! Yall get to go to the coolest events 🙂
ling says
I would have totally finished your pate! looks amazing. fun night out– sending your link to my mom- so i don’t have to repeat every oatmeal recipe to her!
Ally at A Girl in her Kitchen says
Oooh I’ll have to try viognier. I am definitely a red wine drinker and I’m always on the hunt for a good white.
Nicole @ Giraffelegs says
love love love your outfit!!!! Very 1950s chic!!
Kaylnn says
Hi Kath,
Just found your site, and I have to ask – How did you get so cute?!
Love your work.
Kaylnn.
KathEats says
🙂
Charise says
Every time you post something from Jefferson Vineyards, I vow to make it there some day – the place looks so beautiful, with good wines and these dinners always sound so amazing!
Allie {A Teaspoon of LIFE} says
Omg. I am MADLY in love with your dressssss! Sorry- I couldnt concentrate on anything else in this post cuz it was just too cute.