They came by the hundreds, people of all ages, shapes and sizes — many from out of town, some from out of state — trudging along through hill and dale past the friendly police detail to jam the interiors of the lovely house set deep in the woods of Annisquam.
If you managed to get past the crowds you might find yourself in what nowadays Realtors call the great room, all but emptied of furniture, save a long formal dining table of gleaming mahogany strewn with serving platters, plates, wine glasses and books.
One book stood out — a large Rizzoli coffee table book, its title announced in bold pink letters: “The New Cucina Italiana.”
Anyone who knows anything about Barbara Lynch knows that this — her trailblazing take on new Cucina Italiana — is how her legendary ascent to culinary super stardom began.
And that this — an estate sale of what seemed like all her earthy possessions— is what it has come to.
A person’s possessions say a lot about them, and Lynch’s possessions spoke of the colorful, creative, earthy individualism for which she is famous.
Artwork was everywhere, framed, unframed, painted, watercolored, sketched, scattered about, along with lamps, bowls, clothing, and — hanging haphazardly from wire hangers— crisp white chef’s jackets she had worn in her famous restaurants and on television.
There seemed to be many of these jackets, and they were coveted items for shoppers such as newlywed Blake Donnelly-Morrell, who’d traveled from Swampscott with his wife Lauren and mother Cathy, and managed to land one that was in exceptionally good condition.
The Donnelly-Morells had arrived at 9 that morning when the sale began but were put off by the size of the crowd already gathered, so went off to Rockport to Christmas shop, returning later to claim, along with the jacket, a bicycle for Lauren and a small oil painting for Cathy.
For many, the prime destination of the morning was the kitchen, repository of a treasured collection of vintage cookware and culinary equipment. If, like this reporter, you weren’t up to the throng, you could head over to the large, detached garage that proved a treasure trove of a random collection of less costly culinary items along with what looked like professional equipment from her restaurants.
There were seven restaurants at the height of Lynch’s career, bringing to Boston’s culinary scene international recognition, and to Lynch the title of grand chef, along with grand accolades.
Her story is legend. The youngest of seven in a single parent family in the projects of South Boston, she was a star in her home economics cooking class. A natural wonder in the kitchen, she was cooking for the priests in a neighboring rectory at 14, and rose through the ranks of Boston’s kitchens to own kitchens from which she ruled like the tough Southie kid she was to create an elevated, refined dining experience.
Most locals know all too well what happened then. Fast forward through the years to an exhausted Lynch’s move to Annisquam, a drunken driving arrest, rumors of abusive management, her restaurant on Rocky Neck failing, restaurant closures, rumors, and finally, a bill from the city of Boston for $1.6 million in unpaid taxes.
Barbara Lynch has not commented publicly on her situation, nor was she present at Saturday’s estate sale. But her presence was very much felt by people like Isobel Stover and her husband, who’d come in search of mementos for the kitchen in their new house in Annisquam.
As one couple circled the great mahogany dining table, the woman was heard to say,
“Imagine the dinner parties she must have had here. I wonder what she’ll do?”
“She’s a fighter,” her partner answered. “She’ll rise again like a phoenix.”
Lynch herself said in a recent TED talk that her bible was a small black book called “The Basics.” Maybe she’ll just have to get back to them.
Joann Mackenzie may be contacted at 978-675-2707 or jmackenzie@northofboston.com.