点评:Oh, my heavens, I don't know where to start. From the moment we got out of our vehicle and saw the table out in front of the rustic dark wood outbuilding with a ceramic vase overflowing with flowers cut from the garden and a plate of homemade pecan sandies hiding under napkins, we knew we were in for a treat. We had been told to arrive early to spend a little time in the gift shop so that the group of about thirty could gather on time for the tour. We were split into two groups of about 15 each. My group went into the (perfect replica!) 1840s farmhouse first. Every room just left us gawping. My favorite area was the sleeping porch with its sweet trio of single beds and a view of the river and rolling hills beyond, slightly misted on this perfect overcast warm fall day. Next we were taken on a long, leisurely tour of the flower gardens, herb gardens, Hydrangea Allée, and on down to the focal point statue straight below our path. With the Boston Ivy creeping across brick pavilions and castle turret-like structures, one would never guess Allen began work on the estate only 20 years ago! Finally it was time for a farm-to-table salad lunch (baby spinach, goat or sheep's cheese, strips of chicken, caramelized red onion, iced tea, and a slice of Allen's famous buttermilk pecan pie with homemade whipped cream. Allen surprised us by coming in just as we finished our meal and gave us a half-hour Q & A session. He is so charming, warm, and really funny! Those buying his new coffee table book or his cookbook lined up for him to sign their copies. Next up for me and my friend was Poultryville, where we got to meet the special chickens whose breeds Allen is helping to preserve for generations to come. I came away from this unforgettable day needing to bake that pie, support his non-profit, and show off to anyone who would look my fifty-plus photographs! I cannot recommend this tour enough. You won't be sorry.
翻译:天哪,我真不知道该从何说起。当我们下车后,看到那栋木质外观的古朴小屋前有一张桌子:上面放着一个陶瓷花瓶,里面插满了从花园里采来的鲜花;还有一盘用餐巾纸盖着的自制山核桃饼干。那一刻我们就知道,今天必定是一次美妙的体验。事先有人提醒我们要早点到,以便在礼品店里稍作浏览,这样大约三十人的团队就能准时集合开始参观。我们被分成两组,每组约15人。我们小组首先进入了那座(完美复制品!)19世纪40年代的农舍。每一个房间都让我们惊叹不已。我最喜欢的地方就是那间带阳台的卧室——那里有三张单人床,窗外是河流与连绵的群山;在这个天气晴朗、微有雾气的秋日里,景色格外迷人。接着,我们沿着小路悠闲地游览了花卉园、药草园以及绣球花小径,最后来到了小径尽头的标志性雕像处。波士顿常春藤攀附在砖砌的凉亭及类似城堡塔楼的建筑物上,让人完全想不到艾伦仅仅在20年前才开始修建这座庄园!终于到了享用“农场到餐桌”主题沙拉午餐的时刻:嫩菠菜、山羊奶酪或绵羊奶酪、鸡丝、焦糖红洋葱,再配上冰茶,最后以一片艾伦亲手制作的奶油核桃派搭配自制鲜奶油作为收尾。就在我们用完餐时,艾伦惊喜现身,还为我们安排了半小时的问答环节。他真是魅力十足、热情又风趣!那些购买了他的新摄影集或食谱书的人纷纷排队,就为了让他签名留念。接着,我和朋友前往了Poultryville,在那里我们见到了那些由艾伦致力于世代保存的珍稀鸡种。这一天实在令人难忘:我离开时便迫不及待地想烤制那款派饼,支持他的非营利事业,还要向所有愿意听的人炫耀我拍下的五十多张照片!我真心极力推荐这次之旅。你不会后悔的。