Dame de la Chaine Roberta and Chevalier Larry Flesh graciously welcomed 34 members and guests of the Albany Bailliage to their lovely residence near the Helderberg Escarpment in the Town of New Scotland. It was the perfect pastoral setting for a festive picnic on a summer day! Eschewing the usual black tie for sundresses, shorts and straw hats, picnickers arrived toting a memorable bottle of wine to share. Meursaults, Tavel Roses, a Paul Hobbs Pinot Noir, and several red Burgundies were among the many luscious libations for us to sample. Surrounded by tall pines and listening and dancing to the upbeat sounds of the jazz group, “Out of the Box”, guests savored chicken and pork belly satay, sesame encrusted seared ahi tuna and pulled pork sliders all to be washed down with a delightful glass or two of Gloria Ferrer’s Brut sparkler courtesy of the Chaine. All gathered around the raw bar which featured briny oysters and clams as well as jumbo shrimp and a variety of sauces to please every palate.
What’s a picnic without potato salad and corn on the cob? This traditional fare was accompanied by tantalizing beet juice and horseradish cured salmon, toasted coconut chickpea salad, grilled New York strip steak and chicken marinated with Indonesian seasonings, all expertly prepared by Vice Conseiller Culinaire Yono Purnomo, Chef Rôtisseur Anand “AJ” Jayapal and Chefs Rob Ryan and Aaron Smith. Pastry Chef Joan Dembinski delighted us with summer berry shortcake and lemon sugar cookies. It was indeed a sweet ending to a sweet summer’s day! But that party wasn’t over as we kicked off our shoes and continued to dance the afternoon away. Thanks to our hosts for providing such a sunny interlude, to our talented Chaine chefs, to Donna Purnomo, who expertly choreographed the festivities, and to Bailli Bill Harris for the overall planning and execution of this wildly successful summer event.
