Entertaining & Hospitality in February

by Ann Sievers Owner, Miller, Grower at IL Fiorello Olive Oil Company

February is a month of red, love, renewal, and bees. Indeed, St Valentine is the patron saint of beekeepers! His feast day has been associated with the tradition of courtly love. He was a clergyman either a priest or a bishop in the Roman Empire who ministered to persecuted Christians. He was born in Terni Italy 273 AD. His death on Feb 14 has been celebrated since at least the 8th century.

But to the beekeepers and honey; yes, we have bees at IL Fiorello, and our honey has the scent and taste of olive blossom and wildflowers. The olive blossom in the spring and we grow wildflowers for the bees all year long. Research says that honey does nothing for allergies but is delicious on warm toast. (Honey is not to be fed to children under the age of 1 because of the possibility of infections.)

But I digress, now to courtly love.

All of us love to entertain our loved ones in February but may find it too pressured or too difficult to succeed. So let me quote James Beard. I love the fact that he respected the simple presentation done with love.

Quoting James Beard, “Entertaining should be a pleasure not a chore. Put on a fine show, like the theater, offering

food and hospitality to people is a matter of showmanship and no matter how simple the performance unless you do it well with love and originality you have a flop on your hands!

All guests should be happy. Those that present and those that receive.

Give a heart bowl of thanks to the ones you love.

A Heart Felt Honey Dinner for you and your Honey

Presented here is a spectacular way to enjoy honey with your honey

Hors d’oeuvres

An excellent blue cheese and a spoonful of dark honey

Or A Charcuterie Board from IL Fiorello

Pairing: Sparkling Wine: Under the Wire, Ultramarine, Schramsberg or Onward

First Course

Butternut & Pear Squash Soup with Honey and Whiskey Drizzle – here’s the recipe

Pairing: Lark Whiskey from Tasmania

Main Course

Honey Glazed Roasted Chicken

Green Beans Sautéed with Toasted Almonds in Honey

Pairing: Hawaii in a Glass, Sauvignon Blanc, or a Chasselas from Switzerland

Dessert

Honey Lemon Olive Oil Cake – here’s the recipe

Made with Lemon Co-Milled Olive Oil and Honey

Pairing: Mead or More Sparkling Wine

Gift for Home

A jar of honey for your loved one