For a while now I’ve seen, read and heard about events put on by Hill & Holler. [Check out this gorgeous recap!] With the tagline “a modern configuration of the farm table,” Hill & Holler configures farm dinner events at different locations featuring local food and chefs. Each event benefits a non-profit organization. I finally figured out how to buy a ticket before they sell out (=fast!) and couldn’t wait to enjoy my first dinner on Sunday night.
The evening was supporting Beyond The Flavor, an amazing food blog here in Cville, and creators Sarah and Andrea were the guests of honor. Expect a beautiful recap on the event on BTF!
I asked my friends if anyone wanted to be my date for the evening and Genevieve joined me!
I was thrilled that my friend Brett and her husband Nathanial were able to come too.
We began the evening smack in the middle of the downtown mall with music by Red & The Romantics and Potter’s Craft Cider.
The passed apps were great, and this artichoke spread with olives, peppers, pickles and parmesan was my favorite
We moved inside for the main meal where two long tables were dressed to the nines
Old Metropolitan Hall is a brand new venue downtown and it was fun to step inside after watching construction for months. The inside is classic and fancy but was decorated perfectly with burlap and flowers for this evening’s event.
Pollak is one of my favorite local vineyards, so I was thrilled with the wine selection!!
Chef Dean Maupin of C&O Restaurant was the mastermind behind the menu, and everything was incredible – great use of herbs and contrasting textures!!
We had to Google “sottocenere” and figured out that the puddle of white was a melty “fondue” sauce. I loved the sausage buried inside from Sausage Craft. This might have been my favorite course, but it was hard to choose!
The second, third and fourth courses were all served family style, which I loved! A compromise between buffet and plated dinner. Family-style food is so beautiful!
First, rose. LOVED this! It was just like aged summer strawberries.
Duck tortellini and French lentils
The salad was tender and seasoned with plenty of grainy mustard dressing
My favorite food of the night was the bread. Surprise, surprise! I don’t even like leeks, but this leek + tarragon ciabatta was out of this world. The bottom was crusty almost like toffee and there was a hint of cinnamon that we couldn’t figure out – perhaps the tarragon?
The main course…
<3 Meritage
Loved the herby gremolata on top
And finally….the Silky Cow Milk + Brown Sugar Pie was outstanding!!! The base crust was sticky toffee and the top layers smooth as can be. The recipe is actually on Beyond The Flavor!
Dessert wine and Shenandoah Joe coffee concluded the meal.
What an amazing foodie experience. I hope to dine with Hill & Holler again soon!
Kaila @healthyhelperblog! says
April 25, 2013 at 7:11 amCertainly a ‘foodie experience’ as you said! What a great venue and an even better meal! Everything looks amazing! 🙂
Lisa @bitesforbabies says
April 25, 2013 at 7:26 amIt’s post has me SO nostalgic (and hungry!). It seems like over here (in Ontario) the winter is never-ending! I can’t wait to be outside, go to events such as this one, and not to mention visit family in Italy this summer and hang out at the beach ALL day, every day! Your post has inspired me to start the countdown, lol!
Susan H @ The Food Allergy Chronicles says
April 25, 2013 at 7:28 amOh my gosh…what an amazing food and wine extravaganza! 🙂 My mouth is literally watering at the sight of all that gorgeous food…you lucky girl. 🙂
Alyssa @ Road to RD says
April 25, 2013 at 7:29 amLooks like a great time! I’m jealous!
Marina says
April 25, 2013 at 7:29 amThis looks amazing! Where did you get your top, btw? — Love it! 🙂
KathEats says
April 25, 2013 at 8:14 amIt’s actually a dress – Five Bamboo
[email protected] says
April 25, 2013 at 7:35 amWOW! That food looks incredible!!! All extremely well presented and the combinations are just beautiful! Quite the night out! 🙂
Ali @ Peaches and Football says
April 25, 2013 at 7:39 amWow. Just wow. That place is so pretty – I love the rustic charm. So much character! I love your posts because the weather is so perfect and I love seeing people out in sandals and dresses. Can’t wait for nicer temps here! What a fun experience!!
