Gay Lyons striking a dramatic pose before cutting our dessert cake at her home in The Overlook condos on Main Street.
As a sure sign that we have turned the corner on the pandemic, our downtown progressive dinners have returned! With everyone fully vaccinated, we were for the first time in over a year able to safely visit three downtown homes, enjoying a different course at each stop. The last time we did this was December 2019.
The four couples who now participate in the progressive dinner decided last weekend to invite two special guests — newcomers to Knoxville who also live downtown. Since they moved here during the pandemic, we worried that they didn’t have the full downtown experience and we wanted to help remedy that!
The guests were Jeannette Mills, executive vice president and chief external relations officer of the Tennessee Valley Authority, and Kathie Goldsby, an educator who moved to Knoxville when her husband, Tom, became the Dee and Jimmy Haslam Chair in Logistics and a professor of supply chain management at the University of Tennessee.
We like to have a theme for these evenings and, since we were welcoming newcomers, we made our theme “Knoxville food.”
It was a fun, fun night of traipsing around downtown that started at 5:30 and ended after midnight.
First stop was the lovely home of Cliff and Jacque Hawks in The Elliott on Church Avenue. They’ve done a lot of re-decorating since we last visited over a year ago. Here’s Jacque, right, with Gay.
This was such a creative take on “Knoxville food!” Jacque and Cliff recreated the famous “cheese bings” that used to be served at the Old College Inn on campus!
We also had some local beers — and my favorite pinot grigio. It’s not local, but we usually buy it at Downtown Wine & Spirits, which is super local!
The Hawks also served this delicious sparkling rose.
We had a couple of other fabulous appetizers including this smoked salmon mousse in endive leaves.
And these adorable little takes on BLTs — served in grape tomatoes!
Bill Lyons, left, and my hubs, Alan Carmichael, really enjoyed those!
Peonies are my favorite flower and the Hawks had plenty of them!
Here are some more on the dinner table where we sat to enjoy a salad.
The salad itself wasn’t particularly “Knoxville,” but the dressing is one of Monique Anderson’s specialties.
Here’s the whole gang. From left, Kathie Goldsby, Bill, Jeannette Mills, Jacque, me, Gay, Bruce Anderson, Monique Anderson and Alan. (Thanks to Cliff for taking this picture!)
Soon it was time to move to our place in the JC Penney Building on Gay Street. We got a 30-minute head start to get things ready.
We had decorated with peonies, as well. We got ours earlier that day at Sevier Blumen at the Farmers’ Market at Mary Costa Plaza.
Soon, everyone arrived. From left, Jeannette, Bill and Gay.
Monique, sitting, with Jacque and Kathie.
Cliff, left, and Bruce drinking some Blackberry Farm beer.
Thanks to my friend, historian Jack Neely, we knew that hot tamales have a long history in Knoxville. And, he says, the dish called a “Full House” was first heard of in Knoxville. That is simply hot tamales served smothered in chili.
We piled on sour cream, cheese and green onions at the table.
Confession: I didn’t make the tamales, but bought them at Good Golly Tamale and they were great. I made the chili using a Nathalie Dupree recipe. Notice the dogwood-patterned china? I thought that kind of said “Knoxville.” Don’t you agree? Antique dealer Scott Bishop sold me the whole set — more than 80 pieces — for $250 a few years ago. He had seen me admiring it for years.
Next stop was Gay and Bill’s new condo in The Overlook. Here’s the view of the Tennessee River from their back porch (shot through a screen).
We were welcomed with chocolate martinis!
Alan, Bruce and Monique taking a load off in the living room.
Haha. Spotted in the kitchen!
Gay said this strawberry cake, made with fruit from the Farmers’ Market, was such a hassle to make that she named it, “Pain-in-the-Ass Cake!”
Here’s a view of it after it was cut. It was delicious.
As you can probably tell from Alan’s expression!
And Bruce’s.
To add to the “Knoxville” experience, Gay served the cake on these plates with drawings of Knoxville landmarks.
When we noticed it was after midnight, we said goodbye to our friends — and the Lyons’ kitty, Simba — and strolled home.
We’ve been doing downtown progressive dinners since we moved downtown more than a dozen years ago. It’s a fun way to share the cooking burden — and walk off a few calories between courses. And — the beauty of doing it downtown — no driving!
What a fun group and evening you had. Food looks delicious. Is the tamale place local? Love tamales.
Hey, Katie: Yes. It’s located in the Old City at 112 S. Central Street. They have a great variety including “classic,” chicken and even vegan! They all are terrific!
What a fun night! It’s hard to believe our Christmas 2019 progressive was the last one before the pandemic. It was great to be back in action. I love so many things about living downtown, but our progressives are near the top of the list.
Gay: I tend to agree!
Our Progressives are now progressing!!! I miss them and all of you.
Monique: Agree that it’s so much fun to get together again!
Cliff and I were fortunate to be invited to attend a progressive dinner in 2013 when we were looking at moving to downtown Knoxville. It was very influential in our decision to live downtown. We are so excited to be a part of the progressive dinner now as a host! It really showcases all that is great about downtown living.
Jacque: We are so glad you and Cliff moved downtown. You are fun friends and neighbors. Also thrilled that you are joining us as hosts of our regular progressive dinners!! Looking forward to the next one in July!
Glad to see the Event Center is back open for business. Where can you find those Knoxville plates? I love them!
Love Gay’s pose!! Great job Cynthia & looks so fun!!
Carol: The Knoxville plates came from Glass Bazaar. It’s been a while, so I don’t know if they still have them, but that’s the only place I’ve ever seen them.
Carol: I love those plates, too! I see that Gay has answered.
Karen: Thanks! I asked Gay to strike a dramatic pose! She complied!
What a fun way to spend an evening with friends and experience good food.
One of my favorite meals is tamales smothered in chili. The dish you prepared looks fantastic.
About the Author
What You’re Saying
What’s Hot
My Favorite Blogs
Archives