Field and Foundry Dinner

This is how I spent my Saturday night: outside in gorgeous, unusually cool Virginia weather, at a cottage on a Trappist Monastery Abbey property, eating, drinking and chatting with amazing people. I can't even begin to express how lucky I feel that within the past year the husband and I have found a 'tribe' of people we love, and this was just another one of those perfect nights.

 Laicie from 1000 Threads and Melissa from Otherwise Hope invited us to the farm for the first of three events with Bing called Field and Foundry. I feel so happy to have connected with Laicie and Melissa over the past year: Laicie at a Kinfolk event last summer and Melissa at a Kinfolk event in the spring. Both times, I was bowled over by how kind each of them was and more than anything, that they were LOCAL. As in OMG, I can't believe you don't specifically live in DC proper and I'm super excited we get to celebrate the beauty of the "extended network" cell-service part of the DMV. It's the little things: like not having to pay $20 to park and having someone nearby who understands why you're contemplating standing on a chair with your cellphone over a plate of food (perfect Instagram shot: occupational hazard). So a big public thank you and I'm honored to know you both to Melissa and Laicie. You're awesome. 

We started the night with appetizers and drinks. The sourdough bread was made my Laicie's husband (side note: they have an amazing 'hobby' called Dough Uprising where they sell pies, and more at Maryland farm markets. They make a crazy good lemon cream hand pie that was dessert. It is life changing). He taught us later how to make a sour dough starter and I cannot wait to start using sourdough in my bread baking rotation. Since I no longer buy bread from the store, it will be amazing to have a new variety to whip up! 

The cheeses were sourced from Evernoa (buy the black pepper one!), the beer from Corcoran and the wine from a small winery in VA called Glen Manor. I have serious appreciation for buying the best of local. Sharing hidden gems in the DMV with others is one of my favorite things to talk about at dinner parties! The source of each of the foods served is something worth checking out. 

And even though a steady sprinkle moved us onto the covered porch (I mean, seriously, how could you ask for a better alternative?! Still outside and gorgeously cool.),  we talked late into the night over local BBQ, and even broccoli picked fresh from Melissa's farm. Our special guest and speaker of the evening was...wait for it...Amanda who started Trouvé. Yes, the very same Trouvé I implored you to buy last week! Convinced yet? 

Of course I can't wrap up this look into a beautiful evening without mentioning Bing. I will readily admit: I am a current user of "the other search engine"...but now I question that blind allegiance. Not only does Bing provide tools like original picture sourcing for Pinterest (if you are a blogger you know it is SO FRUSTRATING to not be able to find an original source), but they also care a great deal about the communities that exist within said interwebs. And I'm not saying that because they helped throw this party and sent us home with goodies. I'm kind of excited to explore more Bing. I'm equating this to the 'why have I not considered this sooner?' experience I had when we bought a Prius C. 

There are a few things I hope you take away from today's post besides the pretty pictures of a lovely evening. Know that no matter where you are there are interesting people nearby...it just takes work to find them. Realize that it only takes the desire to connect people together and enjoy good food and drinks and learn something to have a successful event. And of course, pickles help everything.