Spirits of the Open: From Morning Tea to Haunted Taverns

If you followed my advice last week, you are fully prepped for the Ultimate Open Championship Watch Party. The Definitive British Yorkshire Puddings are ready for the oven, the television is tuned to the rugged dunes of England's northwest coast, and you have poured a proper, civilized cup of tea to anchor your morning.

But I promised Emma I’d hand over the perfect culinary centerpiece for her own watch party over at Red Tail. After years of globetrotting with Mark and my past life as a pastry chef, I can definitively say that you cannot host an authentic Open watch party with just potato chips and onion dip. You need something sophisticated, but completely effortless.

Smoked Salmon & Herbed Crème Fraîche Blinis

These are perfectly bite-sized for nervous tournament-watching and bring a touch of worldly elegance to the living room.

• The Base: Let me be clear—as a former pastry chef, I almost always insist on making things from scratch. However, when the most crucial shots of a major championship are happening before 8:00 AM, absolutely no one should be standing over a hot stove flipping tiny buckwheat pancakes. Give yourself a pass and pick up a package of high-quality, pre-made cocktail blinis. Warm them gently in the oven right before serving.
  

• The Crema: Whisk together ½ cup of crème fraîche with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, a pinch of salt, and a tablespoon of finely chopped fresh dill. And a quick note on substitutions: if you are tempted to reach into the back of your pantry for that dusty jar of dried dill, please don't. Dried herbs need heat and time to release their oils; in a cold crema like this, dried dill will just taste grassy and flat. If you can't find fresh dill at the market, swap it out for fresh chives instead.
  

• The Assembly: Add a small dollop of the herbed crème fraîche to each warm blini. Top with a ribbon of high-quality Scottish smoked salmon and garnish with a single caper and a tiny sprig of dill.

Pints, poltergeists and proper Fish & Chips

Celebration Libations & Local Spirits

As the afternoon rolls in and the final groups make their way up the 18th fairway at Royal Birkdale, it is time to transition from morning tea to a proper "celebration libation." For Mark and me, that means upgrading our Earl Grey with a splash of gin and a lemon twist to toast the Champion Golfer of the Year.

And once the living have been celebrated, it’s time to go searching for spirits of a different kind.

To keep the Open Championship energy going, Mark and I are bringing the British pub crawl across the Atlantic. The UK is famous for ancient, haunted taverns sitting just down the road from legendary links courses. Fortunately, we don’t need a passport to find that exact vibe. We just need to drive to Ashland.

Tucked alongside the railroad tracks, Stone's Public House is a historic 1830s tavern that serves up incredible Truffle Mac & Cheese, proper Fish & Chips, and a heavy dose of the supernatural. Built by Captain John Stone, the inn is notorious for its paranormal activity. Local legend says that in 1845, Captain Stone lost $3,000 in a card game to a New York traveler in an upstairs room, accused him of cheating, and... well, the traveler never checked out. Today, visitors and staff still report turning faucets, unexplainable chills, and the distinct feeling of being watched by the Captain's portrait over the fireplace.

It is the absolute perfect, dark, and historically rich spot to grab a pint and soak up the ancient spirit of the Open Championship right here in Massachusetts.

While I might lean a bit into the sophisticated and the supernatural, Shining Rock prefers to keep things wonderfully straightforward. We are perfectly happy swapping poltergeists and centuries-old secrets for our bright, sunny patio, cold beers, and beautiful green fairways. It is wonderfully fun to step into history for a night, but nothing beats a clear weekend on the course.

After you finish your blinis and grab a pint with the ghosts in Ashland, come see us on the patio this weekend to soak up the sun and argue about the tournament results!

Will you be watching the Open Championship with a civilized cup of tea, or are you heading straight to the pub for spirits? Let me know your watch party plans in the comments below! 👇

Chef's "A Trip to Spain" Wine Dinner

If you prefer your "spirits" perfectly paired with a five-course Iberian escape, our Spanish Wine Dinner is just around the corner on July 26. Featuring Pulpo Parrilla and authentic Paella de Marisco paired with Brut Cava and Albarino, it is going to be spectacular. Tickets are $55 per person and are selling fast, so secure your spot on the patio before they're gone!

Book a Tee Time at Shining Rock

Even if you aren't hunting for ghosts or joining us for tapas, the course is in fantastic shape right now. Escape the haunted taverns, soak up the sun, and book your tee time this week to argue about the tournament results on the fairways.