One Big Table

Saturday night in the Carolinas. Southern Foodways buddies Elizabeth Sims, Thomas Williams and I piled in the car and headed out for dinner. With Asheville disappearing in the rearview mirror we set the GPS for parts unknown – namely some twisty, turny, windy roads somewhere on some lake outside Fort Mill, South Carolina. We weren’t exactly sure where we were going or how long it would take us to get there, but our collective confidence was high and we agreed that our worse case scenario was that we’d just go somewhere else.

Our destination was a fundraising event billed as a 50/50/50 dinner. There were 50 people paying $50 to dine on food grown within a 50 mile radius. And just to add another bit of synchronicity, we drove 50 + 50 + 50 miles to get there. The 150 mile distance wasn’t a problem for this group because as foodies we agreed that we’d traveled a lot farther for a lot less. And not having a place at THIS table….well, it was unthinkable.

We came to the table on Lake Wylie to celebrate Molly O’Neills epic portrait of America at the table. One Big Table, which will be released by Simon & Schuster in November, is a 900 page tome that includes 800 recipes along with oral histories, photographs and illustrations. Molly’s massive project was 10 years, thousands of miles and 20,000 recipes – mostly gathered from potlucks across the country - in the making.

To celebrate One Big Table and continue to tell the story of America through its cooking, Molly has teamed up with North Carolinian Dan Huntley, food writer, pit master, BBQ joint owner and inventor of the famed “Pig Pucker Barbecue Sauce” for yet another ambitious project. The duo plans to travel the country holding a series of community feasts to support local farmers and markets. The 50/50/50 dinners will showcase and serve as fundraisers for small town farmers markets and cultural institutions. After writing about America’s table, Molly and Dan want to sit down at that table and continue the lively conversation. The first of those tables was literally in Dan’s back yard on the shore of Lake Wylie.

Always happy to offer our opinions and our palates, Elizabeth, Thomas and I eagerly agreed to jump on board for what was labeled the 50/50/50 “shake down cruise”. The stunning table for 50 was festooned with produce and flowers from the nearby York farmers market and lit by paper lanterns dangling from the oak trees. For the first course, we feasted on York County Peaches, Clover Honey & Carolina Prosciutto followed by Cherokee Purple Heirloom Tomatoes, Yadkin County Cheese, Grilled Eggplant & Basil-Lime Vinaigrette. The main course was Roasted Lamb Chop, Parsnip Puree, and Bacon & Field Peas. And of course, there was dessert-- Vanilla & Lavender Goat Cheese with Local Blackberries and Chocolate Sauce. The tasty food, spot-on service, congenial diners, dramatic sunset over the water and moonlit night made for an exquisite evening. The eclectic community gathered ‘round the big table on the lake enthusiastically proclaimed Dan and Molly’s “shake-down cruise” an unqualified success and bid them good luck and god speed on their journey as they create One Big Table from sea to shining sea.

One Big Table by Molly O’Neill will be published in November 2010. Orders are now being taken on www.amazon.com or your local independent bookstore.