Remember the progressive dinner? Some of you that grew up in my generation may have fond memories of your parents hurrying down the block to start off a night of wining, dining, and walking.
If you are too young for this to have been a thing, here is the premise. You gather a bunch of your neighbors. Each one is responsible for hosting a specific part of the dinner. You all get together at the designated starting point. And, the fun starts!
The usual order of events for the evening goes something like this…
Stop 1. Cocktail Hour. This is the icebreaker stop. If there are any attendees that aren’t already intimately familiar with their neighbors, stop 1 is the place to get to know folks. Refreshments are usually provided by the host.
Stop 2. Appetizers. This is usually the best stop to host. People are mostly still sober at this point. A quick drink, an app, or two then on to the next location. Bonus for stop 2 is the normally easy cleanup!
Stop 3. The Main Course. Today this stop would be a challenge. Back then things were a little simpler. It didn’t seem like you had to be overly concerned about your guests gluten intolerance, their keto-friendly preferences or if they were vegetarian, flexitarian, pescatarian, or... I am certainly not making light of people’s dietary concerns or choices. These problems are real and can at times be serious. It just seems like back then you could throw down a pan of lasagna or a platter of overcooked roast beef and most folks would be just delighted to stuff themselves.
This brings us to stop 4. Stop 4 is the most hazardous stop of the night to host. Any of us that have been the last to leave a party can imagine what the potential pitfalls of hosting stop 4 would be. Stop 4 is dessert AND yes, more drinking!
The execution of this stop is not terribly complex. I do have a little personal experience with stop 4. This may illustrate just how perilous stop 4 has the potential to be.
Back in the 70’s I was asked to make flaming cherries jubilee at a friend's parents’ house that was going to host stop 4. I won’t get into how irresponsible it might seem to ask a minor to cook a flaming tableside dish in a home that had heavy drapes and wall to wall shag carpet. Looking back on it as a parent and a full grown adult, it seems a touch shortsighted. Let’s just say that in today’s world someone from child services would have been at the door before (or soon after) the kirschwasser was ignited. I mean, I wasn’t even able to legally procure the ingredients necessary to make this dish!! How could I possibly be expected to execute it without a horrific tragedy being a possible outcome? I am happy to report that catastrophe was averted, and no news crews were called!
If your home survives stop 4 you can consider the entire evening’s festivities a rousing success. The progressive dinner has now concluded. Now that’s good old fashioned fun!
This brings me to the point of this piece. The progressive dinner is not a relic of the past. It has been reinvented (and modified) for today’s world. Let me introduce you to The Blend. While technically not a progressive dinner, The Blend has all of the same elements of those roaming food events. Sponsored by the Sarasota-Manatee Originals, this updated dining experience is more like a moving wine dinner. Not a bad concept, right? For $125 per person, guests can enjoy a multi-stop (usually 4-5) wine and food adventure. Every stop features a specialty dish and a wine selected to accompany it. Trolley transportation to the restaurant stops is also provided.
There are two remaining Blend events scheduled. Here’s a look at the locations.
October 12, 2021 – Downtown Sarasota (Cocktail Edition)
November 16, 2021 - UTC/Lakewood Ranch
If you would like more information, or to purchase a ticket, here’s a link.
One, other mention. If you’re looking for another type of progressive dinner experience, Taste Magazine sponsors walking progressive dinner events from time to time. More information can be found here. – Taste Magazine Dinners
Here are some other links that you might find interesting.
