5:00 Fridays – Edith’s Toast

I’d like to live in Edith Vanderbilt’s shoes for just a weekend. I know I’d share a kinship with any woman who’d wear bright corally orange fine silk sewn inside her otherwise staid black cape. It’s also a sure thing that her shoes were fantastic, so what girl wouldn’t want to walk in them? Nevermind that she was described as statuesque with a tiny waist, and I am her bodily antithesis. This is my daydream, remember?

I’d love to greet my guests with a cool drink in hand and parade into the Biltmore’s grand entrance hall. As I’d sashay gracefully with perfect posture, thanks to a nipped in corset and flowing bustle, my guests would be greeted by a lavish bouquet of gardenia blossoms in the Winter Garden, and the appetite boosting scent of quail roasting and peach pie baking would drift up from the basement kitchen. My guests’ children would frolic among the fields, escaping the mild manners of the day in exchange for wild oblivion. We grown ups would sip, nosh, and chat whilst inhaling the mountain views. The men folk, in the absence of 60 inch flat screen TVs, would likely be high fiving and roaring over some horse or boar or other such wild creature. Since Mac Daddy isn’t a hunter or gunsman, he’d be plenty happy with cool ale in hand and a game of cards or billiards with his buddies.

Oh, and the frolicking children would presumably be cared for by a team of nannies, making my walk in Edith’s shoes all the more decadent.

I just returned from a marvelous blogger trip to the Biltmore House in Asheville, North Carolina. We were treated to a few days of decadence at the Inn on Biltmore Estate, 2010-style.  I’ve been to the Biltmore several times, most recently last Christmas. Here’s the thing, every time I go there I leave wanting to see more. I have yet to take in all that I want. On this trip Bird and Deal had a grand time in the hotel pool (and oh what a fine pool it is!), nestled into a corner of the hotel with sweeping mountain views. Mac Daddy and I got to enjoy dinner in the new Antler Hill Village Cedric’s restaurant (The halibut was divine!) while the boys indulged in room service with a babysitter. [Sidebar: Melissa the sitter was fantastic!!! The concierge arranged for her, and she came highly recommended by local folks in the know. She brought Playdoh and paints and marveled that the boys wanted to watch Food Network for their TV time. The kids were sound asleep when we got home, and the first thing they did when they awoke was tell us all about Miss Melissa. Dear Melissa, please move to Raleigh!]

I have been to Biltmore House with Mac Daddy before we had kids, all by myself, with the whole family, and most recently, with just Deal. Did I mention that Bird got a super high fever on Day 2 of our trip so we came home early? Yup, he was miserable and just wanted to be in his own bed. Packing up means we missed out on the rooftop tour, meeting Cedric, the St. Bernard puppy who outweighs me, the Range Rover driving experience that was sure to unleash my inner off road spirit, and more scrumptious meals. We have promised the kids a return to Biltmore for that rooftop tour, and Deal won’t be happy until he meets Cedric. Luckily Biltmore House is an easy drive for us. And like I said, there’s always so much more to do, so much more to explore, so much more to eat, so much more to sip.

Next up, a girls’ weekend getaway to Biltmore House. Gorgeous scenery. Fantastic food. Spa packages. Poolside cocktails. Wine tasting. What’s not to love? Who’s in?

And so my jaunt to Biltmore House, albeit cut short, inspired my cocktail today. Having met Bernard Delille, Biltmore’s winemaker with a delicious French accent that suits his job beautifully, I decided to share something sparkling with you today. Biltmore Winery is celebrating its 25th year this year, a milestone worth toasting. But you know, I don’t think you must reserve something sparkling just for special occasions, whether you’re talking diamonds or wine makes no difference. There are occasions big and small worthy of a sparkly salute everyday. The Vanderbilts favored sparkling wine, yet another indication that I could definitely channel Edith the next time I entertain.

Edith’s Toast

Fresh peach slices (lovely this time of year since peaches are in season!)

1 shot Cointreau

Biltmore 25th anniversary Sparkling Wine

Puree a few fresh peach slices with a shot of Cointreau. Add to a champagne flute. Pour Biltmore 25th Anniversary Sparkling Wine to top it off. Drink with pinky finger primly sticking out.

I imagine Edith would have served this on a summer afternoon as her guests oohed and aahed their way inside. The orange tone of the peaches would have matched her cape perfectly.