Serenbe Style and Soul

with Marie Nygren

Monthly Archive: November 2012

Thursday

29

November 2012

0

COMMENTS

Farmhouse and Serenbe Happenings

Written by , Posted in Fern's Market, marie nygren, serenbe, Serenbe Farmhouse, Serenbe Playhouse, Serenbe Stables

This Weekend’s Dinner Menu at The Farmhouse

November 29 – December 1
Dinner served 6pm – 9pm

Starters
Farmhouse garden lettuces with Farmhouse garden radishes, bleu cheese, and herb vinaigrette – or – sweet potato soup with candied pecans

Entrées

Stuffed chicken breast with Serenbe Farms cauliflower puree, Farmhouse garden swiss chard, and bacon – or – baked pork chops with Serenbe Farms cabbage, granny smith apples, Georgia peanuts, and apple cider jus

Dessert
Apple turnovers with vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce– or –
chocolate sticky toffee pudding
Visit the Farmhouse on line to make your reservation.
Come early and enjoy 2-for-1 happy hour from 4pm to 6pm.

There are many festive events in Serenbe, and you’re invited to participate:

  • Santa comes to Serenbe December 1, 8, and 15 for family (or individual) photos.  To ensure your special time with Santa, reservations are required and accepted by the Inn at Serenbe, 770 463 2610. 
  • Serenbe Playhouse’s holiday production, A Diva’s Christmas, will be held at the Hil in Serenbe on December 1 and in various venues throughout metro Atlanta during the month of December.  Visit Serenbe Playhouse on line for dates, times, and locations and to purchase tickets.
  • Purchase fresh Christmas trees, garland, and wreaths at Fern’sMarket on December 1 and 8.
  • Serenbe’s merchants offer wonderful goods and services. Fill your shopping needs in Serenbe. 
  • Find unique gifts from area artisans at the Holiday Bazaar in the Serenbe Stables December 14-16 (Dec 14, 3-7 pm; Dec 15 and 16, 11 am – 5 pm).
  • Unwind and enjoy a delicious meal at one of our eateries: The Farmhouse, the Hil, and the Blue Eyed Daisy Bakeshop.

 

Tuesday

20

November 2012

1

COMMENTS

Miller Union’s Steven Satterfield visits my kitchen

Written by , Posted in marie nygren, Recipe Articles, Southern Chefs Series, Steven Satterfield


With my talented friend Steven Satterfield

This month, Steven Satterfield, of the acclaimed Atlanta restaurant Miller Union, graced my kitchen for the November installment of the Southern Chefs Series.  What a great time we had!  Steven is gracious, funny, interesting, and a consummate professional.  Oh, and how he debones a chicken, making it look effortless…crazy good.

From this…
Steven’s menu included wonderfully savory flavors one associates with autumn: grilled pork tenderloin with an apple cider vinegar basting sauce; roasted butternut squash and apples; farro and roots; bean salad in vinaigrette, featuring field peas and roma beans; a crispy salad tossed with a tangy Dijon mustard/champagne vinegar/ginger root dressing; griddled pastured chicken (see photos); a to-die-for potato, sweet potato and sunchoke salad; and roasted pepper and eggplant soup (recipe follows). 

…in process…
to this…in preparation for several dishes
We chopped, diced, and roasted to our heart’s content, and the results were outstanding.  It’s impossible, really, to fully describe the complexity of the flavors.  Suffice it to say, we are excited that Steven will be returning for the expanded 2013 Southern Chef’s Series. In the coming year, he’ll be our June chef. I’m already looking forward to experiencing an early summer menu of Steven’s.  I know we will be equally impressed and completely sated after those meals. 

From this…

to this…it was as good as it looks
Please enjoy Steven’s soup with its subtle hint of heat and savory goodness.  You’ll want to serve this soup with a crusty loaf of bread so you can soak up every drop…it’s that good.

Steven Satterfield’s Roasted Pepper and Eggplant Soup

Oven roast 2 large or three small whole eggplant; cool, peel

Oven roast 4 large or 6 small peppers; cool, peel, reserve liquid

Oven roast 3 fresh tomatoes with olive oil, salt, pepper, and fresh thyme sprigs; cool, peel

2 tablespoons butter

½ cup extra virgin olive oil

2 small or 1 large yellow onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic

2 teaspoons fresh thyme

1 bay leaf

1 hot pepper, seeded

¼ cup local honey

2 quarts chicken stock

kosher salt

black pepper

smoked paprika

Heat butter and olive oil in a soup pot and add onions, garlic, thyme, salt, and pepper.  Sweat until translucent.  Add roasted vegetables, stock, and remaining ingredients.  Simmer 30-45 minutes and taste for seasoning.  Remove bay leaf and blend until smooth.  Serve hot in individual bowls.  Garnish with smoked paprika and drizzle with olive oil. 

