A north durham dinner...

This last Sunday was a raining day that cleared to a beautiful sunset. We took a drive to North Durham, Bahama to be exact, to experience a 5 course meal at a goat farm. Elodie Farms is located  at what was once the home of S. T. Mangum; one of three families whose names were used to turn Balltown and then Honkydory into today's Bahama. Named for (Ba)ll, (Ha)rris and (Ma)ngum families, who were the prominent area landholders, Bahama is a nice little place surrounded by beautiful land.

As you walk to the front door.

We arrived early, and being the first to arrive, we left and discovered a section of Camp Butner nearby that I hadn't seen before. After exploring a piece of weaponry on display at one of the many entry points, we headed back and began exploring the house and property.





Our first visit was with Heidi who directed us to our table and told us that she did get the email stating Amy's aversion to Shrimp...We next stopped at the kitchen to see Amy Tornquist of Watts Grocery and Sage and Swift, her husband and their friends the Howell's of Nanas hard at work. Apparently Nanas was in the house the previous month and they traded sous chef duties with each other...so this month and last month they had 2 great sets of chefs cooking for you!

Sky colored front porch ceiling.

Thanks again. What are we in for?

We've done this before...and hope to again.

We have known Amy for many years and think her cooking is only second to her friendly way. A visit to Watts Grocery should definitely be on your list...whatever list you're keeping.





The house is beautiful and sits on 21 acres. Built in 1910, it retains well kept original features. The owner and our host, David Artigues, lives upstairs with his 2 sons and they work the goat farm and homestead goat cheese making facility.










The house and front porch were prepared with tables for 2 to 8. There were rocking chairs overlooking the goat pastures and a swing on the porch.

Choose your weapon!

Friendly chicken cleanin' the yard.

The grounds are so well kept, beautiful and equipped with a variety of chickens. We gathered on the front yard for an intro, ground rules and a review of the menu. Amy couldn't think of anything in the menu that originated outside of North Carolina and with most ingredients coming from a 3 county area. I will leave the menu for your own visit...but it was great. Amy's shrimp replacement was a wonderfully prepared pouched egg over succotash.

See the cheese house in the far ground.

We took their advise and came prepared with our own libation and a take home dish for the left overs. The photos just can't convey the relaxing and wonderful experience this was.
Best of all, I think Amy agreed.

That was very good...

Live well,
Pat