My Place at the Table

What do nationally recognized speakers, 110 mismatched vintage place settings, and a large, necklace-clad mammal on a skewer all have in common?

Glad you asked!  They all played an important role in our first official gig- the recent conference, A Place at the Table!  As the attendee numbers increased from an expected 65 to an eventual 110 just prior to the conference, you could have found me last week on a frantic search throughout the Queen City and her surrounding areas for more silver- plated flatware.  I had quick yet intense encounters with thrift stores, consignment shops, and Craigslist sellers from Lake Wylie to Columbia (yes, Columbia!).  Alas, God’s hand of blessing was upon me as I returned home exhausted yet victorious.

Stephen Crotts of Friday Arts Project

The conference was held in various venues in historic Old Town Rock Hill.   The top notch presenter line-up included Pulitzer Prize nominated author, Molly O’Neill, of Longhouse Food Revival, author and chef Peter Reinhart, from Johnson and Wales University, and Dr. Tom Hanchett, staff historian for the Levine Museum of the New South.

Molly O’Neill

Dr. Tom Hanchett

The weekend was a collaborative effort between our host, Friday Arts Project, a very talented group of local artists, and O’Neill’s Longhouse Food Revival, a traveling series on food in culture.  The goal of the conference was to explore and celebrate the bond that develops when great food and great company converge around the table.   The weekend culminated with a large formal dinner for all the attendees (now friends) at the Center for the Arts, in Old Town.

Our vintage place settings looked magnificent set against the simple backdrop of hand-stenciled brown craft paper and centerpieces of freshly cut sprigs of Rosemary.  I loved the marriage of formal and informal!  One of my favorite parts of the evening was as “a fly on the wall”, overhearing the guests proclaim the beauty of our china place settings.  Many even Instagrammed photos of the tables!  One guest, Keia Mastrianni, blogged the next day:

“Beautiful long tables set  with mix-and- match vintage plates invited guests in for the final feast, a celebration of  the bond forged between strangers, now friends, after a short weekend in Rock Hill.”

The menu included Lamb Barbacoa (we’re talking an ENTIRE lamb, beautifully accessorized with an authentic necklace brought by an attendee from New Orleans!).  At this point, I really wanted to sound excited about this like those sophisticated foodies seated next to me, but truth be told, I could not even look at the poor thing!  I just kept thinking how carefree that sweet lamb must have felt as she romped in the grass just the day before, unaware of the danger that lurked in the shadow!  Thankfully the fare also included something more my speed- smoked chicken, homemade tortillas, fresh mango salsa, and fresh guacamole.  Dessert was Mexican Hot Chocolate ladled into our teacups out of a large cauldron. Yum!

Gary and I had a wonderful time at the conference, reuniting with some old friends and making many new ones.  As I went to sleep that night I was thankful to the Lord for the opportunity to have been given a creative role in the weekend, thankful for friends old and new, thankful for the excitement and anticipation of a new business adventure, and fully content with my place at the table.