I got a lot of calls, a lot of, "hey bozo, did you notice?" and "um, did I MISS something?" and "we want to come - but when IS the special dinner?"

The special dinner's date is Saturday, December 20th. We'll start at 7pm. My sister will be here, leading some singing. We'll have a nice time. We have taken a whole bunch of reservations but if you'd like to join us, do call. I hope we can fit you in.

And if you cannot make it, we're going to have a monthly "Dinner and Comfort" meal starting in January. We might have music or poetry or story telling or a cooking class or something. But we'll do these once a month. Stay tuned.

The menu for the 20th is:
Here's the menu:
At the start:
Elsie's Shrimp Tempura with John's Dunk Sauce
Artisanal Cheeses
First Course:
Local Winter Squash Soup
with Crisp Onions and Shaved Parmesan Cheese
The Main Course:
Beef Wellington
(or a vegetarian alternative)
Potatoes au Gratin
Elsie's Tomatoes Seven Seasonings
Garlic-Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Cheddar Biscuits
The Sweet Finish:
Molten Chocolate Cakes
with Crème Anglaise

Wine or Sparkling Cider will be included with the meal.
The price is $50 per person (+ NC sales tax).
To reserve please e-mail laurey@laureysyum.com or call 252-1500

Please order by phone (252-1500), by fax (252-0200)or stop in to speak to one of us in person.

Dinners are ready at 4:30 and can be picked up until we close at 6:00 pm.

Monday December 15 Fried Chicken with Collards and Spoon Bread 9.95

Tuesday December 16 Beef Empanadas with Jalapeno Corncakes 10.75

Wednesday December 17 Golden-crusted Tilapia with Gremolata 11.75

Thursday December 18 Meatballs with Tri-color Tortellini 11.75

Friday December 19 Crabcakes Remoulade 13.25

Order before noon and we'll have yours ready to pick up between 4:30 and 6:00 that very afternoon. (Yes, you can order in advance too.) Order a full for 9 portions or, if your gang is smaller, opt for the half-sized one, which serves 4 or so.

Say, we'll 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.

Here's this week's offering:

Wednesday, December 17

Spinach Lover's Lasagna

Full: 30.00

Half: 15.00

*** We know how surprising it is to get a call saying company is coming.  The kitchen gang, anticipating this for you, makes extra casseroles all the time.  Basically, whenever we make one for an order, we make extras and stick them in our freezer.  Ask one of the shopsters and they'll tell you what we have.

AND, given a day's notice (most of the time), we can make special casseroles just for you.  Want one of last month's specials?  No worries.  All you need to do is ask.  Sound good?

Hiya,

What a beautiful day it is here. The shop is filled with sun. The streets are filled with folks visiting the craft market across the street (and then wandering in here for lunch). The windows in the café here are filled with my glass, Sky's sparkling ornaments, Lauren's gift pins and cards and other things. As I write, a table full of Morris Dancers (they do old English dances with bells tied on hoops and garlands) sits outside my office, finishing up their lunch. There has been a steady stream of people in and out all day today (here it is, 1:30 and I'm still trying to write my note).

Last night I was at my favorite place, a home in Brevard where, for the past 15 years, I have cooked for the family's company Christmas party. 15 years is a long time. Together we have seen each other grow, change, adapt, develop. Things this year are quieter than they usually are so these gatherings are taking on a more special tone. Guests are more appreciative, more filled with gratitude and appreciation for each other. It is palpable.

On my way home from the party, one of my favorite little holiday traditions, I get to drive past roadside Christmas light displays. I like them, the gaudier the better. But my absolute favorite is the house with about 300 gallon milk jugs that border their entire property. Each gallon jug surrounds one colored light bulb. From a distance this border glows and describes the fence line, the property line, the line to the front stairs. It is only close inspection that reveals the source of the glow. I like thinking about how much milk this family had to drink in order to have this many jugs. Lots.

Last week I had the amazingly extraordinary experience of seeing a documentary film about Jason Crigler, a musician who had a horrific brain injury about 4 years ago. The film shows footage of him, completely paralyzed, barely out of a coma, going through excruciating months and months of rehab. It is almost impossible to believe that anyone could make it through something like that but, as we audience members had been told he would, Jason himself came out at the end of the movie and actually played and sang and answered questions. He is doing very well and, if you hadn't seen the movie, you'd never suspect anythng was different about him at all.  It was a remarkable evening. His father, who went through it all with him, was here too. I, along with everyone at the film I think, left at the end, stunned, humbled, moved. Deeply moved. Love and a whole lot of work conquered some Herculean obstacles. Nothing like that to lift the blues. The movie is called Life. Support. Music. Google it. See it.

Also, this week I had an exchange with a mentor of mine about "economic downturns." His approach, refreshing to me, is to plunge in, believe in yourself (or your business self) and try not to cut corners or panic, but to carefully and intentionally do things better. I have been feeling very low but these things this past week, miracles of survival and glowing milk jugs and self belief are helping turn me around.

I work with wonderful people. I have love and life and light. All these things prop me up and I will do all that I can to help bring light to my little tiny place in the world that, right now, seems surrounded by places that are hard and dark. I really do believe we will all get through this time. And I really have faith and trust that we will come up with new ways of doing things and that they will be better and we will get there together.

Thank you for joining me on this journey. Thank you. I'll be in touch next week.