Some members of our class with Steven
Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Friday

16

November 2012

0

COMMENTS

Giving thanks

Written by , Posted in Fern's Market, marie nygren, Serenbe Community, Serenbe Farms, Steve Nygren, The Farmhouse at Serenbe, The Inn at Serenbe

As we enter the holiday season, I find it important to pause and consider all that I have to be thankful for and what is truly important.  The “things” in life, while nice and very often convenient, are just that – things.  I am grateful for the blessings that have been bestowed on me, my family, and the many wonderful people with whom I associate both personally and professionally.

Toasting our exceptional Inn and Farmhouse staff
Steve and I are blessed to live in a forward-thinking community of caring and compassionate people in an environment that harkens back to villages of the past.  Serenbe is really such a study in contrasts. We employ all the latest in building technology and comforts here, but our community is based on old English hamlets from centuries ago.  
One of Serenbe’s resident goats
In Serenbe, we pick up our mail from central locations, walk to unique shops and restaurants on unpaved paths through meadows and woods, watch live theatre productions in the open air, and have the option to purchase local food products from our farmers market and community grocer. 

From the first time Steve and I saw this property, now known as Serenbe, we knew we had come “home.”  It feels as though we were entrusted with ensuring this beautiful piece of land was preserved and protected in ways not imagined by developers of previous decades.  Learning to be good stewards of the land has been humbling, sometimes trying, but always joyful. 

Steve and me with our daughters Garnie, Quinn, and Kara
I am particularly thankful to have my three beautiful and interesting daughters living nearby.  There is no joy greater than to be surrounded by family and dear friends.  I also appreciate having a satisfying career and outstanding staff with whom to work – these enrich my life. 

During this time of Thanksgiving, may you also pause to consider your blessings. 

Thursday

15

November 2012

0

COMMENTS

What an Afternoon in the Country it was!

Written by , Posted in Blue Eyed Daisy, Les Dames d'Escoffier, Recipe Articles, The Farmhouse at Serenbe, The Hil, The Inn at Serenbe

The Atlanta chapter of Les Dames d’EscoffierInternational held its 12th annual Afternoon in the Country fundraising event here in Serenbe on November 4th.  It was a spectacular afternoon! We enjoyed glorious fall weather, and the sold out crowd (numbering over 1,800) kept the energy high all afternoon.  The who’s who of the Atlanta metro area’s hospitality industry were on hand serving delicious food and thirst-quenching libations to the guests. 

This was a special year for me in that I was invited to join the ranks of Les Dames as a member this summer.  As well, I participated in the event with my restaurant The Farmhouse.  At our table, we served Serenbe Farms collard slaw (recipe below) and the Farmhouse’s now famous fried chicken.  Serenbe’s other eateries, the Hil and the Blue Eyed Daisy, were also participants.  It’s rewarding to have Serenbe fully represented at this event. 

Proceeds from ticket sales and a silent auction raised nearly $100,000 and benefitted the Les Dames’ scholarship fund, Wholesome Wave, and Georgia Organics.

A highlight of the afternoon is always the cake raffle; this year’s raffle did not disappoint. Beautifully decorated and uncommonly delicious cakes from the areas best bakers garnered much attention. 

For many Serenbe residents, Afternoon in the Country is the event they most enjoy.  The audible buzz of conversation and laughter confirms this is many people’s favorite event. 

For those of us on the serving side of the tables, it’s an afternoon of constant activity – an invigorating and exhausting day.  When the event wraps up, I’m equally happy for the chance to sit down and sad that we have to wait another year for it to happen again!  We are so fortunate to be the host locale for this terrific event.  I hope you’ll join us next year.


The Farmhouse’s Collard Slaw

Apple Cider Vinaigrette

¼ cup wild honey

½ teaspoon dry mustard

½ cup apple cider vinegar

1 teaspoon kosher salt

¼ teaspoon cayenne

½ cup extra virgin olive oil

Whisk all vinaigrette ingredients together. 

Slaw

4 cups raw collard greens, washed, destemmed, and julienned

1 cup carrot, shredded

1 cup radish, shredded

½ cup honeycrisp apple, diced

¼ cup green onion, thinly sliced

¼-½ cup peanuts, chopped

Place all slaw ingredients in a large bowl. Toss with the vinaigrette. Garnish with the chopped peanuts.  Serve and enjoy. 

About Marie Nygren

MarieNygrenBio-200x300

When people ask me what I do, I tell them I’m the co-founder of the Serenbe community and the Inn at Serenbe. But, the truest Read More...

Subscribe to the blog

Recent Posts

Upcoming Events

  • No Events

Sponsors