The band took over the gazebo again and their music filled the space, drowning out the noise of people’s conversations. Course 3 | Fish and Chipsīy now we were almost to the end of the Clambake. Which was fine, as we could walk across the street and buy bottles of wine and wine-related goodies that they had in their gift shop. As he selected and called numbers, workers with clipboards wandered between the tables to confirm the winners and hand them their goodie bags.įor the first time in several years, our table didn’t win anything. He had a glass jar of yellow raffle tickets. The band stopped playing and handed the microphone over to the owner, Paul. With a chilled cup of water and my same glass of Merlot, we turned our attention to the gazebo. I couldn’t imagine spending hours outside in the direct sun. I was glad for the shade and proximity to the water cooler. I could feel the red forming on my shoulders and ears. We climbed back up the hill, going for the barn’s shaded overhang.

Some of the tables had sections for self-serve, while the stations where we used our tickets, had workers in matching t-shirts. After welcoming remarks from Paul, we could get in line for the food. Since I ate an early breakfast, my stomach was already grumbling by 1:30 pm. All I know if that I don’t feel terrible after drinking red wine (as I do with white) - and I usually drink Merlot and Cabernet. I have no knowledge of wine, or how to describe the flavor. I selected the Brook Hollow Merlot to start with. Somehow, we already had several bottles on our table. Introductions were made at our table, for the friends-of-friends that I didn’t know. Our yellow ticket stub was for the raffle - where guests could win one of several brown paper bags that held wine bottles and other Brook Hollow goodies. When we wanted our food, we would present the ticket to be hole-punched. One ticket had a clam with two circles: “S” for shrimp and “C” for clams. We checked in with them and collected our food tickets. Two women managed the table in the center of the breezeway. To my right was an alcove of grass, where the fish vendor was preparing his fryers. Straight ahead was another hall towards the bathrooms. We crossed the room and exited under the breezeway.

Workers waited behind checkered tables - serving and collecting bottles. You bought your bottles of wine from the long drink station set up down the length of the room.

Martinelli juice