I should be tackling the backlog of paperwork on my desk, but this evening finds me exhausted…but contentedly so. It has been a week long celebration of love here at The Good Earth. Maybe our garden of paradise is responsible for the rash of “lovefests” we have been celebrating recently.
Late last week, we had the pleasure of being in on a wonderful secret. Seems that a certain young gentleman was looking for somewhere romantic, unusual and special to “pop the question”. After consulting long time friends Oliver and Carley owners of The Urban Element in Ottawa (and long-time “earthlings” I might add), we received an order for a “Moveable Feast” gourmet picnic and were brought into the plan. So…last Friday Amanda our “retail therapist” and resident romantic, moved one of our picnic tables under a tree in a very private and romantic nook in the garden. She dressed the table with a lovely tablecloth and flowers just picked from the garden, chilled a bottle of “The Good Wine” and the stage was set for the proposal. The skies were blue, the sun shone and she said “yes”! It was the perfect day in our little piece of paradise. Even our resident romantic feline Basil got in on the action!
The following evening we had occasion to host another celebration of love — this time a celebration of “going the distance”. Eleanor and Charles Daly celebrated 60 years of wedded bliss along with their children and grandchildren in the kitchen of The Good Earth. Family members travelled from across the country – from Nova Scotia on one end and British Columbia on the other. Judging from the warm laughter and happy faces, Eleanor and Charles certainly had the recipe for a happy marriage down pat. Chef Patrick Engel whipped up a glorious late spring menu which was enjoyed by all. Not a scrap was left on any plate. Perhaps a love of good food is part of the recipe to a good marriage?!
This weekend we hosted a really special day for our friends Bronwen and Mark. Chef Patrick has known Bronwen and her family for several years. Many years ago, Patrick was the chef at Rodney’s Oyster House in Toronto — the epicentre of oysters and “kick ass” seafood in Canada. Rodney Clark, Bronwen’s father has been a great friend and mentor to many a chef…and I might add a great friend to The Good Earth. As you can imagine we were tickled pink to be asked to host and cater the wedding. I’ll have to admit that we were also a tad nervous. This was a group we wanted to pull all the stops out for. Not only were these hard core “earthlings” but most importantly friends!
As you can imagine, food was a major element in the wedding day. Over the past week, the Rodney’s Oyster truck trundled down the dusty laneway with the “best of the best” fish — tuna, freshwater shrimp, crabs. Oysters arrived on Saturday for the reception complete with the signature “oyster boat”. Our team of chefs, sweated buckets to ensure that everything from the spit roasted pig to the grilled pizzas to the seafood station were up for their moment in the limelight. The menu included a late night snack of peameal bacon on a bun and icewine marshmallow ‘smores!
As with every good love story, there was a bit of drama. A perfect sunny Friday morphed into a dull and drizzly Saturday (perhaps mimicking the weather in PEI where the Clark family hail from). Stubbornly we plodded on with our preparations, setting up our outdoor “cathedral” for the ceremony in our back garden. Fielding Estate Winery Sparkling Riesling was iced , glasses set out in the kitchen potager and the band members of “The Foggy Hogtown Boys” took their positions between the squash vines and the herb beds. Jennifer from Vintage Design Company, one of the area’s most creative flower artists, dressed the tables and the aisles with bouquets of white peonies, hydrangea, lady’s mantle, sage, lavendar and even sprigs off her Mulberry tree! The only thing more gorgeous than the flowers and mother nature was the bride, the beautiful Bronwen!
The story had a picture book ending. The rain clouds cleared and the sun shone for the reception. The food was devoured with delight right through to the final offering. Great “zydeco” music accompanied the dinner feast and the crowd partied happily until the stroke of midnight when the pumpkin turned into a coach (well in this case several Niagara Airbus coaches) to safely take everyone home to their beds. The final crowning touch was the emergence of the full moon which guided the wedding party to Cottage by the Lake B&B where the party continued into the wee hours. Now that’s what we call a celebration!
After the party is over and I have picked up the remnants of the day, I can’t help but feel honoured to be a small part of these momentous milestones in people’s lives. To our newly engaged — best of luck and lots of fun planning your special day. To “lifers” Charles and Eleanor — thanks for showing us how it’s done. To Bronwen and Mark– enjoy your lifetime of “what ifs” together and the wonderful journey you have embarked on. Here’s to celebrating love!