Closing Dinner Menu 2012
Our venerable pine-panelled dining room was transformed for an evening this past Monday as we enjoyed our annual Closing Dinner. Migis guests stepped out of a wind-swept Maine October night and into the gentle breezes of a Caribbean island. Returning closing weekenders are familiar with the drill………….no inside lunch on the last Monday! And no peeking!
Tim and Joan Porta and their five adult children and families have converged several times in Jamaica, and that collection of memories was the inspiration for this year’s Migis finale. Tim loves those rustic signposts, directing visitors along the roundabout roads, and from that simple structure a theme for decor, entertainment and a dinner menu evolved. Chef John Strain got a hint of the theme from Robyn, Jed confirmed it after some consultation and conversation, and visions and thoughts of what to serve began to firm up in John’s creative mind with lots of input from Tim’s food memories from his many travels through the islands. John says he could have used one of those field trips himself, for maximum inspiration, but, alas, his duties kept him busy here in the weeks leading up to October 9.
He had a tentative menu ready a couple of weeks ago, and hadn’t anticipated that every course would be Caribbean, but in the end they were, and prepared with care and authenticity by his talented Maine crew. Brittany looked at island restaurant menus for salad thoughts, Charity crafted an amazing collage of dessert treats, and the gentlemen in the beverage department lined up wines to accompany each course. That after serving up tropical cocktails under our own Tiki Bar…next to a roaring fire, of course.
A truly memorable meal. And that was not all of the evening’s offerings. More to come!
Mary
The food look terrific. Do your folks in the kitchen cook Jamaican often? I wold totally come out there in the summer for a reggae party!? The reggae parties in the summer on Peaks Island at at the Port Hole leave lots to be desired. Keep me posted–