Farm-to-Table Dinner at Hancock Shaker Village

Hancock Shaker Village is always lovely, but on a perfect summer evening, after the crowds have dispersed, it is a beyond idyllic. Thursday, June 16 was just such an evening, when friends of the HSV's agriculture programs gathered for a special farm-to-table dinner produced by a team of the region's top chefs, including Brian Alberg (left) of the Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge. Before dinner, cocktails, featuring a special concoction, the Strawberry Smash (pureed strawberries, finely minced mint and champagne) devised by Michel Roller, chef at Savory Harvest Catering, operaters of the HSV cafe, were held in the in the Poultry House (where an exhibit of paintings by Scott Taylor of 44 historic Pittsfield buildings will be on display until July 31st, followed by a dinner in the exquisite Brick Dwelling.

Chefs James Burden of Mission Bar & Tapas, Jim Gop of Route 7 Grill and Joji Sumi of Mezze

Peter Hansen, interim director of HSV and Steven Bedford, director of the UMass/HSV Historic Preservation MS program; Ruth Abram and Lauren Bedford

The Berkshire Eagle photographer Ben Garver and 1Berkshire CEO Stuart Chase; Carole Murko and Lauren Zivyac, both of Heirloom Meals.

Danielle Steinmann, associate director of interpretation at HSV, Eric Drury, and Sera Congi, a reporter for WBZ Boston; Edward Gillespie and Gina Hyams, a writer and freelance public relations consultant for HSV

The Clark's Julie Chase, photographer Lincoln Russell, and Nancy Fitzpatrick of the Red Lion Inn; Laurie Norton Moffatt, director and CEO of the Norman Rockwell Museum, and Todd Burdick director of interpretation at HSV.