Guess who's coming to dinner?

I'm sad to say that due to the limited size of my February Fantasy Dinner Party (sponsored by VP at Veg Plotting), there had to be some snubbing. Perhaps my "B" list guests will forgive me and attend a future Fantasy Luncheon sometime.

My first guest is promptly escorted to the kitchen to help me prepare dinner. Rob Evans of Hugos in Portland does amazing things with local products and while we're cooking, I plan to grill him for interesting things to do with radishes.

We're cooking a seafood feast straight from his menu and filled with lots of local things. We start with a lobster and parsnip bisque with homemade oyster crackers, then move on to Maine shrimp risotto with parsley, smoked tomato butter and preserved lemon. Next, we celebrate the fact that the state allowed some scallop fishing this year with Maine sea scallops, braised endive, cranberry, and orange butter sauce. Rob and I debate back and forth on dessert and decide that we're going to serve both the bittersweet chocolate brownie with vanilla creme fraiche, espresso caramel ice cream and cashew croquant and the local blushing granny apple confit with brown butter ice cream, cider froth, cinnamon doughnut and caramel.

My great Uncle Lester shows up with armloads of forced forsythia and narcissis. He eyes dinner with a bit of suspicion, but I smile because I know that once he tastes it, he's gonna love it. We chat about the house and where my gardens are and we discuss my veggie garden space problem and he suggests ways to take over the rest of the yard with gardens.

As if on cue, Eliot Coleman arrives with a basketfull of fresh veggies picked this morning in his hoop house. Rob whips up something totally amazing with the surprise bounty and conversation shifts to the best place to put the hoop house, how to make the most out of growing all year and ends up with Uncle Lester and Eliot discussing the best way for me to build a root celler. I dash off to get a notebook so I can remember all the ideas later.

My last two guests arrive together and right on time. It turns out that Eleanor Roosevelt offered to give Jane Austin a ride to the party. They have been discussing the merrits of having a garden and how it is good not only for the spirit, but also how it benefits society.

After dinner, I resort to bringing out photos of last year's garden to give my guests an idea of what I'm working with. Eliot and Eleanor solve my vegetable garden space issue and Jane and Uncle Lester work out the landscaping for around the granite benches and in the flower beds by the pool. I show Rob sketches of our outdoor kitchen idea and he suggests some herbs that I never considered growing.

We finish the evening with boardgames, Tom Dean, and coffee and only when it's too late do we realize that it has been snowing since Jane and Eleanor arrived and now everyone has to stay over. We'll have to continue all the food and garden goodness over breakfast!

Who's coming to your dinner party?