About this event
2017 Holiday Luncheon
“Tucked Away, Not Far Away”
by
Ernie Smallman, Event Planner
Canoe Restaurant, located in the Vining’s area of northeast Atlanta, is one of the most acclaimed dining venues in Atlanta and in America. Southern Living in May 2017 named Canoe as the Best Brunch in Georgia. Eatery named Canoe as one of the top five list of Restaurants that Every Atlantan must try. Open Table in spring 2017 recognized Canoe with the Diner’s Choice Award as one of the top One Hundred Restaurants in America, and one of only for restaurants in Georgia to receive this recognition.
Peachtree Section will have exclusive use of Canoe with the restaurant opening at 1130 hr. Parking at Canoe is valet with a cost of $5.00 per vehicle. Canoe has clarified that we will not be allowed to self- park due to the parking requirements of neighboring boutique businesses that will be open that morning. Be sure and bring cash as the bar will not accept credit cards.
Now some of the good news! Past President Jo Anne Taylor, her husband and photographer Ken, and President Diana Quinn are compiling a slide show of 2017 event highlights that will run prior to seating for lunch. Executive chef Matthew Basford migrated from Australia after winning awards and culinary designations in his native county to New Orleans, LA. Sympathetic to those affected by Hurricane Harvey in Texas, Matthew worked at Dominique’s and Mason Dupuy Hotel in the French Quarter until displaced by Hurricane Katrina. Mathew relocated to Atlanta and within a month was working at Canoe. Executive Chef of Canoe since 2013, Matthew has elevated Canoe to an elite Atlanta dining designation. Matthew is known for “his commitment to serving fresh seasonal ingredients that marry well in traditional southern dishes”. Attendees will be treated to a holiday buffet luncheon served at noon featuring:
- Baby mixed greens with crisped potatoes and fresh herbs.
- Chilled Asparagus with lemon butter vodka cream
- Grilled vegetables
- Pecan Wild Rice
- Sweet Potato Gratin
- Roast Beef with Horseradish sauce
- Grilled Salmon
- Fresh Fruit and Berries with Ginger Syrup
- Chocolate Hazelnut Praline Cake
- Cheesecake Citrus Chiffon
- Mocha Cremes Brule
- Pecan Diamonds
Recognition will be accorded to the Immediate Past President and section member of the year. Presentations will be followed by “more good news”. Following desert North Georgia keyboard artist Thelma Cagle accompanied by a guitarist will travel through time with a melody of Broadway songs, some sixties standards, and wrap up the performance with holiday standards. Thelma has performed for ten years in the production “Smoke on the Mountain” in various Georgia playhouses, and has served as the musical director in most of these performances. Thelma has also performed for various conventions in the Atlanta area as well as in far-away venues such as Tampa, Alaska, and East Cobb.
I recently attended a standing room performance featuring daughter Katie, mother Thelma, and grandmother Patsy performing a program chronicling the history of folk music in North Georgia. Like most men I approached the daughter to perform but ended up with the mother. Both are accomplish singers, artists, and performers. I found Thelma’s performance entertaining as well as informative. You will as well if you attend. As is our custom, please bring an unwrapped toy that can be contributed to the Marine Corp Toys for Tots program. The cost for the luncheon is $42.00 per attendee (a bargain considering the fare and performance) with a reservation deadline of 22 November 2017. This deadline is earlier than most of our holiday events, but was requested by Canoe due to their already busy holiday season. The address of Canoe is 4199 West Paces Ferry Road, SE, Atlanta, GA 30339 (telephone 770-432-2663).