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The Weekly Newsletter |
Menus and Stories for June 4 - 8, 2007
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| Being The Chamber "Babe" |
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Oh the things one must do in an official capacity!
This is my last month as Board Chair of the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce. It has been an eye-opening experience, a time for me to understand, with much greater detail, how this city and this business community runs. I've almost figured out how to do this job, and now it is almost done.
Yesterday I got to be the official starter for the 1st annual Chamber Challenge, a certified 5k foot race through the Montford neighborhood. I would have run but, well, I'm not really a runner, so I finagled a spot on a Segway, one of those fun, odd, roll around machines that are the most hilarious way to travel you can ever imagine. My friend Wes runs Moving Sidewalk Tours out of the Chamber's visitor center and he was one of the runners. I volunteered to be his cheering section.
I rolled up to the starting line and got to blast the beginning with one of those loud air horns - and off they went! On my borrowed Segway I zipped up and down surprisingly steep hills in our Chamber's parking lot, pretending to "check" on things, but really letting the much-needed mist of rain filter through my helmet as I enjoyed myself while waiting for the runners to finish. And then, when almost all were in, I "helped" by riding the route, searching for stragglers.
I'll still be on the board next year, as last-year's board chair. Maybe they'll let me do it all again. After all, now I know what to do, right?
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Ann Vasilik's painting - coming soon |
A few years ago Ann Vasilik painted the front of our shop on an apron for a local art fundraiser. The apron has graced our shop ever since. More than a few people have asked if they could buy it, or one like it. Finally last week I got in touch with her and got permission to have it printed on an apron that we can sell here. The printer is at a conference in Holland right now, but when he gets back we're going to get going on it.
Oh - and we're also printing some "Don't Postpone Joy" aprons too. That'll happen sooner than later. The aprons are here, just waiting to be printed. Keep and eye out for 'em.
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| While we're on the subject |
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The mugs are back. They have been flying out of here lately but, fear not, for all of you who've been looking for them, the wait is over.
I gave a talk last week about my business and, as I always do, gave out bumper stickers to the listeners. Every so often a newcomer will catch a glimpse of these words and I am the first to see a dramatic change of expression as they see it, internalize it, and just like that, adopt it.
I did the very same thing once upon a time.
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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 June 4 Brie and Almond-stuffed Chicken 10.25
Tuesday June 5 Pork Tenderloin with Mustard Sauce 10.25
Wednesday June 6 Grilled Lemon-herb Chicken 9.95
Thursday June 7 Cajun Meatloaf with Garlic Mashed Potatoes 10.50
Friday June 8 Roasted Salmon with Fennel and Orange Slaw 12.75
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Our website |
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| Special casserole of the week |
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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:
Vegetarian Lasagna with Local Early-summer Vegetables
Full 28.50
Half 14.25
Oh, we'd happily make a salad and provide bread for you if you like, just let us know when you call and we'll get you all set up.
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Hiding in the Poppies |
Here's a recent snap of Skipper, basking on a rock in the garden at home.
Yesterday he and Tye had a just-about-dawn battle over a mole that Skipper had caught and was intending to bring into bed (MY bed, that is!) In the dim light Tye launched herself off the bed, tore through the house and onto the deck to put HER stamp of approval on the whole mess. Skipper, surprised, dropped the mole, giving Tye the opportunity to pick up the chase. Fortunately the mole was still alive and not badly harmed and IT took off and slid into a small opening in one of the logs of my cabin. Tye and Skipper glared at each other and that was that. For them.
Since the sun, by then, was beginning to emerge from the night's darkness, I decided to just get up. Ugh.
Welcome to my world.
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| Equal time |
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And here, in the background, right behind the pea garden, is Tye, receiving a morning brush from Chris, who is now back in Seattle. If we were out there today we could all be a part of her cooking class - a session on how to grill fish. Sounds like fun, doesn't it?
