A New England Inspired Birthday Celebration

My Mom recently turned 60.  For those of you who know her, this is shocking.  My Mom has forever been a source of positive energy, spontaneity and authentic happiness.  A giver of the most generous kind, she offers unconditional-love in abundance.  She is who you talk to when you are sad, happy, confused, stressed-out.  She will always have time for you.  She is, quiet simply, an amazing and beautiful person.  A celebration of her was long overdue.  So we gathered family and friends on a warm spring night and shared a New England-inspired feast, a tribute to my Mom’s birthplace: Maine.  Chef Wyatt Sarbacker of The Village Idiot presented us with a menu full of my Mom’s favorite things: shrimp, mussels, clams and, most important of all, lobster!  Smiles and laughter filled the air as the sun began to set.  The music loud, we danced in the heat, singing into the night.  As the final song played I watched my Mom and the smile on her face grow, happiness in her eyes.  I wished that we could celebrate her in this way every day.  But, if my Mom has taught me nothing else, it is this: live life in the moment and to the very fullest.  Let go and dance.  So that is exactly what we did that night, spinning and singing without a care in the world.  For that moment in time, her birthday would never end and the celebration would last forever.

Shari’s 60th birthday weekend was kicked off with champagne and an intimate family meal at my childhood home.  Two stunning filets of salmon were bathed in lemon and an assortment of herbs and spices and then toasted over flaming coals.

Accompanied by fresh lettuce from my Dad’s garden, it was the perfect meal for an evening on the porch, catching up with my Grandparents who, along with my brother, flew in for this special occasion.  Dinners like this occur all too seldom and I tried to savor every moment, my taste buds awakening as the dinner and conversation progressed.  This was going to be a wonderful weekend!

After a day of errands and party preparations, we gathered at Pete and Ginny’s home for an elegant and delicious meal.  My mother’s brother and his family have traveled and lived all over the world and I still find delight in the fact that they are no longer a twenty hour plane ride away but rather a relaxing two block stroll from my parent’s home.  An unexpected blessing for a family that I am used to loving from afar.

My young cousins welcomed us with handmade place-cards adorned with carefully selected flowers.  We sipped on wine and enjoyed sweet roasted garlic in olive oil.  Spread over bread and butter, the cloves of garlic are soft and tender, releasing a sweetness that contradicts anything reminiscent of raw garlic.  I will be featuring this at my next gathering, without a doubt!

Dinner consisted of steaks, goat cheese grits, asparagus and this tomato salad, a rainbow of colors quickly sauteed in olive oil and garlic.  The ideal sweet-acidic bite to counter the richness of the steak and the creaminess of the grits.

Lemon-raspberry whoopie pies and champagne capped off our evening.  We sat and shared stories and laughter, wishing so much that my Aunt Judy and Aunt Pam could have been there with us.  Unable to make the trip to Kentucky, we felt their spirits in every laugh and every happy moment of the weekend.

Sunday arrived and it was time for the official celebration!  Held just outside of town in a pavilion overlooking the country-side (designed by Stewart Architecture, of course!), my Mom arrived to my Dad’s open arms and her long-awaited birthday event!  While she knew of the planned gathering, we did our best to keep her in the dark regarding the details, most specifically, the menu.

When our dear family friends, the Behr’s, put me in touch with the kitchen team behind The Village Idiot, I knew we were in for a treat.  They jumped on the idea of a New England Seafood boil and rounded out the menu with several other Maine classics like Lobster Rolls and Johnny Cakes.  Complete with his house-made Linguica Sausage, the menu was perfect, just right for the occasion.

From the beginning, the Seafood Boil was going to be the star of the meal.  Shells leftover from the lobster rolls and a rich red ale simmered together, giving off the most amazing aromas in the kitchen.  My Grandparents, both born and raised in Maine, commented that the scents were reminiscent of their childhoods.  We hadn’t even sat down for dinner and The Village Idiot had already hit a home-run.

While guests arrived and a line began to form at the bar, ears of corn were placed atop a  mirepoix of carrots, onions and celery.

Tiger shrimp, clams and mussels were added to the pot and the broth was poured over.  A final mix of herbs and spices were sprinkled in and the shellfish steamed away, their flavors enhancing, the texture absolutely perfect.

Not to be outdone, the lobster rolls were an immediate hit and the first to go.  Not at all surprising as who can resist large pieces of lobster meat tossed in an herbed dressing and studded with sweet kernels of corn?

Going on 30 years as a pescetarian, my Mom has always said that the one carnivorous item she misses most are sausages with mustard.  These hand-made, Portuguese-style sausages were mildly spiced and packed with flavor, a great counter-part to the seafood boil.

Johnny Cakes, a New England corn pancake, came complete with perfect sauce-soaking abilities, making sure the broth from the seafood boil was not left to waste.

Asparagus with garlic and lemon and new potato salad with a mustardy-kick finished off the dinner presentation.  Everyone gathered and dove in, picking clams and mussels out of their shells and dipping Johnny Cakes into the bowls of seafood at their table.

The final flourish before the dance party gave way was a delicious strawberry-shortcake inspired birthday confection!  Courtesy of Pete and Ginny, the strawberries were at the peak of ripeness and the whipped cream frosting was light and airy, refreshing after our indulgent dinner.  Slices were passed around as the music began to play and notes of my Mom’s anthem, Love Shack, circled the room.  The dance party had begun and would last into the night.  Any nerves and stressors my siblings and I had felt in preparing this party vanished.  We were surrounded by those that mean the most to us.  I had never needed to worry.  We were all there for the same purpose – to celebrate my Mom, Shari Stewart.  And we did just that, in the best way we knew how… with good wine, good food and, most of all, dancing!