An Awesome Lunch

A few years ago my friend, Doreen, invited me to an unusual lunch; she had an extra ticket so I asked my mom to come. This lunch was at the Thyme Garden, 12 miles south of Philomath Oregon. The Thyme Garden only serves lunch Tuesday through Thursday, mid-April to mid-August. They also have other special events and host a wedding almost every weekend. http://www.thymegarden.com/ As we were driving and driving and driving to get there from Salem my mom asked if there were restaurants in Salem where we could have lunch and why we had to go over an hour to the middle of no where just to eat lunch. I had never been there but hoped it was worth it because if it was not then I had that hour drive back to Salem to hear about it. It was so worth it and we had an amazing time!! We have talked about going back each year since and just never got around do doing it until this year.

My Aunt was going to be here from Arizona so I finally just made reservations inviting my Mom, Aunt Judy, and Doreen. Doreen invited a friend so she did not have to drive alone from Bandon and at the last minute Doreen’s daughter Briana joined us on her way moving back to Missoula Montana. The lunch adventure starts at 11am with a tour of the property

that started at a butterfly garden where they are trying to get the Monarch Butterfly to visit and get reestablished, a new mushroom garden

that they hope to get mushrooms from next spring

if the wildlife does not get to it first,

a forest where they are working very hard

to preserve

streams

and ponds for fish to live,

and

the

beautiful

herb

garden.

After the tour lunch was served. Today’s Herbal Luncheon Menu started with Herb Flower Salad

with Creamy Dill, Cilantro-Culantro, or Curry Tarragon Dressing,

served with Thyme Wheat Rolls, Rosemary Tomato Baguettes, & Fiesta Cornbread.
Sundried Tomato Pesto Cream Cheese, Salmon Pate,

and Coriander Honey Butter were the choices for spreads.
This was followed by Chicken Florentine – Chicken Breast stuffed with Spinach, Four Cheeses, and Basil with a Fines Herbs Cream Sauce. Served with Savory Quinoa and a Fresh From the Garden Veggie Medley. For dessert – Deep Dark Chocolate Cake with Peppermint Laced Fudge Sauce and a Dollop of Cream. Herbal Refreshments of Jamaica with Lemon Verbena Infusion and Lavender Lemonade were also served. Sorry I was too busy eating and enjoying my lunch to take any more pictures of the beautifully prepared meal.

After lunch there was plenty of time to do some shopping and

take another look around the property! Lunch at the Thyme Garden is well worth the trip and time!!

After lunch we made a stop at a fun Quilt Shop in Philomath where Aunt Judy got a new project and Mom was able to find some more material for a project to soon be started. And I even got a piece of sheep material for a couple more kitchen towels!

Today was a perfect day with the weather and time spent with family and friends!!