Here’s a bit of life lately including a tomato-themed dinner at Veritas and a nature hike we took with Birch.
Supper Series at Veritas
Veritas is one of my favorite vineyards in town because they do so many fun events. From Starry Nights concerts to the Veritas Illuminated winter lights tours to the Supper Series dinners all summer. Last year I went with my friend group to “The French Cafe” and this year we did a second annual dinner with a tomato theme!
This dinner was a partnership with Veritas and David Hunsaker from Village Garden RVA. With over 20 years of farming experience, David has cultivated more than 400 varieties of tomatoes and 100 types of chiles. We enjoyed plenty of summer tomatoes and learned about some of the more unique varieties during the dinner.
Professional photos by @benlolliphotography
We enjoyed Rosé and Spicy Savvy B to start! I loved the jalapeños and sauvignon blanc combo!
Professional photos by @benlolliphotography
Our Menu
LOVED the tomato salad with sweet chili, basil, and garlic. Tomatoes at their finest!
We also enjoyed chickpeas with summer eggplant.
And cioppinno with fresh seafood and shaved fennel.
And dessert was a Basque Goat Cheese Cheesecake. (TBH, the tomato jam was not my favorite!)
If you’re interested in attending an upcoming Supper Series dinner, there are two more to come:
- Friday, August 15, with Chef Jean-Paul Bourgeois and Tik-Tok Crabber Luke McFadden
- Friday, September 19, with Autumn Olive Farms
Nature Hike
On Saturday Thomas and I took Birch on a nature hike to Ivy Creek. This sweet child was SO EXCITED to go hiking!
He loved throwing rocks in creek.
We also saw this very cool owl!!
Tortoise and the Hare
Birch also was very proud to win 4th place in a kids running sprint for his age group at a kids track club! Go Birch!
I was proud to just finish my run when I did a small group session at ACAC. I’m decent at weights, stairs, and agility, but man running the track sucked the life out of me!! Patrick and I tied for reddest face though!
Mazen has been loving his fishing camp again this year. He sent me this pic of one he caught on a very green pond!
We FINALLY made it to the pool after many attempts that started with blue skies and ended like this by the time we got there. Basically a pool on our porch!
But we enjoyed a beautiful Sunday with no rain last weekend. I fulfilled my dream of doing my three favorite pool activities: reading, floating on a raft without getting tipped over, and eating watermelon!
Fishwife
Fishwife sent me some of their tinned fish being the sardine lover that I am: Albacore Tuna, Sardines in Lemon, and Smoked Trout. All three have been amazing! Plus are these not the prettiest packages ever?!
We enjoyed sardine salad at the end of our hike.
Kath Eats Summer Foods
Sunday dinner: Roasted dill salmon, rosemary potatoes, and caprese tomatoes.
The best Blue Apron skillet dinner. I am going to recreate this! It was like a deconstructed enchilada.
Another Blue Apron winner: cheesy chicken, beans, and garlic bread.
Mozzarella and heirloom tomato sandwich with summer cherries
And Holly’s birthday brunch at Birch and Bloom! Loved the deconstructed smoked salmon toast.
We’re heading to the beach tomorrow for one last summer hurrah and a family reunion with Thomas’s side. Then it’s pretty much back to school!
Erin B says
Hi Kath! Been a reader for years (the beginning…?!).
So random but is the woman with the curly hair in your photos Ivy? My husband and I met her on our honeymoon in Switzerland back in 2016. I believe we did a cheese and chocolate tour together in Gruyère! What a small world.
Kath Younger says
OMG YES!!!!! She spent a ton of time in Switzerland working at a hostel. She was just back this summer. I’ll pass on her message to you!! What a tiny world indeed.
Ivy H. says
Hi Erin!!!! This is so cool! Yes! I remember that day so well—thank you for letting me crash your honeymoon and have lunch together! What a fun trip 🙂 what a small world!
Erin B. says
So great to see you again!! We had the best time, hope all is well! 🙂