Out in the Decatur Cemetery. Really.  Amazingly beautiful and lively! Fun for a good cause, with Peter & Colleen Morich and Dayle Hosack! Victor was of course at the Alliance for the preview of Bull Durham: the Musical.

In the auction, Dayle and I tried to buy the Hog Heaven item with the stipulation that we’d be able to spare the pig’s life. Got outbid, but at least they had to pay more, and it helped the cause – theirs and ours!

As you can see from the photos, there was great food (and wine!), in addition to the great company. The outstanding menu providers, from a vegetarian perspective, were:

• Course 1 – No. 246: Summer melon salad with house curd ricotta salata, local herbs – fresh, light!
  (Twain‘s pickled okra gets an honorable mention, even though it was on the plate with chicken…)
• Course 2 – Chai Pani: Sookhi bhindi (okra) masala with green tomato chutney, holy basil and coconut – sublime!
  (Coconut – that love it or hate it ingredient – in this dish made me love fresh, raw coconut)
• Course 4 – Steinbeck’s: Miso smoked eggplant, poached bantam eggs, herb salad – delish!
  And Brick Store Pub: Warm sweet potato greens salad, roasted butternut squash, muscadine vinaigrette – yum!
  (Props to the chefs of both for providing our veg versions senza pork so we didn’t have to pick around it)
• Course 5: Leon’s Full Service: Mushroom spaetzle, fortsonia cheese, onions and herbs – OMG!!!!!
• Dessert – Cakes & Ale: Profiteroles filled with muscadine jelly, cashew cream and toasted sesame – elegant finish!

Thanks to the organizers: Robin Chanin, Judy Turner, and former mayor Bill Floyd. A great evening!