The Friends of Sagamore Hill (FOSH) enjoyed its second annual “Taste Of Oyster Bay” evening, March 19, eating some of Theodore Roosevelt’s favorite foods. They dined on raw oysters, jumbo shrimp, baby lamb chops, short ribs and salmon, all sprinkled with great conversation at Canterbury Ales.
It was an evening without an agenda, “just to enjoy yourselves,” said Chairman Lawrence Syriac. One of the hallmarks of a great organization is making friends of members.
While having dinner, Michael Veggi, an engineer retired from the NY Transit System, chatted about what he is doing at Sagamore Hill during the renovation. He has been working with curator Amy Verone on ordering the awnings for the house.
“They no longer make the products that were there,” he said.
The awnings are green and white striped, have a fringe and roll up and down. They will be set in eight locations on the mansion: on TR’s office window, Mrs. Roosevelt’s sitting room and on her upstairs bedroom; and on the porch there will be three sections of awning, although one will not be installed. He explained that the third panel would interfere with the ramp for handicap access.
“It would be hitting their heads,” he said. “We are trying to represent the house in 1907.”
Brother Lawrence, a teacher at Chaminade High School, thanked Ginny Uhlinger, event chair, and Bob Lober for spearheading the event committee. They high-fived each other in recognition of their success.
Ginny Perrell, membership chair, helped create the dinner and did her research to find TR’s favorite brand of tea, Hu-Kwa, a teabag of which she gave to each diner.
“It is smoky tasting,” commented one drinker, noting the subtle aftertaste.
It is a Lapsang Souchong tea, grown in Formosa. [It is perfect with a ham and Swiss on rye].
“This is the second ‘Taste Of’ dinner paying homage to our 26th President and his love of food,” Syriac said.
Last year, 50 people attended as they celebrated game from the wild west; this year American culinary classics were the choice.
Perrell said she looked up “menu” on the Dickinson University–Theodore Roosevelt Center site, where she found a delightful menu from June 10, 1910, with a border of teddy bears. It was to celebrate TR’s return to the U.S. after his African safari.
“That was 1910, when he still thought he was a Republican…for another two years,” Perrell added, a little TR humor since two years later he was running for President on the Bull Moose Party ticket.
She explained that Jim Lawson, who was working on a home project for her, volunteered to have the menu art set up for copying, which she did at Staples on Wednesday. Everyone got a copy to bring home.
Dickinson State University-Theodore Roosevelt Center explained the menu as being used at a “Dinner in honor of Theodore Roosevelt upon his return to the United States from his African safari and European tour. Around (the) border, teddy bears serve food to Roosevelt. Teddy Bears originally drawn by Frederick G. Cooper.”
Jay Perrell, FOSH treasurer, quipped, “They look more like mice.”
True, some of them had large ears and pointy noses, not unlike the original Mickey Mouse.
The hors d’oeuvres included Kobe pigs in blanket, crab cakes, steamed chicken teriyaki dumplings, baby rack lamb chops, oysters and baked clams. Some of the foods were special favorites of TR, prepared in modern style by Chef Paul.
The entrée featured braised boneless short ribs with eggplant caponatta, crab and tomato topped wild salmon with lobster sauce; roasted citrus jumbo shrimp, served with red, white and blue herbed potatoes and served in a roasted zucchini boat filled with vegetables.
Dessert offered a choice of chocolate truffle cake or lemon berry mascarpone cake and everyone agreed that each had made the best choice. Patricia Farnell loved her chocolate truffle cake and Michael Veggi finished every bite of the berry cake.
Lawrence announced everyone could stay until 11 p.m., but he was leaving. It was a good excuse to leave happy, satisfied and in time to get a good night’s sleep.
Anyone interested in joining the FOSH can attend their next event and sign up. FOSH sponsors the Dr. John Gable Lecture Series, commemorating Gable serving as executive director of the TRA for 30 years. He was a history professor at Hofstra University, but his real love was the study of the life of Theodore Roosevelt.
The next lecture is on April 30, when Chip Bishop will talk about his new book on Elliott Roosevelt, a work in progress. The lecture will be held at Christ Church Parish Hall, 61 East Main St., at 7 p.m.
On May 21, Susan Sarna will talk about the Rehabilitation of Sagamore Hill mansion, the Roosevelt home, at Christ Church Parish Hall, and starts at 7 p.m. Refreshments served.
The Friends of Sagamore Hill operates as a chapter of the Theodore Roosevelt Association, with the preservation of Sagamore Hill National Historic Site as its primary purpose. Those interested in joining and supporting the group’s mission can visit www.sagamore-hill.com, call 516-997-5346 or email foshobny@aol.com.