[email protected] says
April 25, 2013 at 7:42 amOh my goodness, Kath, these pictures! If it was possible to wake up this morning even MORE starving than usual, that beautiful pie just did me over:)
I love all of your nutrition posts, and it’s always fun to get a new recipe, but these posts about life in Cville and the gorgeous restaurants that you visit will always be my favorites!
Karen says
April 25, 2013 at 7:46 amSo, Hill and Holler is an event planning firm and they host these farm style dinners at various local venues? (Just want to make sure I understand the logistics…) Do they operate in other cities/states? In any event, cool!
KathEats says
April 25, 2013 at 8:13 amYes, I believe they are just local to Cville
Sally says
April 25, 2013 at 7:49 amWow, that meal looks amazing! Thanks for sharing!
Anne Weber-Falk says
April 25, 2013 at 7:53 amThis was a great post. What a nice time you had too. I live in Illinois, about an hour west of Chicago. The area is just starting to dabble in events like this. I can’t wait to find one too.
Lisa says
April 25, 2013 at 8:21 amThis would be an amazing wedding reception!
Shannon C says
April 25, 2013 at 8:26 amThis is less relevant to the post and more relevant to just reading your blog in general, but I have to say, Charlottesville sounds like an AMAZING place to live. I’m looking to make a career change/move and it’s definitely on my list! It looks so beautiful there in all of the pictures you post and I’m really jealous of all of the cool events that you get to be a part of. Looks like it was a blast!
kiki says
April 25, 2013 at 8:27 amJealous!
Lindsey @ Pas de Deux says
April 25, 2013 at 8:33 amWow! What a treat! Everything looks beautiful and delicious–so glad you were able to go, and so happy to get to live vicariously through your recap 🙂
I love Rose in the spring and summer. I haven’t had Pollack’s, though…must track it down ASAP! I’m dreaming of sipping some on my porch this weekend…
Claire @ Live and Love to Eat says
April 25, 2013 at 8:41 amWhat a fun event – from the menu to the decor, it looks like a great concept!
Tara says
April 25, 2013 at 8:47 amLooks really fun! I went to a similar event a year ago in San Francisco and it was the best food I had in a long time.
Amanda says
April 25, 2013 at 8:47 amThans for the link to the pie recipe! We are having a cookout next weekend and I am totally going to make this pie!!!
Nina @ Too Hottie For That Body says
April 25, 2013 at 8:55 amOMG what I wouldn’t give to sit at that table. That food looks unbelievable!
Jane @ Not Plain So Jane says
April 25, 2013 at 9:01 amI live for things like that! I love when a meal is truly an entire experience. Multiple courses, wine pairings, nice settings, good company. That’s what eating is all about! So fun!
Eleanor says
April 25, 2013 at 9:06 amare you still breastfeeding?
KathEats says
April 25, 2013 at 9:12 amYes
Hayley @ Running on Pumpkin says
April 25, 2013 at 9:11 amI’ve never gone to an event like this, a “foodie” event, and would LOVE to! This looks like so much fun with such interesting dishes. That bread?! Yum.
Lynn @ the actor's diet says
April 25, 2013 at 9:23 amI’m in awe. Gonna look up that pie recipe now.
Bridget Miller says
April 25, 2013 at 9:26 amIm not sure which is more beautiful…. you or the food?! gorgeous photos. life looks gooood in the south 🙂
Ella P says
April 25, 2013 at 9:41 amDear Kath,
each and every course sounds so tasty and delicious.
As much as you I am a bread zealot and I would like to know more about that ciabatta 😉
were the veggies cooked “embedded” in the bread or where they added/spreaded in between the sliced before serving the loaf?
Kind greetings,
Ella
KathEats says
April 25, 2013 at 12:56 pmIt was cooked inside
Ella P says
April 25, 2013 at 1:08 pmThanks Kath,
Uuuh, so juicy! I will definitely try and replicate the masterpiece in my kitchen.
Ella
Erika @ Balanced Spoon says
April 25, 2013 at 9:49 amHey Kath! This looks like quite the swanky event! I love pairing local wines with local foods… what could be better? And boy, I want to bury my face in that bread. Lol… it looks amazing. This is what happens when I read about food when I’m hungry 🙂
Anele @ Success Along the Weigh says
April 25, 2013 at 10:20 amI’ll take that loaf of bread and curl up in the corner, thank you. WOW!
