Shaker Harvest Suppers October 8th & 29th
Shakers Know How To Cook.
By: Philip S. Kampe and Maria Reveley - Sep 10, 2016
It couldn’t have been a more beautiful night at Hancock Shaker Village. Known as ‘The City of Peace’ this majestic campus that the Shakers built, one of their nineteen villages, makes one feel transformed to when the Shakers lived on this property.
The dwellings and stone houses blended in visually with the crops that were abundant throughout the village, as well as the livestock that inhabit this sacred land.
The ‘mission’ of the evening was to participate in a traditional Shaker Harvest meal. Before partaking in nature’s bounty, the group of close to fifty, rose and said Grace before the meal.
GRACE (Origins Unknown)
(This Shaker Grace, from Sabbathday Lake, where Shakers still reside, emphasizes communal life and togetherness)
What shall be the theme of the passing hour?
What shall be the measure of the song, what the strain?
Once more the circle’s made wider and broader.
The household of faith has all met again.
Come, the feast is ready while the table’s loaded,
With the choicest fruits from a-far and near.
While leaders and people, partners and children,
Love and affection all are here.
All at home,
All at home.
After introducing myself to neighbors at our table, an enthusiastic intern, visiting from Norway, rose and said, ‘its time to eat.’ Following orders, and the cue of tablemates, we rose and created a small food line. Overwhelmed by the selections that were given to us, in true Shaker fashion, my eyes bulged with the selections.
The menu was certainly enticing:
Sister Clymena’s tomato soup with cheddar cheese
Pork loin with roasted pears, cranberries and ginger sauce
Chicken pot pie with potatoes
Dilly green beans and watercress salad
Zesty carrots
Roasted potatoes with Shaker herbs
Dinner rolls and butter
Mixed berry, pear and rhubarb pie with whipped cream
White wine
Lemon water, tea & coffee
What a lovely meal.
From the joy of the evening that we experienced, it was obvious that the Shakers knew the importance of food and duly rewarded their inhabitants with the bounty of the earth.
We were fortunate to attend one of this lovely event and so can you. There are two more Shaker Harvest Suppers scheduled for October 8th and 29th. (4-8pm) . These dinners will be paired with wine, ale, cider and spirits. Libations expert, John Kelly will guide you through the pairings.
For more information, contact Hancock Shaker Village at: www.HancockShakerVillage.org or via telephone (413) 443-0188 or (800) 817-1137
(Hancock Shaker Village is located in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, less then three hours from NYC and under two and a half from Boston)