Clubs and Organizations Sheriff Holds Gala to Support Keep Wakulla County Beautiful (by Marj Law of KWCB)
Written by Marj Law Monday, 05 May 2008 11:17
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Keep Wakulla County Beautiful News
May 5, 2008 by Marj Law |
Sheriff Holds Gala to Support Keep Wakulla County Beautiful
The red carpet rolled out of Wildwood’s Bistro on Saturday, April 16, 2008 for the “First Annual Sheriff’s Benefit for Keep Wakulla County Beautiful.”
Yes, tiny white lights twinkled on either side of the red carpet leading to the door. Just Fruits donated two large tea olive trees to flank the door, and they too, were dazzling with white lights.
Inside Jerry Evans played grand piano, and it seemed like everybody knew each other and were having a great time “catching up.” Jerry’s music made the atmosphere friendly and relaxed. The men wore dark suits or tuxedos, and the women, well, they sure had a great time dressing up. From formal and elegant black to frothy light lace, the women of Wakulla were beautiful.
Sheriff Harvey welcomed his guests, and thanked Jerry for his playing and everyone else for coming to support Keep Wakulla County Beautiful. As he finished, servers placed small appetizers on each setting.
Guests got the hint and sat right down. Suddenly, a trio of musicians began playing flute, violin and cello. We looked to see that first serving. The menu said we were about to eat a Trio of Crustini. This appeared to be three ovals of thinly sliced bread with three different and fancy toppings. Servers accompanied this with a white wine called Domaine Ste. Michelle’s Cuvee Brut.
We chatted with our neighbors and waited happily for the next course. This turned out to be a salad with very tender spring greens in a Fig Balsamic Dressing with whole wheat Bulle Bread. A different wine came with this course. It was called Two Vines Riesling and tasted just right with the salad. Servers cleverly put very little in each glass at each course. If we liked it and wanted a little more, we just grabbed one of the plentiful servers and they understood immediately.
I think everyone anticipated the entrée. Actually, it turned into entrees because both breast of duck with a Grand Marnier Demiglaze Reduction and tournadoes of filet mignon with a caramelized Gorgonzola and Port Wine demiglaze adorned the dinner plates. Both duck and filet could have been cut with forks, because they were so tender. Yum. Along with the entrees came a Chateau Ste. Michelle, 2002 Columbia Valley Syrah. All I can say about the wine is that it tasted great and could stand up to the entrees.
Melanie Weltman, who chaired the Gala Committee, worked with Paige Killeen to select just the right wines. Fortunately, Paige knows her business, took the menu, and picked wines for every course.
We didn’t stay in our seats. The leisurely meal allowed us to talk to friends who we never seem to see often enough. For once, we could talk non-business and relax.
After the cheeses, which were Gruyere, Brie and Fontina, and a matching Red Diamond Chardonnay 2003, we still managed to eat dessert. Egad! We were being very bad, and we loved it!
Crème Brule or a Molten Chocolate Cake tested our self-control. Forget it. We had none. I swapped half my cake to get half a Crème Brule. Incredible. And the dessert wine was sweet, too.
While we managed dessert with happy groans, Jerry Kinder, who has worked with Bob Hope and Bob Newhart (and many other famous people), told one joke after another; some including members of his audience. I could hear tittering from Rhonda Harvey two tables away!
What a night! What an evening!
(Pictured: Linda and Ray Boles, Carolyn and Gene Lambert, and Judy and Maurice Langston; Sheriff David Harvey and KWCB Director Marj Law; Comedian Jerry Kinder)
Click here for a Wakulla.com photo gallery of the event!
This article originally published on May 5, 2008.
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