Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Holiday Tree Festival Gala Preview Dinner



Two years ago, during my regular festival hopping, I had the pleasure of visiting and reviewing the Holiday Tree Festival, put on by the Volunteers of Akron Children's Hospital.  

You can read my review of that festival HERE.

Well, as luck would have it, someone in the organization saw my blog review and invited me back to the festival, as well as the Preview Dinner the night before the opening!

Festival invite AND free food?


Of course I said, "Yes!"


Like two years ago, there were plenty of great trees...


...decorated with trains...


...Dr. Seuss fun...


...gingerbread...


...and Lamb Chop...

 

...while others were made of spheres...


...bottles...


...and paper.

But go check it out yourself!  It lasts until November 25th!

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During the dinner...


 ...as the Claus family entertained the kids...


 ...I devoured a roasted red pepper and gouda soup (see comments)...


 ...a delicious plate of filet mignon with Merlot reduction, stuffed Frenched chicken, asparagus and vanilla sweet potato souffle with pecans...


...and an incredible dessert bar...


...with swan cream puffs...


...and cakes galore.



Just check out the fantastic dessert plate I created that evening.

Needless to say, I had a blast.

Thanks, Akron Children's Hospital!



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3 comments:

  1. Looks like a lot of fun! I love seeing how creative the decorations are.

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  2. Pepperoni pizza soup? lol I believe it was Roasted tomato with Gouda. Ah, but thats okay, I'm just picking on ya- and it was delicious by any name. It was great to meet you there!

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    1. I just looked in the program and corrected this post, although that soup tasted so much like peperoni pizza to me (I thought there were little chunks of peperoni).

      Interestingly enough,in both my original description and this comment, I have accidentally misspelled the word "pepperoni". The way I've spelled it is actually the Italian word for "peppers" (peperone/peperoni). So maybe I subconsciously knew this all along :-)

      It was great meeting you as well!

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