And what a meal it was — an absolute smorgasbord for the senses as I saw, smelled and tasted each course. First, I ventured into the unknown to try a Scotch egg.
Photo by Katy Hartman
This little morsel of delight is a hard-boiled egg surrounded in sausage before being lightly fried. On top of some beautiful greens with a mustard vinaigrette, it was a wonderful start to the meal. I shared half of it with the table, and we all agreed it was very tasty, not to mention colorful. Check out that yolk!
Next, I went with the barbecue braised slow-roasted Vermont pork shoulder, with braised yellow eye beans, wilted greens, and cheddar grits. The pork had a nice kick, the beans were great (like a large black-eyed pea), and the cheddar grits were creamy and a perfect partner to offset the heat of the pork. I ate half and saved the rest to take home.
There is always room for a taste of dessert. That, I needed no help in choosing. As we were being led to our table on arrival, we passed a group of diners all being served the same dessert. Several of us let out an involuntary gasp and said, “What is that?”
Photo by Heath Robbins
That, my friends, is chocolate bread pudding with caramelized bananas and vanilla bean ice cream. Warm, sweet, and utterly decadent. I was looking for a picture to show you here, and managed to find the recipe as well. Whoa, Nellie! Croissants, heavy cream, buckets of eggs, and more cream — no wonder it tasted so good!!
No, I don’t recommend eating like this every day. But, I do believe that food is meant to be enjoyed and that just about anything you like can fit into a healthy lifestyle. This meal and experience is actually a perfect representation of the balance I aim for in my life– I get a good dose of sweat as often as I can, and eat meals that I enjoy that offer variety, appropriate portion sizes, and flavors and textures that satisfy all the senses. I never leave the table wanting.
Enjoy your life and the food in it!
Registered dietitian. Foodie. Mother of three. Wife. Coach and teammate. Scrapbooker. How to balance it all? I'm learning how to juggle. Check out my blog for family-approved healthy recipes, the occasional treat, and a little nutrition on the side. And maybe a laugh or two :)
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
What a great day! More good times, and hopefully more delicious food, to come!
I am def going to try the sweet and sour dish. I am glad there are no nuts in the recipe as I have a slight allergy to them!
Greaet blog, I am going to refer people here for recipes for sure.
Dear Tedward, Congrats on finding your way here! Refer any and all clients, nuts and all
You are the best! We did have fun- didn’t we!!
Loved it — thanks for the kick-a$$ workout
Loved seeing you at this event! You ROCKED spin!! and that bread pudding looked beyond amazing!!!
Aw, shucks, thanks EJ
So much fun!!
Julie,
You are such a natural at this. I can’t believe you haven’t been blogging or years. I love reading each of your posts & can’t wait to try some of the recipes.
Janet, thank you so much! I am really enjoying it all and love the feedback. Let me know how it goes once you’ve tried some of the recipes.
What a fun event! Sad I couldn’t make it! I haven’t eaten at Henrietta’s in years. I am dying to go back. Thanks for reminding me why I loved Henrietta’s so much!
I’m thinking girls night out to that place soon!
So sad I couldn’t go to this event but looks like it was a blast! Henrietta’s is one of my favorites.
Jess — it was great, my first time to HT. Your weekend looked interesting, though — you got up close and personal of some of the ingredients I enjoyed
I’ve got to tell you.. I’m ready for some chocolate bread pudding! That looks deadly delicious!!
Oh, it was, Helena! I found a Cookling Light version — I am going to try it out before posting, and will let you know!