BOSTON — Coquilles St. Jacques, filet mignon with warm orange béarnaise sauce, and watercress salad dressed with honey-pistachio vinaigrette. All topped off with mango crème brulee. This dinner-to-die-for was recently whipped up by the friars of Saint Anthony Shrine. John Maganzini, OFM, Dwayne Fernandes, OFM, Barry Langley, OFM, Hugh Macsherry, OFM, and Thomas Donovan, OFM, planned and prepared this meal.
“You wouldn’t find a meal as good in the finest French restaurant,” said John Hogan, OFM.
The dinner was a gift from the friars as part of the shrine’s fundraiser auction last year of items created by Franciscans. Henry and Andrea Kara were the highest bidders and cashed in on their prize on May 4.
Among the guests invited to the dinner were Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, shown in photo, and his wife. The evening began with cocktails at 5:30 p.m., and was followed by a sit-down dinner in the friars’ dining room. David Convertino, OFM, welcomed the guests and began with a special table prayer prepared by John Maganzini.
The menu included Coquilles St. Jacques, tender sea scallops and mushrooms broiled in a rich wine sauce, according to John Maganzini, who reports “this was followed by filet mignon with a peppercorn, orange and tarragon crust, served with a warm orange bearnaise sauce, peas and pearl onions tossed in a lemon-mint butter, potato caraway croquettes, and cloverleaf sweet potato rolls. The salad course was a crisp watercress and carrot dressed with honey-pistachio vinaigrette. The special dessert was mango creme brulee.”
Cordials and coffee were also served. At the end of the meal, David called the chefs and kitchen staff out to the dining room for a round of applause.
The dinner guests said, “We will be back next Sunday.”
The date of this year’s auction at St. Anthony Shrine is Oct. 8.