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You are here: Home / Charlottesville / Dress Up For Lunch

December 17, 2010

Dress Up For Lunch

Sometimes there’s nothing more special than a fancy lunch.

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Karen took Matt and me out to Keswick Hall in the Virginia countryside for a Christmastime buffet lunch in the company of a giant Christmas tree and a beautifully decorated estate.

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We dined in a beautiful living room ambiance in big wingback chairs

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The first course was served – a Root Vegetable and Apple Soup

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It was fantastic!

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Second course was a cobb salad, which tasted so good to me today with bacon, bleu cheese, tomatoes and romaine

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And then there was the buffet…. a piano full of chilled dishes

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I loved the artichokes, the blue cheese brie and the smoked salmon!

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A few warm dishes finished [almost!] the meal – Beef Bourguignon and buttery carrots. I almost skipped this course because I knew dessert was coming, but I’m glad I didn’t because the beef was outstanding! Flavored with alcohol – red wine, I believe.

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And finally, the dessert table, which I’d been eyeing since I walked in!

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We must have pondered for 5 full minutes what to have! We decided on shared rotating plate-style

White Chocolate Mousse

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Chestnut Roulade

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Fruit Crisp with Berries

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Vanilla Panna Cotta

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And my favorite…a Brownie Cake!

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Compliments to the hostess for such a fun lunch!

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The meal may have seemed over the top, but we did not finish everything on our plates and while I do feel that I ate a rich lunch, I don’t feel that full – guess that’s good because I am headed to do some YOGA tonight – a special event with Faith!

This morning I actually walked to my gym because I was afraid to bike in the snow. Turns out this wasn’t the best idea because while the roads were mostly clear, the sidewalks were not! It took me about 45 minutes to walk there (talking to my mom on the phone!). I did some weight lifting and started the trek home, running and walking intervals this time. it was great to be outdoors again.

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Gotta go change outta my nice clothes back into yoga pants! Good thing they s t r e t c h!

Filed Under: Charlottesville

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Comments

  1. Tina @ Faith Fitness Fun says

    December 17, 2010 at 4:15 pm

    I can’t remember the last time I had a fancy lunch. Heck. I can’t remember the last time I had a fancy dinner!

    Reply
    • Amalfi Girl says

      December 17, 2010 at 10:11 pm

      Me neither, and I definitely never had one THAT nice!

      (Dessert–wow. Just, wow.)

      Reply
  2. Beth @ Beth's Journey to Thin says

    December 17, 2010 at 4:21 pm

    Wow that lunch sounds fantastic and I love the gorgeous setting!

    Reply
  3. Lauren says

    December 17, 2010 at 4:22 pm

    I love holiday buffets…our school had a holiday buffet last week with pumpkin ravoli, tons of veggies, fish & meat, & tons of delicious desserts

    Reply
  4. Valerie @ City|Life|Eats says

    December 17, 2010 at 4:23 pm

    How fun – glad you had such a nice lunch 🙂

    Reply
  5. Dee says

    December 17, 2010 at 4:30 pm

    Oh my gosh! Those desserts look AMAZING!

    Reply
  6. stacey-healthylife says

    December 17, 2010 at 4:30 pm

    That looks like a fun lunch and very special.

    Reply
  7. Jasmine @ Eat Move Write says

    December 17, 2010 at 4:30 pm

    That piano buffet is so incredibly cool! How fun! It must be so nice to spend so much time with Matt’s mom. I wish our fam lived a bit closer.

    Reply
  8. Gabriela @ Une Vie Saine says

    December 17, 2010 at 4:35 pm

    That brownie cake looks absolutely divine, as does the white chocolate mousse. Desserts are always my favorite part of a nice meal! What a fun way to get into the Christmas spirit.

    Reply
  9. Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg says

    December 17, 2010 at 4:35 pm

    I love fancy lunches!!! I rarely eat them, so when I do, they really feel like special occasions!

    Reply
  10. barefootgirl says

    December 17, 2010 at 4:38 pm

    wow.. that looked so wonderful!!! You really do have a great MIL!!!

    Reply
  11. Stacey says

    December 17, 2010 at 4:41 pm

    Lunch looks delicious and who cares if it was hearty?! How often do you go out for such a delicious meal. You did right to enjoy it. Everything looks fabulous.

