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So Lynette has an annual tradition of going to Tanglewood... we went for the BSO doing their John Williams night, musical delights that go down really easy - and Lynette really leans into the picnic-on-the-lawn thing which is a bit of a tradition.
But like... REALLY leaning into it. This is the menu, almost all things she made more or less from scratch (everything was out all at once, picnic style, I just sorted it into categories so it wasn't quite so overwhelming.
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DRINKS
Cucumber-watermelon, mint-lime agua fresca
Aperol spritzes w candies oranges
SALAD/SOUP STARTERS
Summer gazpacho with heirloom tomatoes and cantaloupe - topped with crispy sourdough croutons and crumbled chicken skin
Shrimp, mango and peppadew salad with a honey, lime sriracha dressing
Summer corn, peach and basil farro salad w roasted jalapeno, toasted almonds and burrata
DISHES
Tarragon and chive infused lobster and crab hawaiian rolls
Buttermilk fried chicken
MISC/SIDES
Charcuterie platter: Eggplant caponata, homemade hummus with veggies, mousse pate with cornichons, prosciutto, assorted cheese, marcona almonds, fresh berries
French bread and butter
SWEETS/DESERTS
Honey, tajin, lime watermelon salad
Caramel pot de cremes with creme fraiche and salted caramel shards
Yuzu-lemon Posset with shortbread crumble
Caneles
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There were other finely set tables, but none seemed to have this array of food... one woman from Osaka asked to take a picture, so Lynette got to practice her Japanese and also send her off with some lobster roll.
(Matt Julie and Joe came along so this was all for 5 folks)
I learned a few things:
* First time to Tanglewood but I quickly realized Blossom near Cleveland is VERRRRY closely modeled on it.
* Is there anything more New England Boujee than Tanglewood calling its magnificent ampitheatetre-with-a-roof a "shed"?
* I do appreciate the Cleveland Symphony is usually slotted just a bit above Boston.
* If you have go to picnic, get some kind of funny light thing going so you can find your way back to your place in the dark if you end up having to hit the restroom (we had a headlamp w/ a darkroomish red light mode that did the job.)
The next day we hit the Norman Rockwell museum and Daniel Chester French's (the guy who did the Lincoln Memorial statue) estate Chesterwood. Both had stirring notes about what the USA should be aspiring to.