This year I just wasn’t excited about another Dinner at the Farm or feeling up for the fight to reserve a spot at Outstanding in the Field. With no outdoor fine dining on the horizon, our summer was rescued by Souterrain, Chef Bill Taibe’s latest dining series connecting good food and the people who love it. There didn’t seem to be much marketing around this first-time event, but you all know how much I love leFarm.  After reading a Facebook post, I gamely reserved 2 spots for dinner at a top secret location. Beside all the mysterious intrigue, what really sets Souterrain apart is the communal nature of the meal. Guests sat at small tables of 6 or 8 and the courses were served family-style. We didn’t know a soul, but there was no shortage of conversation at our table. Bruce, Carol, John and Judy all possess a knowledge of the local Connecticut food scene that blew me away.  I have to reconsider calling myself a foodie in the midst of this crowd!Sure, it’s really cool to tour an actual working farm at one of those other dinners, but I had no complaints with this beautiful backyard.  A refreshing summer cocktail: I believe this raspberry lemonade is spiked with vodka and St. Germain.I’m just going to digress for a second and completely swoon over the Rowayton home where this event was hosted. This house was made to entertain and the decor was so perfect, it was like being at a photo shoot for a food mag! I only got the teeniest taste through the many doors- flung wide open onto the back patio, but I could photograph these interior details all day long. That’s one lucky dog:Love this photo of the bar, just as I love the servers from Le Farm.D looks a bit pensive here. The bike makes the photograph, don’t you think?Oh and the food? Well, of course it was fabulous. I’m no food critic and I’m sure Stephanie Webster of CT Bites (or some other blogger) will give you the low-down.
Below is the surprise course: oysters, topped with a corn fritter. Watermelon and chevre… I wish I had photographed it all, but it would have been so impolite to make the other dinner guests wait for the camera!Shooting at a beautiful outdoor location is absolutely inspiring. Unfortunately for my readers, I was too busy enjoying myself to get really focused behind the lens. I copped out and mostly used the point & shoot. If I have another opportunity to dine at one of these events, I’d like to take more time with my dSLR! I can’t exactly make any promises, the food and location will probably be equally as tempting.