A colorful Peony party at my home

July 16, 2010

This past spring, to celebrate the blooming of my peony garden, I hosted a Garden Tour and Cocktail Party for the Bedford Historical Society. My guests and I toured the gardens paying particular attention to the herbaceous peonies, which bloomed a little too early this year. I asked Chef Pierre Schaedelin to prepare the food and we enjoyed cocktails at the stable. One hundred percent of the ticket price was donated to the Historical Society.

The Society preserves and protects many of the historic building and landmarks in Bedford, New York. It is a non-profit organization, which relies on its members and fundraisers to cover the expenses of preserving Bedford’s unique historic character. I was happy to help support the Historical Society and its mission of preservation. My friend and neighbor, Peter Michaelis, an avid photographer, is very active in the Historical Society and took many of these photos. Please enjoy.

: Pierre made colorful and delicious hors d’oeuvres.

: Pierre also made grilled sweet Italian sausage served on mini brioche and grilled mini burgers.

: Pierre slicing sausage with a tray of mini brioche. Yum!

: The burgers grilling

: I’m always happy when my good friend, Chef Pierre Schaedelin comes to the farm and cooks.

: This is what the peonies looked like the day before the party – a little tattered, but still beautiful.

: The row in the center is a very finely minced chicken salad Provençal flavored with lots of fresh herbs and topped with diced carrot and celeriac.

: On the left is a white bean puree with artichoke heart and fava bean. On the right is eggplant caviar topped with shrimp and roasted pepper.

: On the left is a potato salad in a potato shell with gerkins, capers, and red onion. On the right is an asparagus tart with a poached quail egg.