    Reply
  12. Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) says

    December 17, 2010 at 4:41 pm

    That looks like a beautiful lunch! The food and atmosphere look amazing! I am ready to get into my yoga pants now and sit by a fire. Have a great evening Kath!

    Reply
  13. Averie (LoveVeggiesandYoga) says

    December 17, 2010 at 4:49 pm

    Enjoy your yoga tonight!

    And the brownie cake. Wow.

    All the food looks so awesome…what a fun and fancy day! 🙂

    Reply
  14. Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat says

    December 17, 2010 at 5:00 pm

    Oooh how posh! Looks like an amazing lunch Kath. Have fun streeetttching at yoga! 🙂

    Reply
  15. Katy (The Singing Runner) says

    December 17, 2010 at 5:06 pm

    Mmmm lovely lunch! The food looks great! 🙂

    Have a great evening! 🙂

    Reply
  16. Stacy @ Every Little Thing says

    December 17, 2010 at 5:09 pm

    I don’t think you need to make an excuse for having a really nice, filling, lots-of-food lunch! Not at all. It looks amazing!

    Reply
  17. Marisa @ Loser for Life says

    December 17, 2010 at 5:11 pm

    What a beautiful lunch and gorgeous venue! I love how the buffet was set up and food was displayed! Very fancy… and delicious looking 🙂

    Reply
  18. Amy at TheSceneFromMe says

    December 17, 2010 at 5:20 pm

    I love your sweater with ruffles on it!

    Wouldn’t it be fun to jump in that pool and swim with the snow surrounding you…if only the pool was heated!

    Reply
  19. JenniferfromLaJolla says

    December 17, 2010 at 5:26 pm

    You were steps away from my mother’s old house. We used to have the best time at Keswick. Nice to see photos of it!

    Reply
  20. nicole says

    December 17, 2010 at 5:29 pm

    Your lunch looks so amazing and beautiful, especially after running ten miles. I’ve got to dig up something to eat, hope I can find something half as decent as yours looks!

    Reply
  21. Dawn (HealthySDLiving) says

    December 17, 2010 at 5:31 pm

    Look so delicious! The soup sounds incredible!

    Reply
  22. Heather (Heather's Dish) says

    December 17, 2010 at 5:52 pm

    what a fun, super fancy lunch! i love that soup course…yum!

    Reply
  23. Simply Life says

    December 17, 2010 at 5:55 pm

    Wow, what a special lunch!

    Reply
  24. haya says

    December 17, 2010 at 6:05 pm

    sure looks like a lovely lunch, but GASP it is blasphemy to put food on such a gorgeous piano! it’s a musical instrument, not a serving table….

    Reply
    • sarah says

      December 17, 2010 at 11:02 pm

      haha, I totally agree! I just posted that it was a musicians worst nightmare before I started reading other comments!

      Reply
  25. Sarah (Running to Slow Things Down) says

    December 17, 2010 at 6:27 pm

    Fancy lunches…you’re right, that is such a special treat. I love the looks of everything and the estate is gorgeous!

    (p.s. I’m pretty sure the brownie cake would have been my personal fave too 😀 )

    Reply
  26. Vanessa says

    December 17, 2010 at 6:44 pm

    How fun!! I’ve heard that place is pretty good!! Awesome to see some of the food there!! Fancy lunches are so fun.

    Reply
  27. Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin says

    December 17, 2010 at 7:09 pm

    I love your sweater! I’ve been so obsessed with ruffled clothing lately.

    Reply
  28. SAL says

    December 17, 2010 at 7:14 pm

    Your mother-in-law looks gorgeous! What a beauty!

    Reply
  29. Stephanie @ The Travelling Tastebuds says

    December 17, 2010 at 7:32 pm

    Wow… everything looks so delicious… my tummy is grumbling!!!

    Reply
  30. J3nn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) says

    December 17, 2010 at 7:42 pm

    What an exquisite lunch! I love every bit of it. YUM 😀

    Reply
  31. Paige @Running Around Normal says

    December 17, 2010 at 8:08 pm

    Fancy! How fun 🙂 Looks so very decadent and delicious!

