Mickey Mallonee makes good use of one of the fans which were provided for dinner guests on the porch of Middlebrook's Summer House.
The wonderful series of events that is Knox Heritage‘s “Summer Suppers” began last Saturday in spectacular style with a Gay Nineties theme at the beautiful Middlebrook plantation.
Middlebrook, tucked away at 4001 Middlebrook Pike, was constructed circa 1795 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is one of the oldest existing frame residences in Knoxville.
Owner Rick Fox said Saturday that most people think of the Civil War when they think of Middlebrook and it did play a role in that war, serving as a hospital at one point. Prior to the war, it was a slave-run plantation. But that was just one era of the home’s long life. The estate has been continuously occupied all along and, in the 1890s, long after the Civil War had ended, it was owned by Major Thomas Shapard Webb’s family.
That was the time setting for the Gay Nineties party, and most of the menu items Saturday were based on recipes from the 1901 “Knoxville Cookbook,” which included dishes from Major Webb’s wife, Blanche McClung Webb, and other family members.
Middlebrook
Host Beverly Linkous, distributed calling cards to guests and explained that in the 1890s, one would send his or her messenger to present a calling card to the lady of the house signaling one's intention to pay a visit.
Alan Carmichael presenting his calling card to Rick Fox, the owner of Middlebrook.
Host Jenny Hines offering Southern sausage balls as guests arrive.
You've got to be impressed with a house that has its own cocktail napkins!
Guests, from left, Cheryl Light, Susan Morris and Janet Hogan
Host Susan Brown passed canapes as host Tom Jester took drink orders.
The dainty finger sandwiches included pimento cheese, cucumber and cream cheese and chicken salad. Perfect for a summer night.
Kelly and Mike Conley chat with Kim Trent, right, Knox Heritage's executive director.
Host Ralph Cianelli, center, who resides at Middlebrook, greets guests Joan and Glenn Swift. Cianelli and Fox met the Swifts on a cruise and they have become friends.
Guests Michael Combs and Jennifer Holder
This is Major Webb. He would have been our host had we actually visited Middlebrook in the 1890s.
This guest bedroom is carpeted, Fox said, to cover the blood stains on the hardwood floor left from its previous use during the Civil War. It was the hospital's amputation room.
Ralph Cianelli, left, and Rick Fox listen as Kim Trent welcomes guests.
When it was time for dinner, we walked to the Summer House, located behind Middlebrook. We passed this lovely view of Third Creek.
The Summer House
These are the members of Boogertown Gap. They provided tunes from the Gay Nineties.
I thought the table, set up on the porch for 24 guests, was stunning.
Two of the hosts, Chris Davis and Craig Shelton, interior designers who own The Drawing Room in Homberg Place, created the lush flower arrangements.
I was told that host Janet Testerman came up with the idea of using a Granny Smith apple and sprig of rosemary for place card holders. Loved it.
Melt-in-your-mouth sweet potato biscuits were made by host Gay Lyons.
Cold salads started the dinner. That's a congealed salad on the left, an artichoke and rice salad at the top, three kinds of deviled eggs and pickled okra and corn which host Sam Maynard provided. (He even gave me extra okra because I love it so!)
Sam made the most interesting and refreshing peach soup. I had never had peach soup before, but really liked it.
Baked ham, scalloped potatoes, corn pudding and the most delicious green beans in the world (made by Janet Testerman) were the entree.
We were served red and white wines all evening, but to accompany dessert we got a little taste of muscadine wine, which may have been served at Middlebrook.
Dessert was honey lavender ice cream with a pistachio shortbread cookie. (Cruze Farm made the ice cream just for this occasion and it was fantastic.)
A hand for the chefs! Sam Maynard with Gay Lyons, center, and Janet Testerman
After dinner, the women were served sherry inside the Summer House and the gentlemen retired to the arbor to partake of cigars and bourbon.
Chris Davis pouring sherry for the ladies
Sam and Tom Jester unwinding.
Meanwhile, although I'm sure he was exhausted, host David Butler attacked the dishwashing chores. I'm sure he was very glad at this point not to be living in the 1890s.
Everyone received a package of bourbon and amaretto truffles for the trip home.
Yum!
There are 13 Summer Suppers left in the lineup. Click here to see the listing and sign up. Each one is a unique experience that will not likely be repeated. Don’t miss out.
Here is the list of the generous and talented folks who hosted this one: Linda Gay Blanc and Marshall Peterson, Mary Ellen Brewington, Susan Brown, David Butler and Ted Smith, Ralph Cianelli and Rick Fox, Chris Davis, Amy and John Gibson, Jenny Hines and Tom Jester, Beverly and Randy Linkous, Gay Lyons, Sam Maynard, Craig Shelton and Janet Testerman. Thanks, folks!
Here is a 6-second clip of what music sounded like in the 1890s! To turn on the sound, just mouse over the picture and click on the microphone logo.
This was a great kickoff to the Summer Suppers. Rick and Ralph are gracious hosts, and the chefs did a masterful job. Ate way too much. If that’s the way people ate in the 1890s, I feel sorry that they didn’t have cardio machines. Our friends, Chris and Craig of the Drawing Room, engineered a beautiful flower arrangement.
You are so right, Alan. It was totally over the top!
Thanks for coming. We appreciate your support and hope everyone had a good time as we kicked off the 2013 Summer Suppers at Middlebrook Plantation. Every person on this fabulous team contributed money and labor to pull this off. Shout outs to all of them! One Summer Supper down, 13 to go. I’m only chairing one more (in September) and am very much looking forward to being a guest at several upcoming Summer Suppers. Hope to see you there!
It was a wonderful evening and the hosts did a smashing job. I am so glad you two could be there!
Kim and Gay: We have tickets to several more Summer Suppers. It’s going to be hard to top this one, but, somehow, I bet they will! The good thing about them is that each one is so unique. Really appreciate the hard-working host committees.
What a fascinating venue for the first Knox Heritage “Summer Supper” of the season! I would be a little leery of being a guest in the amputation room! But dinner looked divine! Hope to make a few of these events this year.
What a great event! Can’t wait for the next one!
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