An Evening to Remember

An Evening to Remember and Remember and Remember…..

Lucky me! Once again, I was able to participate in an event so special it would make Alain Ducasse envious. Last night, The Inn at Little Washington celebrated its 30th anniversary. Anyone who knows Patrick O'Connell (chef proprietor extraordinaire) would expect that this would NOT be another humdrum fabulous gala. Oh no, we expected elegance, sophistication, deliciousness, glamour and whimsy! Never to disappoint I must say, Mr. O'Connell delivered in spades.

Alas! The gemlike hamlet location of the Inn at Little Washington (nestled in the Ozark mountains of Little Washington, Virginia) couldn't handle the throng of wellwishers . No, we had to celebrate in Big Washington…D.C. No matter, Patrick brought the Inn with him. In true to form theatrics, a dozen renegade child ballet dancers from the "Nutcracker" , dressed as Prussian nineteenth century soldiers formed an honor guard as we entered the impressive Mellon Auditorium.

On the occasion of this special 30th anniversary, Chef O'Connell only fleetingly reflected on the momentous occasions of his extraordinary hotel. He deflected his achievements outward and chose to honor those people who inspired him in the past thirty years. He created a new category of legend…a roster of thirty "American Culinary Pioneers." To honor them, the Inn will now have rooms named after this illustrious group. Not all are still living but the fourteen that were present at the Gala embraced the spirit and the event was richly layered with a culinary who's who.

Patrick was in rare form and after a reception of Dom P. champagne, greeted his guests with declaring that the evening was a cross between an Irish wake and a Jewish wedding. With that he raised a shot a Jameson and wished everyone "Mazel Tov!" Like clockwork, the grand dinner began its procession of exquisite dishes.

One rubbed shoulders with Tim and Nina Zagat, stepped on Thomas Keller's toes, bumped into Gary Danko and stood back and admired Alice Waters in resplendent strawberry tulle (organic of course!) Sirio was there, as were Mimi Sheraton and Phyllis Richman. And then the charity auction began. Those generous chefs!!! Charlie Trotter and Daniel Boulud kept adding more goodies to the charity auction lots (Dean Fearing egging them on…..his newest home the Ritz Carlton spontaneously throwing in a week in one of their suites anywhere in the world) and all the chefs kept the charity auctioneers on their toes upping the ante to raise more than $100,000 for "Five and Alive," the charity of the evening.

Patrick in his humility and generosity turned this anniversary into an homage to our culinary heritage, a significant contribution to world poverty AND a resplendent party. The King of Hospitality knew exactly how to make his guests comfortable in celebrating. For in the end, a party is not really about the food and wine, it about who you are with and what you are doing. What an exciting night. Thank you Patrick!!!! Nothing less than what one would have expected from the 5 star, 5 diamond ultimate Zagat scored Inn. Congratulations to O'Connell and his world class staff. Once again you created a new standard of American hospitality.