Eastern Shore Artisan Trail - Benefit Auction

Living in a small town, you don't get to be anonymous and you really can't not be involved in your community. I am astounded by how much gets done in Cape Charles, with so much of it being done through volunteerism. The latest initiative I'm volunteering for is the Eastern Shore Artisan Trail. I feel out of my comfort zone because I don't know a thing about art. I like what I like, and I can't explain why. 

But this trail is so much more than art. It's about bringing together "artisans, venues, galleries and retailers, while connecting points of interest, restaurants, and accommodations in the related communities to create a “trail”, according to the Artisans Center of Virginia (ACV), which coordinates these trails throughout the state. Discussions have been in the works for awhile, and the Eastern Shore is now at the point of assembling their "team" to make this happen.

This is a true grassroots effort and we're kicking things off this weekend with a Benefit Auction on Saturday, April 5 at Island House Restaurant in Wachapreague (about 40 minutes north of Cape Charles). A silent auction will run from 11 am to 8 pm while the restaurant is open for lunch and dinner, and a portion of proceeds from meals served that day will go to the Trail. At 8 pm, a live auction will feature items retailing at $200 and over. Items, for both the silent and live auctions, include decoys, paintings, antique maps, jewelry, gift baskets, local theatre tickets, overnight stays, and gift certificates to restaurants and a variety of services and outdoor activities such as fishing charters and horseback riding.

Come during the day to enjoy a great meal - have I told you about the Island House crab cake and their sweet potato fries? Or come later at night for drinks and to enjoy live music by Van Lewin and Melinda & The Benders. Reservations are highly suggested for dinner service and can be made by calling Island House Restaurant at 757-787-4242. We'll be there at some point during the day for lunch - yes, I'm having the crab cake with sweet potato fries - and we hope to see you there. 

Follow the Eastern Shore Artisan Trail on Facebook to see pictures of some of the amazing artwork that will be auctioned off that evening. 

I want to thank the Cape Charles businesses who are supporting this effort either through financial contributions or donating items for the auction: Arts Enter Cape Charles, brown dog ice cream, gallery 209, Gull Hummock Gourmet Market, Moonrise Jewelry, Nancy Vest (artist), Pfeiffer Riding Stables, and Wendell Distributing.  

If you can't make it but still want to support this effort, you can make your donation online. 

Pesto Goat Cheese Quiche

There are 3 things in cooking that make anything better - bacon, butter and goat cheese - at least in my mind they do. I didn't discover the beauty of goat cheese until I went to culinary school and learned this recipe. You can make with or without tomato and you can cut back on the goat cheese, but why would you.


Ingredients:
6 eggs
2 egg yolks
1 1/4 cup milk
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 cup pesto
8 oz goat cheese
1 tomato, sliced thinly

Preparation:
Whisk together eggs, yolk, milk and salt and pepper. Add pesto and combine. Place egg/pesto mixture in crust that has been blind baked for 10 minutes. Mixture should not come to top of crust, and this is fine, because as soon as you add goat cheese, the mixture will come up higher. Break goat cheese into small pieces, about quarter size, and drop into mixture. Place around to different spots because where you drop it, is where it will set up and you don't want a huge blob of goat cheese (or maybe you do). Place thinly sliced tomato directly on top of egg/pesto/goat cheese mixture. Lay them flat around in a circle - they should sit right on top but the edges may sink a little.

Alternative is that you can put a base of thinly sliced tomato right onto your blind baked crust BEFORE you put in the egg/pesto mixture. The advantage to putting them on the bottom vs. the top is that sometimes they can dry out a little on the top.

Or you can completely forget the tomato.

Put quiche in 350 degree preheated oven and bake for 40 minutes. Egg mixture should be set and not look wet and runny. There should still be a little bit of jiggle to it. If there's no jiggle, that means it's overcooked. It will still have great flavor, but just be a little dry. Allow quiche to cool 10 minutes before slicing so that it will continue to set up and slice more neatly.

If you want to make individual quiches, bake for 20 minutes.

Make It Special with Moonrise

I love Moonrise Jewelry! You don't know what Moonrise Jewelry is? Well, neither did I until we moved to the Eastern Shore, and once you discover it, you are in for something truly special.

I first saw Meredith's work about 3 years ago - Meredith is the owner and designer - at a street festival and I was stunned by the beauty of her work. She's known for her "real orchids" which are literally real orchids preserved in resin. They come in all sorts of colors and sizes and you would think they would be heavy but they are about as light as a feather. We were so excited when Meredith opened her retail store here in Cape Charles and you can go in any day to see her amazing creations of necklaces, earrings, bracelets, cuff links, hair combs, and pendants. One of the great things about her work is she has something for all budgets - from $19 for Easton Earrings up to $349 for her Plantation or Bonaire Necklaces.

We've partnered with Moonrise for an exclusive package for guests of Fig Street Inn that can be added to your reservation and waiting in your room upon arrival. You'll receive a Mini Orchid Necklace (retail $54) and $25 gift certificate to Moonrise Jewelry for $75. Your someone special will have a spectacular gift waiting to be opened, and then they'll get to go to the store with their gift certificate to pick out another beautiful piece of jewelry. Or they can exchange the necklace and have a total of $75 to spend in the store.

What a great surprise and you'll look like a star - and we'll do all the work for you. We just need 2 days notice…it's as simple as you telling us when you make your reservation by phone at 757-331-3133 or when you reserve your room online, just select the add-on option. If you have a color preference, let us know. Necklaces come with an 18" sterling silver chain, or you can have a 16" or 20" chain. The necklace comes in a keepsake tin gift box that will be gift packaged.

If you're not sure what she'll like, we can have a gift certificate waiting - you tell us the amount - and then she can pick out her own handmade creation. Or if you find something on the Moonrise Jewelry website that you know she'll love, we can have that waiting instead.

It's all about making your visit to Cape Charles and Fig Street Inn a wonderful, unique experience - so you tell us what that something extra is that can make your time here even more memorable.

Moonrise Jewelry is located at 22 Strawberry Street in Cape Charles, Virginia. They are open Monday through Saturday; and have Sunday hours Memorial Day through Labor Day, and in December. Visit their website or follow them on Facebook.