Hunt Phelan Field Trip

Thursday I once again spent my day off chaperoning one of Satchel's field trips. This time we went to the Hunt Phelan for a tour of the grounds and lunch in the dining room. The innkeeper, Stephen Hassinger, has two kids who attend Evergreen Montessori and he makes lunch at the school three days a week, so all of the kids know him very well.

They were SO excited about the trip! Once we got there everyone rushed through the front doors in a stampede. Stephen merely laughed and began telling the kids all about the house's history.

Just a few fun facts that I remember--The Hunt Phelan home featured the very first indoor bathroom in the Mid-South, it was home to the very first Freedman's school, and the tunnels originally built underneath it for gun smuggling eventually were used for the Underground Railroad.


We got to see the gorgeous grounds, a few fancy hotel rooms, the kitchen, and the bar. Stephen even told us a ghost story. Then we all sat down in the dining room for a delicious lunch consisting of pumpkin soup, steak, broccolini, and shoestring French fries. For dessert we had white chocolate chip and coconut cookies.

I sat at a table with Satchel and four of his friends. It was hilarious listening to their comments about the food. C said, "This needs salt." Satchel asked, "Why doesn't Mr. Stephen cook like this at school?" Remi noted, "This meat isn't juicy like my dad's." Funniest of all was C, who was seated next to me. He kept asking what I was writing down and why I take so many pictures, especially of food.

The lunch was a hit, despite the few disparaging comments mentioned above. The French fries and the homemade steak sauce were the stand outs. Satchel declared it the best lunch of the year and his friend, and Stephen's son, T agreed.

When lunch was done, the kids asked if they could have recess and Stephen graciously agreed to close the front gate and let them have the run of the yard. T brought out some toys and his sister got their dog. The kids were having so much fun, we started planning a Field Day for the Spring semester, complete with live music, beer, and potato sack races. (We also did a little fantasizing about how awesome it would be to move the school to the Hunt Phelan.)

If you've never been to the Hunt Phelan, I highly recommend it. Next week (the 11th-14th) the Hunt Phelan is participating in Downtown Dining Week. You can get a delicious three course meal for only $20.09! And if the weather is as nice as it is this week, you can have cocktails on the heavenly back patio.