Pirate Ball Head of School Dinner

Mimi and I had the pleasure of hosting four Saint Edward’s couples at our home on Ladybug Lane this past Saturday night. This annual dinner is the result of the highest bidder (in this case, it was Jeff and Stephanie Pickering - son Grant '32 and daughter Olivia '23). The Pickerings invited Jay and Claire Robertson (Julian '32 and Jinny-Josephine '34), Bill and Beata Brewster (Henry '32, Teddy in '34 and Warren '36) and Roger and Samantha Lynch (Lucy '30 and Riley '33) to join us. We had a great time visiting in a relaxed environment while eating some fantastic food prepared by Jesse Alexander, founder of Orchid Gourmet and parent of Hudson in kindergarten at Saint Edward’s.

Jesse and his team started with passed hors d’oeuvres, which consisted of manchego cheese puffs with smoked paprika, jumbo lump crab cakes with tarragon aioli, butternut squash and ricotta crostini with local honey and thyme. The first course was a shaved fennel and citrus salad followed by filet mignon, which was cooked to perfection with a brandy pan sauce, sauteed baby spinach, celery root puree (which tasted like the best-mashed potatoes you have ever eaten) and grilled baby carrots. Finally, for dessert, it was time for a vanilla ice cream puff, pate a choux and a dark chocolate sauce and raspberries with a mint top.

The food was terrific, as was the conversation and camaraderie. Thank you to the Pickerings for raising their paddle to support a great cause. We look forward to another great dinner at some point this year when Sarah and Craig Schmeizer (Sammy '35 and Eleanor '37) will host a group, as they also purchased a dinner at last year’s Pirate Ball.

This year, the Pirate Ball will move to Saturday, February 3, 2024. Please mark your calendars for an evening of fun-filled festivities that support Saint Edward’s School. When it comes time for the auction, don’t forget to raise that paddle! Go, Pirates!

I look forward to seeing you around campus!

Stuart