|
The Weekly Newsletter |
Menus and Stories for February 26 - March 2, 2007
|
|
| Reading at Malaprops |
|
Oh it was fun! A stalwart group braved the dire weather predictions (that did not pan out - no surprise) and came to hear a few stories from Elsie's Biscuits. It was slightly surreal for me, finally standing in the place of my dreams, telling some of my tales. This is what you do, I know, and I'm happy to be doing it. Just still wobbly about the whole thing.
(One other of my dreams was to be on Malaprops' best seller list. This week Elsie's Biscuits is # 1!!!)
Say, if you live near Chapel Hill, come say hello next Sunday. I'll be at A Southern Season, cooking Sour Cream Waffles and telling stories. (I'm not sure the exact time but call and someone there can tell you.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unusual Coffees |
Earlier in the day last Saturday, our coffee gals brought in some special coffees for a "coffee cupping" a structured tasting, that is. I was too nervous to sit with everyone, but I stepped in periodically to watch and listen to the comments. The group sipped and sniffed and swirled and learned. We'll be doing this again, don't worry.
For now, if you'd like to try some of the coffees they tasted (there will be different ones next time) come by. We have these three available right now: one from Kenya, one from East Timor, and one from just down the pike - in Honduras. These are all unique, not anything you could find at any other shop around here. All would be perfect for your favorite coffee lover (could that be you?)
|
|
|
|
|
| A Scone a Day... |
|
Oh I'm happy about these scones. Kris makes different things every morning. Folks are beginning to catch on. Last week we had small groups of people here for much of most mornings. I can't think of a nicer place for a meeting, really. The sun pours in, the kitchen hums, and we leave you alone. The coffee is great, the breakfast foods ("low key" we like to say) just right.
See you soon?
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Dinners to go |
Dinners, as you know, come with a freshly-made green salad, salad dressing of the day, and made-right-here bread of the day. We take reservations until noon or so. Please order by phone (252-1500), by FAX (252-02002) or stop in to speak to one of us in person.
As a reminder, every time you order a dinner to go you are eligible to enter our drawing. Just drop a card in our drawing jar (a business card works or fill out one of the cards that we have right here) and, at the end of the month, we'll pull one card which will be good for two free dinners-to-go.
Maybe you'll win next month.
Order a lot? Enter a lot!
Good luck!!
Here's this week's menu:
Monday February 26 Mustard-glazed Chicken with Corn Fritters 9.95
Tuesday February 27 Chicken and Spinach Enchiladas with Black Beans 10.25
Wednesday February 28 Pulled Pork with Cider BBQ Sauce 10.50
Thursday March 1 Chardonnay Chicken with Lemon Risotto
Friday March 2 Shrimp Linguine St. Jacques
|
|
Our website |
|
|
| Special casserole of the week |
|
We make a special casserole each week. Order before noon on Wednesday and we'll have yours ready to pick up between 4:30 and 6:00 that very afternoon. Order a full for 9 portions or, if your gang is smaller, opt for the half-sized one, which serves 4 or so.
This week's offering is:
Chicken and Vegetable Tamale Pie
(we can make yours simply Vegetarian if you wish)
Full with Chicken 33.50
Half with Chicken 16.75
Full Vegetarian 29.00
Half Vegetarian 14.50
Would you like to add a salad and bread? Just ask and we'll fix 'em for you.
|
|
|
|
|
|
New glass |
I got my box of treasures from my most recent class last week. This one is the first time I tried to do a "double overlay" - color on the inside AND color on the outside. It is also the biggest thing I had made up to that point. Whee!
|
|
|
|
|
| Another one |
|
Here's another one - even bigger than the first one (it's almost 12" tall!) It's a thrill to me to be able to do this, push the magical liquid around and have it turn into something that stands up on its own, is symmetrical (not easy!) and is pretty to boot.
|
|
|
|
|
|
And another one |
We learned how to pull cane, that is, to make long strands of colored glass. This piece has stripes of yellow cane - the first I'd ever made. After I made this piece I skipped around, chirping to myself about it. It is a beginning, an example to me that I can, it seems, actually do this. It's a big thrill.
|
|
|
|
|
| A Note From Laurey |
|
February 24, 2007
Good morning to you.
Oh it’s a nice day here in Asheville. Cold, yes, but clear and full of promise and birds and life. The kitchen gang is bustling around getting the day put together. Tonight we have a few parties to do. I get to go to one of them, a celebration for a photographic exhibit that will be here soon. Called “Love Makes a Family” it is all about love and families and life. I’ll tell you more about it next week.
This past week was a good one for another reason. I am part of a group at our Chamber of Commerce that is tackling the problem of litter in our community. This past week I was present at three different meetings where a resolution of beautification was formally adopted. The County Commissioners, The City Council, and the Chamber Board of Directors all agreed to raise this problem up high and tackle it full force. We’ll roll this whole thing out in early April, having one whole month to focus on a region-wide cleanup. Beyond that we’ll be working on how to keep it all clean. I’m proud of our group’s work up until this point. Unanimous agreement on anything is rare these days, so it is nice to be part of something that we all agree on! (I hope you’ll help too.)
Let’s see. The book, just released, is making its way out in the world. Last week I got a call from someone in Montreal who lives in Vermont but is moving to Asheville. She’d read about Elsie’s Biscuits in an on-line version of our local paper. After a conversation she told me that she’d like to write about my book for the Burlington (Vermont) newspaper. Funny how this all works. One bit at a time.
I’ll be bringing the books and stories to Chapel Hill next Sunday and am talking about visiting Atlanta with it sometime this spring. My friend Annie owns Star Provisions, a fabulous gourmet store right next to her restaurant Bacchanalia down there. We’re trying to find a good time for me to go there. I’ll keep you posted.
And in between all that I write more menus, meet with brides, unpack more books, rearrange the piles of things on my desk. It’s almost March. Hard to believe, really, though it shouldn’t be, I suppose. Last year at this time I was still torn about what to do about the book. Now, just like that, the book is done and is out in the world. Interesting.
Enjoy this last weekend of February, my friends. If you get out in your garden, watch out for hairy vines. They are, as I found out when I first moved here and was cleaning out my garden on a warm February day, poison ivy, and they will get you if you are not gloved, clothed and very careful. That’s my advice for today. I’ll be in touch next week.
Cheers,
Laurey
|
|
|
|
|
|
With my sisters |
Can't imagine anything sweeter than to be sandwiched in between these two. They drove over from Kentucky to listen to my stories. After the reading we all came back to the shop and Chris poured some Champagne and we all toasted books and sisters and stories and life. It was, to be sure, a grand night.
|
|
|
|
|
