Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Fourth of July Picnic

I hope everyone had a great holiday! Ashleigh and I headed west to Staunton, where we stayed with Pat Jarrett and visited with my good pal Maria. 

I packed my picnic basket before we left so we would have delicious snacks while we watched the bluegrass and gospel bands at Gypsy Hill Park. 

What was in my basket? Strawberries, angelicots (rare white apricots), havarti, brie, cheddar, mini French baguettes, Orangina and four cans of Francis Ford Coppola's Sofia sparkling wine. Delicious.

Our spread.

Enjoying an Orangina, as I so often do.

My picnic basket in all its glory.

Ashleigh enjoys Sofia sparkling wine...in public.

Pat enjoys an angelicot.

On Sunday, we went to Staunton Grocery, one of my favorite restaurants ever. On Sundays, they have a prix fixe menu — three courses for $35 with a $12 wine pairing for each course. So good!

I had potato-leek soup with bacon and chives, grilled heritage pork with peach relish and black-eyed peas and the piece de resistance, chocolate soup with a hint of orange and mini cinnamon beignets. It was amazing. If you're ever in the Shenandoah Valley and have money burning a hole in your pocket, it's a must-stop. 

3 comments:

Amanda said...

Looks like such fun. I couldn't tell you the last time I went on a picnic.

That sparkling wine is spectacular, by the way. Where do you find that?

Amber said...

You can buy a can for $4.49 at Total Wine. Super cute and very discreet.

gina-mom said...

"chocolate soup with a hint of orange and mini cinnamon beignets"... i believe that they will be serving this in heaven, n'est-ce pas?