Christina Draper, my Finnish friend who owned Encore Boutique in Durham, wed her long-time fiancée, Mike Rosenthal, on May Day. The picture perfect day allowed them to share the celebration with about 60 family and friends outside of their Scandinavian-type log home. The chuppah they built together was a festive addition as well as a May pole and planters of blue hydrangea. Assistant Ed seared a beef tenderloin that was the most popular food--scoffed down in about 10 minutes! 
Blue cheese and toasted almond-coated grapes were a hit as always. Other crowd-pleasers were the watermelon pickle deviled eggs and mini crab cakes with horseradish mustard. Friends from the Finnish Embassy in DC brought Karelian pastry and other delights. There was a strawberry cake which is typical Scandinavian fare and Rena’s pastel petit fours were a big hit.
