Dining among treasures on a Saturday night

Dining among treasures.

A fabulous setting for Saturday night dinner

Did you know:

  • Fine cut glass can get flea bites?
  • Silk lasts 800 to 1,000 years?
  • Close-mouthed dolls are not worth as much as dolls with their mouths open and teeth showing?

We learned all this and more Saturday night while dining on a gourmet dinner in an exquisite setting, all to benefit the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra.

The occasion was one of the Knoxville Symphony League‘s “Elegant Dining” events. This one was held at Westwood Antique and Design Market in the Homberg area. Proprietor Scott Bishop opened his sumptuous shop and set up dining tables among his priceless antiques. It was a perfect showcase for the delicacies prepared by Holly Hambright, one of Knoxville’s top caterers — and one whose offerings are expanding all over the place.

Symphony League member Angela Pugh offers Holly Hambright's made-from-scratch __________. Angela is _______.

Symphony League member Angela Pugh offers Holly Hambright's made-from-scratch gougeres with pimento cheese. Angela is co-chair of the Elegant Dining Committee.

Part of the fun of being at Westwood Antiques was browsing the store during the cocktail time. Scott Bishop says 60 percent of the shop’s offerings are his. The rest are by four other merchants who share space with him.

Everyone loved this charming chicken doll.

Everyone loved this charming chicken doll.

I liked this cowboy, too.

I liked this cowboy, too.

But what I loved the most was the set of china — which actually is from China — featuring a dogwood pattern. I first fell in love with this set of dishes when I saw it at the 2012 Symphony Show House in a room Scott had designed. I almost bought it then, but talked myself out of it. Now it is on sale. (Yikes!)

Here is the set of dogwood china. Scott says the unique shape of the serving pieces make it particularly valuable.

Here is the set of dogwood china. Scott says the unique shapes of the serving pieces make it particularly valuable.

But the pieces I fell most in love with were the cup and saucer.

But the pieces I fell most in love with were the cup and saucer.

Seeing this beautiful set of china again made me understand what Scott meant when he said, “In the antique business, we don’t sell things that people need. We sell things they have to have! As in, ‘I have to have it, or I will die!'” Ha.

One of Holly Hambright's signature dishes is ____ bacon, offered here by League member _________.

One of Holly Hambright's signature dishes is candied bacon, offered here by League member Dee Henning.

Here are Scott Bishop and Stacy Moody, ________.

Here are Scott Bishop and Stacy Moody, one of the evening's hosts.

Alan and I owe a big thanks to Stacy, who made sure that one of the wine offerings on Saturday was pinot grigio, in addition to the ubiquitous Woodbridge chardonnay which makes an appearance at most Symphony League events. I was gratified to note that a lot of other folks also chose the pinot grigio — it was the pour of choice at our table. In fact, it ran out long before the Woodbridge chard did.

Soon, it was time to take our seats.

This awesome chicken tureen was the centerpiece at our table.

This awesome chicken tureen was the centerpiece at our table.

Groupings of pinecone candles ran down the center of a long table beside us.

Groupings of pine cone candles ran down the center of a long table beside us.

Here is another pretty table.

Here is another pretty table.

League member Sue Whittle delivers the soup course to my tablemate Gail Jarvis.

League member Sue Whittle delivers the soup course to my table mate Gail Jarvis.

The soup was celery root potato potage with a variety of herbs. A perfect winter selection.

The soup was celery root potato potage with a variety of herbs. A perfect winter selection.

Here is another table set among the antiques.

Here is another table set among the vintage collectables.

Main course was stuffed pork loin with kale, leeks and spinach with roasted garlic pecan sauce. It all was fabulous, but my favorite bite on this plate was the corn pudding.

Main course was stuffed pork loin with kale, leeks and spinach with roasted garlic pecan sauce. It all was fabulous, but my favorite bite on this plate was the corn pudding.

Alan was in heaven when dessert arrived. Holly made the carrot cake from Scott's grandmother's recipe and it was the moistest carrot cake we've ever had. The ice cream, salted caramel ______, was to die for.

Alan was in heaven when dessert arrived. Holly made the carrot cake from Scott's grandmother's recipe and it was the moistest carrot cake we've ever had. The sea salt caramel gelato served with it was to die for.

A really fun part of the evening was when Scott offered on-the-spot appraisals, ala “Antiques Roadshow,” of the items guests had been invited to bring.

It was a casual, intimate atmosphere.

It was a casual, intimate atmosphere.

He said this stone turtle, handcarved in China sometime between 1870 and 1910 was worth from $1,500 to $3,000.

He said this stone turtle, handcarved in China sometime between 1870 and 1910 was worth from $1,500 to $3,000.

This blue and white bowl was pegged at being worth between $150 and $225.

This blue and white bowl was pegged at being worth between $150 and $225.

