It was a small but hardy group who braved the fog and the remnants of a Saturday snow storm, but they were handsomely rewarded with good fellowship and great food.
Each year, on the Sunday before Christmas, the Robbins Memorial Church hosts a noontime meal, which is open to all. For those of you already in possession of your 2017 calendars, I would pencil in a note for early next December to check on the exact date. For $12, this is a meal not to be missed.
You’re familiar with the dining room if you have ever come to the church to pick up one if its famous apple pies. But on this Sunday, the room was filled with tables covered in red cloths and set with white dishes and snowflake-festooned napkins.
But there was another item on each table that sets this meal apart from many other church meals. A round tray was filled with beautiful dried fruits, baked raspberry brie, crackers and cheese, and pear and Stilton cheese quiche that had to be tasted to be believed. The hors d’oeuvres tray was a lovely touch, giving us all some little treats to pick on before the meal was served.
Soon after the clock hit noon, the main event was on. It was a holiday turkey dinner with some unique twists. Guest chef Dan Sullivan of Greenfield, a food service professional, turned a few traditional dishes on their ears, with delicious results.
The turkey was honey brined and as tender as could be. The platter at our table included a leg and a wing, both with very dark outer skin. Pastor Dale Proulx laid claim to the wing and pronounced it “the best turkey wing I have ever tasted.”
Served alongside were mashed red potatoes with celery root, parsnip and carrot casserole, and (the highlight
of the meal) roasted brussel sprouts with pancetta and
candied walnuts.
The Brussels sprouts were tender but not overcooked. The pancetta added a little saltiness and the candied walnuts brought a touch of sweetness and some crunch. Our table polished off the first bowl in short order, and another was soon summoned from the kitchen. Ann Dore of Shelburne, who said she had attended Robbins Memorial for more than 15 years, ended up eating this dish for dessert.
Crusty and warm, the dinner rolls also disappeared quickly. There was rich turkey gravy and a tangy cranberry chutney to complete the plate. Seconds were encouraged and happily accepted!
The only real surprise? Apple crisp for dessert. At a church known all over for its apple pies, the crisp was unexpected — it was yummy and not too sweet.
Robbins Memorial hosts a handful of meals each year, which are advertised on the church’s Facebook page and in The Recorder.
The church is at 55 Munson St. There is plenty of parking and there are no steps into the dining room. The Robbins Memorial meals are worth watching for.
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Many of us are gathering with friends and family as we turn toward 2017 and food is almost always a part of those celebrations. For those with food insecurity, a warm meal is more than just nourishment. It is a connection to a place we all want to be. Food represents love and comfort.
There are many houses of worship and community groups in Franklin County which work all year to feed our neighbors. Below is a working list of free meals served in the county each week. Given the upcoming New Year’s holiday, it is recommended that attendees call ahead or check online for potential schedule changes.
Salvation Army, 72 Chapman St., Greenfield, serves hot breakfast at 8 a.m. and lunch at 11:30 a.m. Mondays through Fridays. Call 413-773-3154. www.salvationarmyma.org/greenfield
Franklin County Community Meals serves a dinner at 5:30 p.m. every Monday at Our Lady of Peace Church, 7th Street, Turners Falls. Doors open at 5 p.m. 413-774-4355 www.fccmp.org
St. James Episcopal Church, 8 Church St., Greenfield, serves its Second Helpings hot dinner on Mondays at 5:30 p.m. The meal is co-sponsored by Deerfield Academy, and is served by DA students. 413-773-3925. www.saintjamesgreenfield.org
Franklin County Community Meals serves a dinner at 5:30 p.m. every Tuesday and Wednesday at the Second Congregational Church, 16 Court Square, Greenfield. Doors open at 5 p.m. 413-774-4355 www.fccmp.org
Holy Trinity Church serves a dinner at 5:30 p.m. on the second, fourth and fifth Thursdays of each month at the church, 133 Main St., Greenfield. 413-774-2884. www.holytrinitychurchgfld.org
Franklin County Community Meals serves a dinner at 5:30 p.m. every Monday and Thursday at Bethany Lutheran Church on Cheney Street in Orange. Doors open at 5 p.m. 413-774-4355 www.fccmp.org
The Stone Soup Cafe is a pay-what-you-can hot lunch served every Saturday at 12:15 p.m. at All Souls Church, 399 Main St., Greenfield. www.stonesoupgreenfield.org New volunteers are always welcome.
Cathedral in the Light serves a hot lunch at 2 p.m. on Sundays on the Town Common in Greenfield. There is a worship service before the meal. www.facebook.com/franklincathedral.