AROUND TOWN

Farm-to-Table dinner benefits museum

William Nagy and Alysha Martinez pose for a portrait during American Cancer Society's Outdoor Dinner on Huron Street in Toledo on Saturday, July 28, 2018.

THE BLADE/SAMANTHA MADAR
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DINNER on Huron Street in downtown Toledo presented by the American Cancer Society featured a five-course, wine-paired, American regional menu served in the outdoors for 150 supporters who paid $75 each. There was also a raffle featuring one-of-a-kind experiences.

The $17,000 raised supports the cancer society’s fight for a world without cancer, said co-chairmen by Megan Hunyor and Andrew Schaetzke.

Tunes provided by DJ Franki Jaye filled the air as dinner, prepared by chefs from the Blarney, La Scola, Churchill’s, and Focaccia’s, was served: shrimp cocktail with housemade Bloody Mary, mashed black bean and barbacoa tostada, patty pan squash with goat gouda cream sauce, pork belly over black truffle polenta, and white chocolate bread pudding with homemade Baileys Irish Cream sauce all paired with wine picked by experts from Heidelberg Distributing Co.

THE second annual Farm-to-Table dinner for the future American Farm Museum and Education Center was on the museum’s property at on Jefferson Street in Blissfield, Mich.

The al fresco dining experience started with cocktails as tunes played by the Copper Stills Band filled the air and the nearly 300 guests perused the displays of antique farm equipment.

Appetizers included Hathaway House signature cheese spread and vegetables with dips. Wines were from Cherry Creek Winery in Cement City, Mich., and beers and hard cider were from Cotton Brewing Co. in Adrian.

Farm fresh cuisine prepared by Hathaway House included cucumber and tomato salad, chargrilled chicken breasts with honey-roasted sweet corn relish, pork loin with stone ground mustard sauce, roasted vegetables, smashed red-skin potatoes, and petite desserts.

From left at back, Jun Tsuji, Pete Durbin; from left at front, U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D., Ohio) and Melissa Growden during the American Farm Museum and Education Center's Farm to Table Dinner on their property in Blissfield, Mich., on Saturday, August 4, 2018.

Special guests included Congressmen Marcy Kaptur (D., Toledo) and Tim Walberg (R., Tipton), and state Rep. Bronna Kahle (R., Adrian).

Ben Eisel and Melissa Durbin Growden provided construction updates. The storage house has been erected. The education center will be next, followed by the museum. A fund-raising goal of $360,000 was announced to finish the interior of the storage barn, reassemble a historic 1860s barn on the site, and create an event lawn to connect the two structures. The dinner raised more than $40,000.

SCHMUCKER’S Restaurant, founded in 1948 on Reynolds Road, recently celebrated its 70th anniversary with a few items from the original menu, including eggs and toast for 48 cents, hot roast beef sandwich and mashed potatoes for $2.50, the famous Wimpy Burger for $1 — which, by the way, is not for wimps with two beef patties and mounds of fixings — and a pie slice for 95 cents. Proceeds from the special menu were donated to charity. Lines were out the door starting at 5 a.m. and continued ‘till about 10 p.m. when one empty table was available before closing at 11 p. m.

It was so crowded that people shared tables with strangers, who became friends by the time their meals were finished. Sharon and Chuck Schultz have been coming there for years and while waiting in line it was clear that the consensus was, “don’t change a thing” referring to the home cooking and the decor. They have favorites for each meal and the homemade pies are a must.

Many other old-time restaurants along Reynolds and nearby have gone by the way side including the 4-E Ranch House, Dudley’s Drive-In, and Dolly and Joe’s. It was fun to reminisce about them all while celebrating Schmucker’s anniversary.

Staff, including third-generation co-owner Doug Schmucker, provided service with smiles. “We are grateful to all,” his wife, Patty Schmucker, said.

Barbara Hendel is The Blade's Society Editor. Contact her at bhendel@theblade.com or call 419-724-6124.