The long-awaited feast

This past week on a warm Sunday afternoon, 20 lucky supporters of the Boys & Girls Club gathered at Smith & Smith Farms in Dayton for a dinner they had purchased more than 11 months ago.

I think they would agree it was well worth the wait.

The tables were set up in the field amongst the herbs and flowers. Five couples bought the dinner, and each couple had invited another to join them for dinner. It took the combined efforts of a lot of community-minded folks to put on this dinner, from Carol and Brenda Smith for offering the farm and their husbands Ron and Kevin who are always there to support this dynamic duo.

Charlie and Karen Abowd, who support more local causes than anyone else I know, donated some exceptional wine, while working alongside Ralph and me most of the day. Michelle and Dan Palmer brought out their Tailgate Kitchen to the farm and set it up to grill the fresh-picked corn. She makes her own seasoning that was shaken on the corn - and what a hit!

The music from Craig Fletcher, Teri and Billy just topped off the evening.

Of course, Ralph and I brought up the rear. I also want to thank Ricci Ranch of Dayton for the leg of lamb and Jim and Tina Smith of Home Grown Nevada in Smith Valley for the London broil.

As the evening drew to a close, each couple was presented with a complimentary bouquet of flowers to take home from the Smiths.

Most of the food for this dinner was locally grown and raised. The food was organic, healthy and hand-picked that day. It was cooked and served up with a lot of love on a family farm among friends who care for each other. It just doesn't get any better than that!

This dinner was just one of the many different and unique auction items that was bid on at the Boys & Girls Club Greatest BBQ last year. It's not too late to get your tickets for this year and support a wonderful organization. Mark you calendars for Saturday, Sept. 10. Come on out to the Pony Express Pavilion in Mills Park for some of the best barbecue, terrific entertainment by Lee Greenwood and a chance to bid on some wonderful auction items.

This recipe that I'm going to share with you is similar to the one Charlie prepared as one of the appetizers for dinner on the farm. Fresh figs are just making their appearance in the farmers markets - remember today is the last day for the market at the pavilion in Mills Park. Next Saturday 'til the first weekend in October, the market will be in Telegraph Square from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

n Linda Marrone has lived in Carson City since 1973, and with her husband, Ralph, formerly operated Marrone's Restaurant in Carson City and Somethin's Cookin' Catering.