In Season & Fresh from the Garden, the Fields, the Orchards & the Woods

 

Laughing Duck Gardens & Cookery

Winter Menus

 

Early winter is dark with days at their shortest. As the new year starts, the day lengthen again—finally! In the Virginia Piedmont, many of our winter days are wonderfully clear and crisp but sometimes very cold. Other days bring in rain, frigid mists and the occasional snow fall or ice storm—and a longing for the hearty dishes of the winter kitchen. This is the time of warming soups, slow-braised meat, the judicial use of spices. While some growers—too few! -  are experimenting with growing vegetables in polytunnels, many of the staples of the winter kitchen are indeed hardy greens, root-crops, dried fruit and other stored fruit and vegetables. Local eggs, dairy, meat and poultry continue to be readily available. As late winter merge into spring again though, more fresh local greens become available: arugula, sorrel, landcress and mustard pungent taste are welcomed.

Below are but a few examples of our winter menus.

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THREE COURSE WINTER MENUS

 

Winter 3-I

Leek and Butternut Squash Soup

 

Citrus-Glazed Rack of Lamb

Winter Couscous

Braised Swiss Chard

 

Upside Down Apple & Cranberry Cake

Coffee

 

Winter 3-II

Winter Green Salad with Toasted Pumpkins Seeds

 

Chicken Fricassée with Mushroom

Buttered & Parsleyed Noodles

 

Mini-Pavlova

Coffee

 

Winter 3-III

Cream of Celeri & Sunchoke Soup

 

Lemon Chicken with a Butter Caper Sauce

Braised Carrots

Lemon Rice

 

Cranberry Sorbet

with Very Chocolaty Brownie

 

Coffee

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FIVE COURSE WINTER MENUS

 

Winter 5-I

(Vegetarian)

Cumin Scented Carrot Soup

 

Fall Mesclun Salad

 

Sage, Butternut & Mushroom Lasagna

 

Cheese Platter

Homemade Bread

 

Upside Down Caramelized Pear Tart

with Home-made Ginger Ice Cream

Coffee

 

 

Winter 5-II

Beet, Walnut & Mache Salad

 

Cream of Cauliflower Soup

 

Roasted Duck with Olives

Braised Turnips

 

Winter Green Salad with Cranberry Vinaigrette

 

Chocolate Mousse

Coffee

 

Winter 5-III

Mushroom & Spinach Soup

 

Winter Green Salad With Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette

 

Shrimp in a Acorn Squash Boat

with Orange Braised Red Onion

 

Cheese & Fruit Platter

Homemade Bread

 

Roasted Banana Split Sundae

Coffee

 

Winter5-IV

Mussels in Fennel Broth

 

Winter Mesclun Salad

 

Rabbit with Cream Mustard Sauce

Rice

Sautéed Mushroom

 

Cheese Platter with Fruit & Preserves

Homemade Bread

 

Pear Almond Tart

Coffee

 

Winter 5-V

Roasted Curried Pear Butternut Squash Soup

 

Savory Puff Pastry Bites

 

Field Salad with Toasted Pecans

 

Provencal-style Leg of Lamb Roast

White Bean Gratin

Braised Rosemary Carrots

 

Cranberry Parfaits

Coffee

 

Those are only samples from our extensive offering. Contact us to discuss your needs and wants.