Harper's Table: A Magical Meal

Last weekend, hubby and I took a "Babymoon" as a final getaway for the two of us before our lives are blessed - and become a whole lot busier - with a little one this summer.  Knowing how much of a foodie I am, hubby knew that taking me somewhere to enjoy an incredible meal would be the way to my heart. 

On July 31, 2012, my brother's close friend, Harper Bradshaw, opened up a restaurant in Suffolk, VA, aptly named Harper's Table.  I have known Harper for over a decade myself, and besides being artistic, talented, and innovative with food, he is also a solid friend to my brother, a super dad to his 2 children, and a great guy to everyone he meets and knows.

I was so excited to venture to Suffolk from Richmond to enjoy a meal at Harper's Table.  The walls of the restaurant are adorned with brick and wood - crisp, clean, and inviting.  The bar is in the center of the restaurant but does not distract; rather, it adds to the laid-back but also upscale vibe of the room.  

Surrounded by pieces of old and new craftsmanship, butter yellow lighting, rustic Southern appeal, and people who, very apparently and sincerely like what they do, we were quickly drawn in to experience a very special meal.  We knew this from the very second we walked up to the door and saw the simply stunning logo, hT, to represent a table and chair (designed by my brother, Johnny Selman).


Harper has created a warm buzz of a feeling for those dining within the walls of hT.  It is a feeling of comfortable nostalgia mixed with heart-thumping excitement that hits you quickly and envelops you almost immediately.

The ingredients are local, plucked carefully and chosen precisely from area farms and gardens.  Those organic, unprocessed flavors ring true throughout each bite.  Your palate will sing to you, and your perfectly satiated belly will thank you.  

Harper's Table creates, presents, and delivers a meal that you will tuck away in your memory with a little bookmark, reminding you to go again as soon as you possibly can for a special treat.  

This post is my attempt to describe hT through my own eyes and through some of the dishes from the magical meal we savored.  If I am able to provide to you even a tiny fraction of visual lust we were entranced with last Friday night, then I have succeeded.

                                                                         

Pork Belly Biscuits

2 half-dollar size buttermilk biscuits, homemade local strawberry jam

(this may have been the best single bite of my life)

         Roasted Eastern Shore Oysters

                local bacon and arugula

                 Faith Farm Strawberry Salad

                       hydrocress, pistachio crisp, 

            local strawberries, red wine vinaigrette                                  

   Whitener Asparagus Salad

      asparagus, slow poached egg, pistachio, 

     creamy lemon dressin'

  Hand Cut Fries

roasted shallot mayo

Flourless Chocolate Espresso Cake

homemade caramel ice cream, hazelnuts