On October 30th, Old Lyme’s venerated Bee & Thistle Inn,
hosted a tribute dinner in honor of recently deceased Sheila Lukins, beloved co-author of The Silver Palate series of cookbooks, the proceeds of which were to benefit Shoreline Soup Kitchens and Pantries.
In the preceding photograph, a former classmate of Lukins can be seen standing before her image, while in the following photograph you see my friend Linda Simms, who joined me for this special dinner.
A musician serenaded arriving guests.
The Bee & Thistle’s beautiful reception rooms bustled with activity.
Champagne flowed freely,
and hors d’oeuvre circulated among the guests. Like everything served at the tribute dinner, these toasts spread with chicken liver pâté with green peppercorns
and these slices of new potato topped with crème fraîche and black caviar
were prepared by Bee & Thistle chef Kristofer Rowe with recipes from a well-worn copy of The Silver Palate cookbook.
For the occasion, the handsome dining rooms were transformed from this
to this
and from this
to this.
Kicking off the proceedings were innkeeper Linnea Rufo
and restaurant publicist Fern Berman, who combined to organize the event.
Berman’s spouse, Faith Middleton, host of WNPR’s popular talk show “Food Schmooze,” also addressed the rapt audience.
Here you see seated some of Lukins’ relatives.
Wine was served,
following which the arrival of bread let us know our meal was underway.
The next item to arrive was an absolutely great scallop bisque, creamy and tomatoey with nice bits of mushroom.
The main course was a terrific chicken Marbella accented with prunes.
Following the chicken was a salad course featuring a simple but unforgettable all-arugula salad.
The desserts also were delightful. Here you see a scrumptious carrot cake,
and here a lovely, crunchy linzertorte.
Afterwards, the chefs came out of the kitchen to take a figurative bow.
The festivities lasted long after guests’ appetites were sated.
The good cheer was infectious.
With enviable pipes, Linnea joined the musician in performing classics like “Autumn Leaves” and “Under The Boardwalk,” the audience joining in at times.
With this most recent “hookup” generation, coquetry seems almost dead, so I close with photographs of this pretty and vivacious guest mugging with the musician.
Bee & Thistle Inn, 100 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, 860-434-1667