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the city, it's easy to fantasize about throwing it all away, tossing
minimal possessions into the back of a pickup, and moving lock,
stock, and barrel to the country. There awaits a simpler more peaceful
existence, where you'll breathe fresh, clean air, enjoy the bounty
of your garden, and spend long afternoons on a porch swing nursing
a cool glass of lemonade. This scenario appealed to Bill and Sylvia
Varney, who in 1985 left comfortable city professions to open Fredericksburg
Herb Farm, today home to their bed-and-breakfast, almost 15 acres
of herb and flower gardens, gift shops, restaurant, and day spa.
Did we mention they also run Varney's Chemist Laden, which sells
a line of natural toiletries and herbal comestibles? If it isn't
the quiet life they might have imagined, it is one that's brought
them closer to their triple passions — cooking, gardening,
and sharing their enthusiasm about herbs.
It all began in Houston, where Sylvia was a senior financial analyst
for an oil and gas company, and Bill, a buyer for a large nursery.
When Bill was offered a job as a nursery manager in Fredericksburg
Texas, he and Sylvia jumped at the chance to leave behind the hectic
pace of urban life and pursue their dream of running their own business.
During their courtship, Bill had showered Sylvia with gifts like
violet cologne and lavender bath salts, and those fond memories
blossomed into an apothecary that offered luxury bath and body products.
At the back of their first shop was a small garden where they grew
antique roses, lavender, rosemary, and other herbs. A dried salsa
mix here, and edible flower vinegar there, and soon a speciality-food-mail
order business seemed t be growing faster than wild mint. The couple
purchased a four acre abandoned farm and began renovating. The farm's
1882 limestone house is now a shop that carries everything from
herbal candles and rose geranium hand lotion to Sylvia's spice blends
and gourmet foods. You can also find their books — Along
the Garden Path (Favorite Recipes Press) and Herbs: Growing
and Using the Plants of Romance (Ironwood Press).
One of the loveliest gardens at Fredericksburg Herb Farm is the
Star Garden. In its center stands an antique windmill that sets
off five beds forming a star. Each bed features herbs for a specific
purpose — medicinal, cosmetic, culinary, crafting, or ornamental.
While we can't import the magic of strolling through the fragrant,
enchanting landscape, we did invite Bill, Sylvia, and Fredericksburg
Herb Farm executive chef Juan Carlos Padilla to show us how they
work their charm with herbs. Padilla, whose unusual creations include
rose-petal salad, peppermint shortbread and bleeding-heart muffins,
says he is fortunate to have cooked under John Salazar of Brennan's
and Steve Howard of Navajo Grill. Best of all, he is blessed with
all of the fresh herbs and edible flowers he could ever dream of,
and some he probably never dreamt of, just beyond the kitchen door.
Visit
our Photo Gallery of the Events!
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Harvest
Table:
Sweet
Marjoram Cornbread, Poppy-Seed and Carrot Muffins, Scented
Geranium Pesto Breakfast Buns, Lemon Verbena Sweet Biscuits,
Star Garden Sweet Basil Baklava, Chilled Lavender Mimosa Soup
with Avocado, Papaya and Cucumber Pico de Gallo, Savory Blue
Cheesecake, Hill Country Tabouleh Salad, and a Selection of
Herb Chutneys and Pestos.
Becker
Vineyards Fume Blanc 2000
Becker Vineyards Estate Chardonnay 2000
De
La Croix Crabmeat on Asparagus Bundles with Thyme Blossom
Hollandaise and Crispy Parsley
Becker
Vineyard Estate Viognier 2000
Roasted
Quail and Date-Nut Tamales with Corn and Artichoke Maque Choux,
Rosemary and Thyme Salsa, and Pumpkin Aioli
Becker
Vineyard Estate Claret 1999
Lemon
Verbena Cheesecake with Texas Hill Country Peaches
Becker
Vineyards Muscate Canelli 2000
Wines
generously provided by Becker Vineyards, Fredericksburg, Texas.
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Scented
Geranium Pesto Breakfast Buns
Chile-Peach Pesto on Flatbread
Sweet Basil Baklava
Spicy Peach Chutney
Nutty Herbed Blue Cheese Dip
Lemon-Basil Pepper Cheese Ball
Floral Dessert Butter on Sourdough Crostini
Savory Blue Cheesecake
Sweet Vinegar, Raisin, and Nut Pie
Workshop menu accompanied by wines from
Becker Vineyards in Fredericksburg, Texas.
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