If you're traveling out west this summer, do go to her place, Flying Fish, for dinner. (Don't miss the Salt and Pepper Dungeness crabs).
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Flying Fish Seattle |
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Grilled Pears |
Okay - this is not the prettiest shot, but if you haven't, you simply MUST come try one of Richard's grilled pears. He marinates them in balsamic vinegar and then grills them and then fills them with Maytag Blue Cheese and spiced nuts and then bakes them for a bit.
I've been serving them on a bed of greens as a different sort of salad course, but, in truth, on my own, back here in the office, I eat 'em right out of my hand - no plate needed (though a napkin is a good idea).
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| A Note From Laurey |
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June 2, 2007
Hiya,
All is good this morning. The kitchen is buzzing, preparing foods for a daytime wedding for a gal who was one of our party staffers until she moved away to go to college. She’s marrying a fellow who is best friends with the son of one of MY close friends. I first met Debbie when her son was still in grade school. Oh gosh – how time does fly!
This evening we’re having a wedding right here in the Garden Room. Noel, our part-time office person is marrying George. George is Emily’s father (Emily is our office manager/business manager and is married to Adam, our shop manager). All this means that Adam and Emily and Noel (of course) have been fully focused on wedding things for some time. Today is their day. Whee!
Last night, after starting the Chamber Challenge Race, and after going to Adam and Emily’s house to celebrate Noel and George, I came back here to the shop where we were hosting a Bar Mitzvah dinner for the youngest son of two friends of mine. One of these friends, David, is a regular visitor to the shop during lunch hour, gracing us with his visits and his praise for our soups. His whole family was in town to celebrate their nephew or grandson or cousin and, after hearing about them for years, I got to meet all of his brothers and sisters and parents. Very fun!
Many of them are from Michigan and we all agreed to meet at Zingerman’s at the end of this month when they (Zingerman’s Roadhouse) are doing a special dinner about our (Laurey’s) food and the food I grew up with at Blueberry Hill Inn. Called “Green Mountain Fare with a Blue Ridge Flavor”, this dinner will be a lot of fun! If you’re in the area, do come for dinner. (Give a call for a reservation if you can). (www.zingermansroadhouse.com)
This month is a big time for me for Elsie’s Biscuits, my new book. Next Saturday, the 9th, I’ll be at our local Barnes and Noble from 3 – 5 as a part of a NC Author’s event. On Sunday the 10th I’ll be in Chapel Hill doing a reading at McIntyre’s Bookstore (www.fearrington.com/village/mcintyres.asp) at 2pm. There’s the Ann Arbor visit, with book signings at Zingerman’s Deli on June 25 and the dinner on the 26th. In July I’ll be in Sylva, at City Lights Bookstore, and also in Vermont, not to mention doing three events as a part of the Swannanoa School of Culinary Arts (by the way, you can now sign up for single days (www.schoolofculinaryarts.org). Anyway – it’s a good, full time.
Back at home I’ve been planting, planting, planting Lavender. We have a new stone wall and Chris suggested planting the edge of it with the fragrant purple stuff. I bought 80 tiny plants (!) and have been sticking them in when I come home from work. I can’t wait to show you pictures of it – maybe later on this summer. Tomorrow, a day of rest for me will be a day of planting and weeding and thinking and musing and sleeping.
I’ll be in touch next week.
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Yes, they do float |
I gave my sister a trio of large glass floats for her birthday. Wondering about them and their floating ability, we filled the bathtub with water and tossed them in. They floated perfectly! And we liked the look so much that we added a couple of rubber duck(ies) and kept them all swimming during the party that we had recently.
If you've come to the shop lately you've seen my glass in the windows here, the output from my Thursday afternoon glassblowing forays. We've decided to have an in-house craft and art sale in a couple of weeks. All my glass will be for sale, as will creations from other folks here. (And believe me, these folks can do much more than cook, though I'm delighted they have decided to pursue that particular talent too!)
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