Lofland

Summer with its many delights is now upon us and Bay Creek Executive Chef, Christian Lofland, is already diving into the season, making a big splash at the Coach House Tavern and beyond.

Chef Christian enjoys creating dishes that showcase the flavors of every season—by using fresh seasonal vegetables, and by featuring seafood prominently on the menu—a celebration of summer and the bounty of the sea. The delectable summer selections now appearing on the new Coach House menu are receiving great acclaim.

“We’ve just rolled out the new menu and members are extremely happy with the lineup,” Christian says. “We’re featuring jumbo lump crab cakes, pan seared scallops, and a prime New York strip steak with braised carrots and a red wine demi,” says Christian. “We’re debuting new pasta dishes, too.”

Christian’s pasta selections feature the bright colors and fresh flavors of summer. Right now, the seasonal veg sauté features summer squash, green beans, shallots, and asparagus (one of Christian’s favorites). “Asparagus is a big summer crop—and it’s been very good this season, which tells me it will get even better as we get further into the summer,” says Christian. “And the zucchini and yellow squash, too…the produce we’re getting now is fantastic.”

At the Coach House, Christian sautés fresh summer veg and serves it with a light cream sauce over angel hair pasta. Guests can add a protein as well, making it both delicious and versatile. An Eastern Shore menu wouldn’t be complete without oysters, and Chef Christian is going big on them this season. “We’re offering ‘steamship’ oysters,” says Christian. “They’re huge—five to seven inches long—and they’re so delicious. These are local Virginia oysters and we’re serving them raw on the half shell. We make our own mignonette and cocktail sauce and serve them with lemon.”

This summer, you’ll also see options like wahoo and red snapper at the Coach House. “We’re starting to see more southern fish coming up into the Eastern Shore area. You can actually get cobia up here now with the warming of the waters” Christian explains. “Ten years ago, you couldn’t find it north of Georgia.” Christian’s sensitivity to sourcing and sustainability of the game, fish and produce he prepares echoes Bay Creek’s commitment to stewardship of the Eastern Shore. He sources locally whenever possible and enjoys showcasing the freshest and best of each season.

Chef Christian is known for taking everyday flavors and transforming them into fabulous dishes. His popular marinated tomato salad and his trio salad (chicken, tuna, and egg on fresh field greens) have become fast favorites.

Beyond his culinary work at the Coach House, Christian and his team have enjoyed providing unique experiences for events at Bay Creek. Their talents were recently on display at Bay Creek’s big Cheeseburger in Paradise Sunday Scramble where they prepared a spread of cheeseburgers of all kinds—with avocado, topped with fried onions—and all sorts of unexpected and awesome combinations. They also showcased their talents during a recent one-day MemberGuest Tournament.

Recently, they catered a lovely wedding at Bay Creek, whose 200+ guests said ‘I do’ to all manner of memorable cuisine, courtesy of Chef Christian and his capable team of professionals.

Since May, they have been enjoying the newly renovated kitchen space at the Coach House Tavern. This summer will see additional streamlining and planning as the kitchen and catering capabilities continue to flourish under Chef Christian’s direction.

Though he’s won many awards (ask about his Sherry Crab Soup!) and accolades from those who’ve tasted his creations, one of Chef Christian’s best talents is enabling people to enjoy good food in good company.

Visit Bay Creek’s welcoming Coach House Tavern and immerse yourself in the fresh and the fabulous—we look forward to seeing you there!

Christian’s famous Sherry Crab Soup has already been in high demand this summer. His secret? He uses top notch sherry that he sources from California. He makes the soup in the traditional way with a roux. The soup takes about a day and a half to fully prepare! A favorite of Bay Creek regulars and visitors, Christian’s Sherry Crab Soup took home the coveted Judge’s Choice and People’s Choice awards at the highly competitive Oyster Farm Soup Cook-Off last year.