So, have you ever been to Colonial Williamsburg?
I have. Twice. Once as a kid and once in my 30s.
If you haven’t been, just know that the whole thing is just weird. It’s a little colonial village filled with cosplay American Revolutionaries (albeit, paid). It’s like Medieval Times, but spread across acres and acres. So, I guess it’s kinda like a Renaissance Faire. Except in early America. And without big turkey legs.
My first visit in the 90s was notable because during a tour of the Rockefeller’s house (they’re the ones who funded the restoration of the town), my little brother had to use the facilities, so he got to use the off-limits bathroom. On the other side of the velvet rope. Little Nicky peed right next to John D. Rockefeller’s monogrammed towels.
The second time I visited was right before Thanksgiving 2010. It was Dearly Departed Cleve’s birthday/Christmas present–2 nights in historical Americana geekdom (in one of the on-site colonial-styled houses). A nice trip. But it sticks out in my head because on that trip I received the phone call to inform me that my beloved Gramsy (yes, the woman from whom I received Dinner is Served) passed away. So that sucked.
But the thing that was similar both times? I ate dinner at the King’s Arms Tavern. And I love that kind of shit. The whole restaurant was lit by candlelight and the menus were factually based. I was eating what George Washington would have eaten, had he visited.
OK, so what the hell does Williamsburg have to do with anything?
Because for #35 I made the Sally Lunn recipe from The Williamsburg Cookbook (1975). I scored this copy from a bookstore in NYC years ago.
It’s a really neat cookbook. I want to make the cold peanut soup this year. I recall that the soup was tasty both times I dined at the King’s Arms.
It is fitting that I made the Sally Lunn because Todd is a huge American history buff and this was the dinner I made for him for his birthday. Did I not mention that? I made this for Todd’s birthday. Which was back in May.
That’s how long I sit on these sometimes.
Anyway, without going into the drama of me and baking, here is the resulting Sally Lunn:
GORGEOUS. Now onto the main course!
And here is #35, completed!
It’s one of my best photographic recreations (it’s all in the parsley garnishes, me thinks). And this was one of the tastiest of all the DiS! dinners!
Sadly, if you look at the Sally Lunn, you can see that the top is much browner than it was when it first came out of the oven. That’s because I put it in back in the oven to warm it up before serving and, well, it got a little too warm.
Oh well.
The steak was absolutely fabulous and perfectly cooked. Just five minutes on each side in the broiler was the way to go! I’d love to make this steak again…
…if the broiler in my big, house-sized oven actually opened.
I mean, seriously. It’s always something.
I can’t win.
I really need to do another DiS! card–STAT. I’ve now written about all of the completed cards and I still have at least 15 cards left.
Should I do another poll and have you, gentle readers, decide my next big dinner?
The steak looks awesome and perfectly cooked. But that bread had my mouth watering….so, so good. Fabulous as ever. xx
[…] my Flank Steak Teryaki post I pointed out that it has been a long, long, long time since I prepared a complete meal from […]
I like the visual image of Mim splitting and buttering tourists!
Sally Lunnn was in regular rotation at our house when the kid was young when a cake-like wedge of bread for breakfast is so appealing.
Let’s see those cards and have a vote.
I’m having a Moment! My grandparents lived beside the Governor’s Palace in Williamsburg. I practically grew up there! Your Sally Lunn looks wonderful – and I LOVE the peanut soup and the Kings Arms Tavern – especially the rum runners!! What a good time! As a side note – Williamsburg hasn’t always done the interactive grab you thing. I sort of liked the old days. HA – like old day in the 60’s. The 1960’s. Spoonbread is awesome, too!
What a FUN blog, Emily! I can’t believe it has taken me so long to really discover it.
I have never seen these exact cards before although I do have quite a few card files from the same era; Betty Crocker, McCall’s etc.
I love that you got the picture of your Flank Steak spot on with that of the card. GREAT job!
I haven’t been to Williamsburg in many years but you described it pretty much the way I remember it. And, I also have that cookbook. It’s a favorite of mine too. Haven’t attempted the Sally Lunn, yet:)
You know, Emily, we are having a Cookbook Wednesday linky party over at my blog. You are more than welcome to link up this post and book. I was going to do it for you but wanted to “officially” invite you.
Thank you so much for sharing, Emily…I’ll be adding your link to my side bar so I drop by more often. I’m curious to see if you go the poll route:)
P.S. I’ll be finding you on Pinterest too…
Ooops, I do see it is from the same book because it suggests serving with Sally Lunn! How funny and strange….*g*
Such a great post – we took a family trip in 1976 to Williamsburg (and DC and Philadelphia, Jamestown and so on) in August for the Bicentennial. It was fantastic and awful at the same time! Humid, hot, sweaty, crowded, arguing in the van, arguing about when we could stop as Dad kept pushing to drive 11 to 12 hours a day. The White House was smaller than I expected, by brother got hit on by a hooker on Pennsylvania avenue and Williamsburg was amazing. I LOVED the King’s Arms.
I have the EXACT same cookbook, my Mom picked it up somewhere and remember my Mother making Brunswick Stew from it. She also (and my sister and I) still use that exact same marinade, although we usually grill. Was that one from the book? I’m not sure where my copy is…
Anyway, thanks for the memories, good and bad! And the parsley, omg, the parsley was EVERYWHERE in the 70’s! That’s how you knew a place was gourmet. And if there were any doubts, run of the mill restaurants served peppermint patties that were round, while fancy ones served the little rectangular chocolate ones that had a stripe through the center. But I digress.
I work in Bath, and there’s a shop that still makes/sells Sally Lunns, though it’s mostly tourists who go there. They’re really good split and toasted, then spread with cinnamon butter. (Sally Lunns, that is, not tourists. Although…)
That made me giggle.
Poll! Poll! Poll!
Top book. Top dish. Top photography. A great start to 2015.
You should indeed have a poll! I’d love to see what’s left of those “wonderful” DiS! cards. Wonderful’s in quotes because my damn did the 70s produce weird recipes. Sure, mid-century gets all the glory with their jell-o (excuse me, Jell-O) craptaculars, but the 70s had harvest gold, avocado green and mocha brown EVERYTHING! Hopefully the remaining dishes are full of 70s goodness such as (sigh) almonds and mandarin oranges in EVERYTHING!
The 70s–from what little I can remember, it was fabulously, gloriously awful!
The whole meal looks delicious! I’m really impressed with the Sally Lunn. I’ve looked at recipes for that, but I’ve never made it.
Yes! Put it to the vote, that will be fun. Your steak looks soooooooooooooo good. Mm. I want that.