The Many Great Dishes We Enjoyed at Skylands
Whenever I go to Skylands, my home in Seal Harbor, Maine, the days are always filled with lots of great activities and delicious meals.
Here are a few more photos from my Memorial Day weekend in Maine. Moises Fuentes, who is a young hard worker who helps me at my Bedford, New York farm as both a sous chef and a member of my outdoor grounds crew, came up for the holiday to help me prepare many of our favorite dishes.
Enjoy.
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- This is my ‘Great Wall of China’ – four open shelves that span nine-feet across one kitchen wall at Skylands. I love this wall – everything is visible and within easy reach. Below is a large table with utensils, small plates and bowls, and whatever fresh fruits, and eggs we have.
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- I always bring lots of fresh eggs from my farm. My hens lay the most delicious eggs and I am fortunate to be able to enjoy them all year long with family and friends.
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- When we arrived, everyone dove into the platter of palmiers. Also known as elephant ears, shoe-soles, palm trees or palm leaves, palmiers are delicious pastries that can be served for breakfast, dessert, or any time the craving hits for something sweet. They have a delicate, flaky texture and a sweet buttery taste.
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- For our late lunch, we enjoyed bronzo mezzi rigatoni pasta with crab meat, lemon, parmesan cheese, and parsley.
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- And a delicious garden greens salad with a light vinaigrette dressing.
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- Our first breakfast of the weekend included warm croissants, toast, and avocado. And don’t forget the cappuccinos.
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- We also had a large platter of smoked salmon. A good, hearty breakfast before planting all the containers on the terrace.
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- Lunch was another garden greens salad with the freshest lettuces and vinaigrette dressing.
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- We also had Mexican street corn with butter, shredded parmesan cheese, and sprinkled with cayenne pepper.
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- We also ate bits of this Stilton cheese. Stilton is an English blue cheese, which has Penicillium roqueforti added to create the characteristic smell and taste.
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- The next morning, Moises and I prepared stacks of buttermilk pancakes for everyone. Who doesn’t enjoy pancakes? And there was enough for everyone to have seconds if they so desired.
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- The pancakes were served with poached eggs and buttered toast.
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- And to drink, green juice. I start every morning with a glass of my green juice. My version includes a pear or apple, celery, cucumber, parsley, spinach, ginger, and citrus with the rind.
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- Plus, fresh fruit – watermelon cut with pieces of the rind left on for holding.
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- Lunch that day was crab cakes, tartar sauce, homemade coleslaw and cornichons. Cornichons are tart and sweet, with a briny flavor. They’re crisp and crunchy, but less sour than traditional dill pickles.
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- For those looking for snacks – brown butter shortbread cookies, more of that giant wedge of Stilton cheese, and Whoopie Pies from one of Kevin Sharkey’s favorite establishments –The Colonel’s Restaurant and Bakery in Northeast Harbor, Maine.
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- Dinner was the most flavorful borscht soup topped with a dollop of crème frâiche and caviar. It was a big hit for everyone at the table.
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- Our soup was served with baked potatoes, topped with more crème frâiche and caviar.
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- Here’s a view from overhead. Our meals were served in the kitchen, family style. We usually finished without leaving any leftovers.
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- Dessert was homemade chocolate chip cookies and lemon ice cream.
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- Our last weekend dinner was this garden salad with avocado and parmesan cheese…
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- … and bowls of bucatini pasta with anchovies, roasted garlic brioche bread crumbs, parsley, and olive oil.
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- And here’s my handsome Emperor Han ready for another outing in Maine. In all, we had such an enjoyable time at Skylands. I can’t wait to return this summer. In my next blog, some of the other activities that filled our days – stay tuned.
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