Because this cut glass bowl had no "flea bites" -- small chips around its rim -- Scott valued it at between $125 and $150. He said is was made between 1875 and 1910 during what is known as cut glass' "brilliant period."

Because this cut glass bowl had no "flea bites" -- small chips around its rim -- Scott valued it at between $125 and $150. He said is was made between 1875 and 1910 during what is known as cut glass' "brilliant period."

This handmade crocheted twin-sized bedspread was valued at between $350 and $500. "It's valuable because people don't do this anymore," he noted.

This handmade crocheted twin-sized bedspread was valued at between $350 and $500. "It's valuable because people don't do this anymore," he noted.

A man's Japanese wedding kimono was worth between $600 and $1,200 in today's economy, he said. "The market for Orientalia has been slender," he said.

An intricate man's Japanese wedding kimono was worth between $600 and $1,200 in today's economy, he said. "The market for Orientalia has been slender," he said.

Symphony League member Edie Volk brought her grandmother's German Flora Dora doll in. He said it was made between 1890 and 1910 and could bring $700 to $1,500. That's where we learned it was more valuable because it had an open mouth!

Symphony League member Edie Volk brought her grandmother's German Floradora doll in. He said it was made between 1890 and 1910 and could bring $700 to $1,500. That's where we learned it was more valuable because it had an open mouth!

Here are some other things the personable Mr. Bishop shared with us:

  • Clean your silver. He uses a product called “Never Dull” available at Ace Hardware. He says not to use the dips that are on the market. “Tarnished silver is like rusted metal,” he said. “It is your silver literally vanishing into thin air.”
  • Use your sterling silver. “The more it’s used, the more beautiful it gets,” he said. “If your sterling is at the bank or on the top shelf or under the bed, bring it to me to sell because you don’t need it.” He said he uses his sterling silver for everyday ware. “Even pork and beans taste better off a sterling spoon,” he noted.
  • “Stuff is always more valuable where it comes from,” Bishop said. “Everyone wants local stuff.”
  • Silk, if properly cared for, will last 800 to 1,000 years.
  • It’s fine to put your sterling silver in the dishwasher. But put the knives in the basket blade end down so that water won’t seep into the handle of the piece. And don’t mix your sterling with stainless steel in the same load.
  • Antiques represent “the ultimate form of recycling,” he said. Ha. Good point.

One particular treat we got Saturday night was meeting a couple at our table with whom we had a fun connection. At the Opera Ball in November, I bought during the silent auction a beautiful purse made from a cigar box. (Click here for the blog post about that event and a picture of my great new purse.) Turns out the couple at our table are responsible for that wonderful purse. Carmen Nappo smoked the cigars from that box. And his wife, Joan MacReynolds, turned the box into my purse! Thanks, friends.

Carmen Nappo and Joan MacReynolds

Carmen Nappo and Joan MacReynolds

The Symphony League’s “Elegant Dining” series is just getting started and there are plenty of fun events coming up. Click here to check out what’s available. Maybe we’ll see you at some of them.

Click here for a great story from Metro Pulse about caterer Holly Hambright and her sister, Peggy, who owns Magpies bakery in Downtown North.

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8 Responses to Dining among treasures on a Saturday night

  1. Ellen Robinson, on February 11th, 2013 at 12:41 pm said:

    Mox, you had better get that Dogwood china service — I’ve had my eye on it, too…

  2. Cynthia Moxley, on February 11th, 2013 at 2:00 pm said:

    Ellen, you go ahead and get it. Your storage situation is so much better than mine. I think it is a great deal — especially now that it is on sale.

  3. Ellen Robinson, on February 11th, 2013 at 2:02 pm said:

    No can do — Peter would throttle me!

  4. Carol Zinavage, on February 11th, 2013 at 5:52 pm said:

    Thanks, all y’all, for supporting the KSO! And thanks, Cynthia, for the blow-by-blow account – what fun! (You need to get the china, btw.)

  5. Cynthia Moxley, on February 11th, 2013 at 9:07 pm said:

    Carol: I love the china, but have no place to store it now that I live downtown. One small disadvantage. But, truthfully, I already have three sets of “good” china — mine, Mom’s and my grandmother’s. Plus a s–t load of Fiestaware, which I love, love, love! Someone else deserves the dogwood china. Some lucky person. That was a fun event. (Especially since I didn’t have to drink that awful Woodbridge chard.)

  6. Monique Anderson, on February 12th, 2013 at 8:32 am said:

    Cynthia: The china is beautiful. I don’t see how you can pass it up. I’m tempted just looking at it in the picture. I love china!!!

  7. Gay lyons, on February 12th, 2013 at 9:58 am said:

    What a fun idea for a party!

  8. Cynthia Moxley, on February 12th, 2013 at 10:06 am said:

    It was fun, Gay! They’ve got some good ones this year. We have signed up for four of them!

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