2023.5.30 / A Birthday Celebration (Part 1)
In our house we celebrate Birthday Week – not just one day. My birthday week began on my birthday – May 30. Having cocktails at our neighbor and friend James’ condo we came up with a great plan to start the celebrations. (Side note he is a great host and bartender!) The plan was to have lunch at the Alcazar as I have never been there and then do the tour of Flagler College – James is Flagler Alumini so he was arranging this. And then just play it by ear from there.
Pre Birthday Cocktails at James’
The Alcazar is in the Lightner Museum which was once a posh hotel in the Gilded Age of Henry Flagler. The Lightner is a beautiful museum and worth a trip just to explore the grounds and the exhibits. The Alcazar restaurant is actually located in what was once an indoor spring fed swimming pool. You can see pictures of the pool in all its glory at the museum. As one who loves to float, I can imagine floating there all day peacefully gazing at the skylight that provided natural light. You need to go see this for yourself.
Historic Pool at the Alcazar – courtesy of the St. Augustine Record
The Lightner Museum
Lunch was delicious and the service was attentive and impeccable. We started with wine: Phil had a glass of the Brunello Di Montalcino, James had the Redbreast Riesling—a lovely dry refreshing Riesling, and I had the Lafitte Rosé. To make you hungry we shared Classic Escargot in Garlic Herb Butter (done right, tender not ‘chewy’) with pita toast points. Phil started with the Avgolemono soup and James with the soup du jour: Cream of Asparagus. On James’ recommendation Phil had the Curried Chicken Salad Sandwich, James had his favorite the Cuban Panini, and I had the Asparagus Panini. For sides we chose the fresh made chips, Cajun Coleslaw and Yellow Rice. Everything was delicious. And since it was my Birthday, we had to have dessert (and more wine), so we shared a piece of the Flourless Chocolate Cake. Which was like eating a chocolate bar with a fork—dense, rich, chocolaty. While there I kept wishing Mother was still with us, she would have loved having lunch at the Alcazar.
After lunch we made a quick pit stop at our condo to drop off presents and then on to our next destination…the tour of Flagler College – formally the Ponce Hotel. (Stay tuned for A Birthday Celebration – Part 2.)
To give you a teaser…St. Augustine is full of beautiful architecture, history, and glamour of an age long gone. One can only imagine the lifestyle, guests, and soirées in that Gilded Age…if the walls could only talk.
Ciao,
Phil and Dee
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