Sir Stanley's Cup

The Stanley Cup in the Foyer

Peggy Jacobs with the Stanley Cup

Peggy and Jeremy Jacobs with the Stanley Cup

The rest of my tale about our first trip in our new RV will have to wait a little longer because I am just too anxious to tell you all about the party of the century that we attended on Saturday evening. We were invited to be guests of Peggy and Jeremy Jacobs at a party to celebrate the Bruins Stanley Cup Championship. (If you are a hockey fan you probably know that the Jacobs own the Boston Bruins who are the current Stanley Cup Champions.) And as it turned out January 21 was also Jeremy's birthday!

One Food Station

And Another Food Station

And Still Another Food Station

Our connection to the Jacobs is quite interesting. Mrs. Jacobs, Peggy, donated three amazing photographs to the Wellington Art Society that she took right here in Wellington, Florida at Big Blue Forest. This nature preserve was almost lost to housing but thank goodness people like the Jacobs fought to keep this natural habitat safe from the bull dozer. A couple of weeks ago the Jacobs hosted a small cocktail reception for the Board of Directors of the Wellington Art Society (I am the Recording Secretary), city dignitaries and the media to make the donation official.

Menu from the Boston Station

Our New Orleans was Represented Well

Midwestern Menu

South Florida Menu

Then this past Thursday our Board of Directors met reporters, photographers and Peggy Jacobs at Wellington City Hall to unveil her photos which are now hanging there for the public to enjoy. What we did not expect was that Sir Stanley's Cup was also going to join us. With much fanfare and fire engine siren blaring the cup was brought in for a photo shoot along with the spectacular Stanley Cup ring. I even had a chance to wear the ring and let me tell you it is enormous! It weighs a ton and is totally encrusted with diamonds. The ring took up half my hand.

The Vodka Ice Bar (Yes it is made entirely of ice!)

Don't Those Lobster Rolls Look Great?

Jazz Musicians Could Only Mean New Orleans

Even though the Jacobs are billionaires they could not be more gracious or down to earth. They opened their Wellington home Deeridge Farms to a couple hundred guests and there was not an ounce of stuffiness anywhere. We were even told that the dress was "game day casual". I knew that Peggy just had a cookbook published so I had wanted to ask her if I could see it. When I mentioned the book she was so delighted that she immediately responded with "would you like a copy?". I couldn't have been more thrilled and asked Peggy to sign the book. She actually seemed surprised, like that made her feel like a celebrity. In addition to owning the Boston Bruins they run the food service at about 26 sports venues so they flew in their chefs from all over the United States to cater the event. There were themed food stations positioned throughout the property along with an Ice Bar for vodka and a huge coppery semi-circular bar for wine and cocktails. In addition to several pastry buffets the Stanley Cup was represented by a huge replica cake made by Food Network star Duff Goldman - The Ace of Cakes himself!!

An Edible Version of the Stanley Cup

Self Explanatory!

Steve and I with the Real Stanley Cup
(That big square in the wood box is the Stanley Cup Championship Ring)

And speaking of the Stanley Cup...it was on display prominently along with the ring for photo ops. We listened to music in, not one, but three different locales on the vast property. By the main house there was one band, another band played dance music and jazz by the olympic sized swimming pool, and by the Koi pond another musician played softly.

Irresistible Pastries

The Raw Bar

Band by the Pool

And the food - OMG! We tasted Jambalaya and Jalapeno Corn Bread from New Orleans; Crab Cakes with Tropical Salsa from South Florida; a raw bar with huge shrimp, stone crab claws, oysters and mussels; New England Clam Chowder and Lobster Rolls from Boston; and Beef Tenderloin with Mushroom Sauce from the Midwest. Several pastry stations offered incredible hand made bite sized delights. Tucked away in the pool house was the most beautiful display of cheeses, breads, fruit and charcuterie. And outside of the pool house there was a chef grilling little Kobe beef burgers for sliders on petite brioche rolls. Just when I thought I couldn't eat another bite something else intrigued me enough that I felt compelled to continue to stuff myself. This was most definitely my kind of party. In fact it made me remember what I miss most about being in the catering business. The show!

Gorgeous Charcuterie Display

Fabulous Cheeses

Perfect Ripe Fruit and Accoutrements

Another Cheese Board

Breads Galore