Katie says
April 25, 2013 at 10:32 amI am absolutely going to be making that pie – it looks delicious, but SIMPLE!
I am breastfeeding, as well, and usually just keep it to one drink at a time for convenience. I’m curious how you planned for the wine pairing? It would be very helpful info for me. Thank you!
KathEats says
April 25, 2013 at 12:56 pmThat’s kind of a personal question, but I left a bottle of pumped milk that Matt gave him at bedtime and he was sound asleep for the night when I returned
Katie says
April 25, 2013 at 1:16 pmThank you for the response! I guess it is all about the timing.
(Sorry if it was too personal, I guess managing BF is something I do and think about all the time, and has become such an every day thing for me! I apologize for not being sensitive).
Best, Katie
KathEats says
April 25, 2013 at 1:18 pmThat’s ok. Yeah I wouldn’t have had that much wine prior to sleep training when he was waking up at night.
Liz says
April 26, 2013 at 5:09 pmI don’t think that it is a personal question, because you opened the door to that discussion in your previous posts on breastfeeding. Like Katie, I am curious as to how other moms handle drinking wine at dinner and breastfeeding. The dinner looked delicious!
rosie says
April 25, 2013 at 11:14 amYUM! Looks amazing. Wish I could’ve gone…actually, I wouldn’t have been able to eat anything anyway (unless they had something for people with allergies?). Old Metropolitan Hall is a great space, I went to an event there a few months ago (and we have some wedding work there coming up.)
Sarah @ Making Thyme for Health says
April 25, 2013 at 11:19 amWow, looks like an incredible evening! The bread does look amazing, I don’t think it gets any better than stuffed bread. 🙂
Sarah says
April 25, 2013 at 11:49 amIt looks like an incredible meal. I’m kind of curious though–although this doesn’t really have anything to do with you–but why would a food blog be considered a non-profit in need of a benefit dinner, especially when they run ads on their site? BTF looks like a very nice blog, but that’s a lot of money that could have gone to a local food bank and there are a lot of needy people in Charlottesville.
KathEats says
April 25, 2013 at 12:55 pmI’m actually not quite sure of the answer to this – perhaps you could ask them on their blog? I don’t think they have ads though. It seems built out of passion, so it might just be a labor of love.
Sarah says
April 25, 2013 at 2:17 pmThanks, I was mistaken. There are ads at the bottom, but they promote the blog owners’ other businesses and aren’t paid ads. Still not sure why a blog deserves a benefit though…
Michele says
April 25, 2013 at 1:27 pmWhat a dream evening! All the food and wine looks amazing! Thank you for sharing.
Michelle @ A Healthy Mrs says
April 25, 2013 at 3:05 pmWow, all of the food looks & sounds amazing! What a neat idea for an event!
Kelli H (Made in Sonoma) says
April 25, 2013 at 4:18 pmThis looks like an amazing culinary experience.
Sara says
April 25, 2013 at 4:28 pmKath, did you enjoy the Mille fleurs from Pollack?
KathEats says
April 25, 2013 at 4:29 pmYes, loved it! It was almost like a port
Sara says
April 25, 2013 at 5:18 pmWhat are your top 3 or 4 VA vineyards around Charlottesville?
KathEats says
April 25, 2013 at 8:09 pmPollak, Pippin Hill (for the scenery), Blenheim, Keswick
Jessica says
April 25, 2013 at 4:33 pmWhat a wonderful evening, you looked beautiful too!
Amelia @Eating Made Easy says
April 25, 2013 at 4:57 pmThat food looks absolutely to-die-for.
Sara says
April 25, 2013 at 5:06 pmIf you don’t mind me asking, how much does an event like this cost?
KathEats says
April 25, 2013 at 8:09 pmIt was $100 a person
Maeve says
April 26, 2013 at 11:42 amOh my gosh, I would LOVE to attend an event like this. I am just a garden-variety home cook but always get incredible inspiration from chefs who are so passionate about their craft. If it’s not too personal a question, was your ticket free in exchange for a review of the event on your blog? I’m thinking of starting a blog myself and a perk like that would be great motivation for me !!!! (Although I realize that it takes years and lots of time/effort to build up the readership that you have, Kath.) Thanks !!1!!
