A Winslow house dinner party

The Ultimate Plus dining experience brings a chef curated meal into a Wright residence

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"The thing always happens that you really believe in; and the belief in a thing makes it happen." ---Frank Lloyd Wright

Over the weekend I had the opportunity to cook a fine meal in an even finer house. Built in 1893 Frank Lloyd Wright's William Winslow house found new owners in the last couple of months and they agreed to open their home to host one of three chef curated meals sponsored  by Frank Lloyd Wright Trust. The annual dinners are offered as  part the Ultimate Plus week-end associated with their signature Wright Plus housewalk. 

This is my third consecutive year serving as a one of chefs for one of these memorable meals. My previous experiences at the Rollin Furbeck house (1898) and the Peter A. Beachy house (1906) were both extraordinary; I am consistently impressed by the generous homeowners dwelling in Wright homes and the bevy of beautiful people who support the Trust by snagging a spot at these coveted tables. It goes without saying I adore preparing these meals, but cooking a nine-course dinner in a historical landmark for fourteen VIP's makes for a hectic, high-pressure sort of gig! At times, I feel like these sorts of nights are hard to remember once they are over, but thankfully I have some photographs to help me remember my evening at the Winslow house.

With permission from the Trust, local Oak Park photographer Tina Harle (of Tina Harle Photography) tagged along during my time at the Winslow house last week-end. She captured images of the majestic home, lovely guests, and all of the dishes we served to mark another successful evening for the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust.

Check out some of Tina's captivating images below! She captured the spirit of the evening perfectly and I am sure you will enjoy a glimpse into this special event. She has a way with food photography and I am happy to report we'll be seeing more from her on Oak Park Eats this summer!