
Tina Harle Photography
Fourteen guests gathered outside the William Winslow house for a pre-meal tour. The home, built in 1893, was Frank Lloyd Wright's first major commission as an independent architect and is considered to be the ancestor to his prairie style homes.
"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!

Tina Harle Photography
An impressive inglenook fireplace welcomes guests in the foyer of the Winslow house.

Volunteers transformed the Winslow house living room into a dining room for the evening and centerpieces from Moss Modern Flowers enhanced the tablescapes.

Tina Harle Photography
An Arpege inspired egg started the meal

Tina Harle Photography

Tina Harle Photography
"A nest of chicken eggs"

Tina Harle Photography
"Birdseed" with cauliflower

Tina Harle Photography
A FLW inspired garden salad


Tina Harle Photography
Thai green dumplings with shrimp, lemongrass, and a trio of sauces.

Tina Harle Photography
Surf and turf with carrots and lentils

Tina Harle Photography
A meat dessert

Tina Harle Photography
Teeny tiny pancakes on a pedestal