KathEats says
April 26, 2013 at 2:07 pmI paid for the dinner myself (hope I made that clear by saying I bought the ticket – I would have disclosed if I had been invited as a blogger). It is a nice perk of blogging, but unfortunately you just never know when the invitations will come.
Maeve says
April 26, 2013 at 2:14 pmOoops sorry I missed that!!! I think I was racing through the words and concentrating on all the great food photos instead 🙂
Sara @ sarasmiles says
April 25, 2013 at 6:31 pmC&O is one of my favorite restaurants! Looks like an amazing culinary experience!
Jenn says
April 25, 2013 at 6:50 pmGorgeous!
Shay @ myhotelyorba says
April 25, 2013 at 7:27 pmEverything looks so yummy! I got hungry reading your post. I would love to know if someone does something like that down here in the ATL.
Valerie says
April 25, 2013 at 7:57 pmThat looks delicious! I would love to try the duck tortellini…it sounds heavenly.
Kathryn @ Mamacado says
April 25, 2013 at 7:59 pmYour photos look like they should be in a magazine! Beautiful!!
Spice Chicken says
April 25, 2013 at 8:05 pmThe yellow bag is the cutest! Thanks for another great post.
Erin K says
April 25, 2013 at 8:25 pmDuck tortellini and French lentils… I was searching for the like button… really I wanted the LOVE button!
Becky O'Brien says
April 25, 2013 at 10:01 pmStopping by to say “hi”! Still enjoying your daily messages. This event looks amazing! Makes me want to move to the lake house, close to C’Ville. Neat to see Brett and Nathaniel on here. Been friends of the family for years.
KathEats says
April 26, 2013 at 5:56 amHi Becky!
Cat says
April 26, 2013 at 2:58 amEverything looks so good there, and so do you !! 🙂
Jerry Simpson says
April 26, 2013 at 5:37 amYum! What an incredible menu and the weather looked fantastic for the event. Would have been wonderful enjoying a glass of wine with everyone.
Anna says
April 26, 2013 at 11:56 amI live in NYC, so you can imagine it’s difficult to find local, organic food nearby, let alone grow any (not a possibility on fire escapes), so I really enjoy visiting your blog and seeing all the different, beautiful options to choose from. My brother lives near Charlottesville, makes me want to visit!
Kathie says
April 26, 2013 at 12:41 pmAmazing pictures, looks like you had a great time. 🙂
bmrobertson63 says
April 26, 2013 at 12:42 pmHey, Kath! This is random, but a while back you posted about your raised beds in your garden and how Matt made them. I have searched and searched your blog for this post, but can’t seem to find it! Could you possibly help me find that post? My husband and I are starting a garden and we’d like to remember your advice! Thanks in advance 🙂
KathEats says
April 26, 2013 at 2:07 pmHmmm I’m not sure he ever wrote that post. I found this one, but not one on the details. He’s doing a post on gardening soon, so I’ll tell him to include some info on the beds.
Shannon ~ My Place In The Race says
April 26, 2013 at 1:51 pmOh wow! Looks like a blast! So pretty too. 🙂
Kristin says
April 26, 2013 at 3:41 pmYour pictures make me feel like was there! Everything looks so delicious!!
aimee says
April 26, 2013 at 8:26 pmI love Silky Cow’s raw milk. We get our raw milk from another farmer but have had Nathan’s before and it is wonderful!
Emily @ Tips on Healthy Living says
April 26, 2013 at 9:15 pmSo beautiful and delicious-looking!
Emily @ Life on Food says
April 27, 2013 at 4:53 amThis sounds like such a cool thing. The food looks amazing, especially the bread and dessert. I would have been all set with just a sampling of those.
Lisa says
May 2, 2013 at 1:15 pmHi Kath! I want to make that pie recipe from Beyone the Flavor for Mother’s Day but they dont state an oven time! Do you know the owner of the blog? Someone asked in the comments awhile back and it still hasnt been fixed or answered!
Maybe you have some baker insight?! Unlike me i am a beginner 🙂
Thanks!
KathEats says
May 2, 2013 at 2:19 pmOh dear! Did you try emailing them? That’s a big piece to leave out! You could also just watch it closely and try to tell when it sets?