    Reply
  32. Lindsay says

    December 17, 2010 at 8:24 pm

    I went to an amazing wedding at Keswick. Incredible views and food!

    Reply
  33. Meagan says

    December 17, 2010 at 8:40 pm

    Stretchy pants. Haha!

    Reply
  34. Alicia says

    December 17, 2010 at 8:43 pm

    What a classy affair! I can’t believe how delicious that food looks. Everything — food, setting, looks sublime!

    Reply
  35. Hannah says

    December 17, 2010 at 9:08 pm

    *whimpers* Ever since I had a Mont Blanc in Japan in 2007, chestnut desserts have been my favourite desserts, but it’s impossible to find them here in my city in Australia! I’m so envious!

    Reply
  36. Kelsey says

    December 17, 2010 at 9:25 pm

    That looks like a lovely lunch. Such beautiful scenery. However, I am disappointed that you made it a point to say you had a fancy, rich lunch but you didn’t feel stuffed. But then you go on to make the quip about the stretch pants. Why can’t you just enjoy a nice meal without having to defend it (but I’m going to do yoga tonight and I walked to the gym today!) or make fat jokes about it? I really do enjoy your blog, especially the gorgeous photography and scenery, I just think this is a flaw of most “healthy living blogs.”

    Reply
    • Kath says

      December 17, 2010 at 9:35 pm

      I enjoy nice meals without defending them all the time.

      Reply
  37. Laura (On the Threshold of Greatness) says

    December 17, 2010 at 9:51 pm

    I loved this post! I’ve been wanting to go to Keswick forever! It’s so beautiful! I’ve never been able to justify the price to stay there, but I always forget I can still go in and enjoy the estate without spending the night. 🙂

    Reply
    • Sandy says

      December 18, 2010 at 7:56 am

      I was just thinking the same thing. A nice dinner there would be wonderful.

      Reply
  38. chelsey @ clean eating chelsey says

    December 17, 2010 at 10:03 pm

    I love fancy buffets!!!

    Reply
  39. Amanda says

    December 17, 2010 at 10:17 pm

    What a beautiful place 🙂

    Reply
  40. Kiran says

    December 17, 2010 at 10:48 pm

    Love the fancy array of foods! Especially desserts 😉

    Reply
  41. sarah says

    December 17, 2010 at 10:59 pm

    I shuddered when I saw that food on the piano! That’s a musicians worst nightmare, haha!!!

    Reply
    • sarah says

      December 17, 2010 at 11:00 pm

      though it all looked delish- especially the soup!!! I’m a soup maniac!

      Reply
      • Mom says

        December 18, 2010 at 7:45 am

        Sarah,

        Our church sometimes decorates the piano at Christmas, and one dear older lady always used to say, “We don’t decorate the piano. The piano is a muscial instrument.” I’m inclined to think she is right.

        Reply
    • haya says

      December 18, 2010 at 3:56 pm

      food is definitely not allowed anywhere near my piano!!

      i remember as a kid, i would be horrified when at parties my parents would have, a guest would set their glass of wine down on it…

      Reply
  42. Christin@purplebirdblog says

    December 17, 2010 at 11:44 pm

    Wow, what an amazing lunch! That brownie cake looks to die for!! 😀

    Reply
  43. Kelsey says

    December 18, 2010 at 4:40 am

    Such a fun day and night!!

    Reply
  44. Sandy says

    December 18, 2010 at 7:54 am

    Keswick was the site for my son and daughter-in-law’s wedding reception a year and a half ago. The wedding was at a beautiful little country church a little farther down the road. The setting was absolutely breathtaking and their wedding pictures at Keswick are fabulous. We do need to get back to Charlottesville for a special dinner or lunch there.

    Reply
  45. hemp jogger says

    December 18, 2010 at 11:33 am

    i LOVE keswick’s lunch spread…i’ve only been once, but it was so freakin’ good. if i ever get visitors i’d love to take them there. and youre right…just enough to be full, but not feel out of sorts. and the grounds are so gorgeous!

    Reply
  46. Heidi - apples under my bed says

    December 19, 2010 at 5:35 pm

    What a beautiful lunch! Such a stunning location. I wish we had big estates near me. I just love them. The food looks beautiful too!
    Heidi xo

    Reply

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