Here's Jaime putting together a big event we did last week.  400 guests came to celebrate one of our local heroines, thanking Pat Smith for her 25 years of guidance at The Community Foundation. 

 

These are very fun for me and, it seems, for the folks who have been coming.

 

We're starting the October series this coming Wednesday.  Here's the schedule:

 

Wednesday, October 7 - Blueberry Hill Favorites

Wednesday, October 14 -  Appetizers

THURSDAY, October 22 -Harvest favorites

Wednesday, October 28 - Soups

 

Dinners 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 (252-0200)

or stop in to speak to one of us in person.

 

Monday October 5 Cider Chicken with Cheddar Potatoes 10.75

Tuesday October 6 Farro Risotto with Local Roasted Shitakes 10.25

Wednesday October 7 *Spinach and Pepper Stuffed Bistro Steak 11.50

Thursday October 8 * Roast Chicken with Brussels Sprouts and Bacon 10.75

Friday October 9 Shrimp Fettuccine w/Lusty Monk Mustard Sauce 12.50

 

* these items are Gluten Free

We make a special casserole each Wednesday.

Order by noon or so. Order a half if you have around 4 folks. If you have a bigger group, or you just like leftovers, order a full-sized one.

Then come pick up between 3:00 and 8:00. (Or bring a gang and enjoy your dinner right here. WE DO have beer and wine by the glass, you know.)

 

This week's special casserole is for Wednesday, October 7

Mexican Beef and Poblano Pepper Lasagna

Full: 45

After I helped set up the big party I scurried off  to the airport and went to New York to be a part of a panel at The Culinary Institute of America.  I joined 5 other entreprenerial women in a conversation about being a woman, being in business, being a restaurant owner, living in balance (or not), and such.

 

We have quite a  line up.

 

Jamie Ager will be here, telling about his pasture-raised beef and pork at Hickory Nut Gap (where they also grow apples and many other things.)

 

Scott and Linda will be here from Firefly Farms.  They grow a lot of our produce.  This time of year we're really enjoying their Candy Roaster Squash.

 

And we're also looking forward to introducing you to Jennifer Perkins from Looking Glass Creamery.  She and her husband make all sorts of cheeses which they produce using milk from a number of area farmers.

 

We're starting more nightly events here in the cafe, especially music jam sessions.  We'll see how it goes.  Come and play or just come and listen.

 

We'll have an "Old Time" jam on Tuesday the 6th and Tuesday the 20th. These are moderate-paced jams but no one will be treated badly for being a beginner (um, I'm talking about myself - a rusty fiddler.)

 

And then we're starting a Uke(ulele) jam on the other Tuesdays, the 13th and the 27th.

 

There is no cost to attend or play.  The cafe is open and you can have a beer or a sandwich or some dinner.  Jams start around 5:30 and will end at 8.  FUN!!!

 

October 4, 2009

Good morning. It’s Sunday and I’m at my desk at work, listening to the café fill up with guests, here to celebrate a couple who are going to get married later on this afternoon. We’re the spot for their brunch. I came in to do the final cooking and am now – finally – getting a chance to get my newsletter written.

 

It has been a full week!

 

On Wednesday, as I noted above, I helped set up the big party and then headed to the airport to fly to New York. What a breeze that was! There is a direct flight to Newark and I dozed almost before the wheels left the runway and woke up as we were headed down the Hudson. The Empire State building shone, as did all of the city.

 

On Thursday I got up early, scooted to Grand Central, picked up a bagel and some coffee, hopped on a train and rolled up the Hudson to Poughkeepsie and the Culinary Institute of America. I did not attend culinary school so I was a bit intimidated, but students are students and they were interested in hearing my perspective of how I do this crazy life of food and bicycles and glass and cooking.

 

After the presentation I headed back down the Hudson, just in time to meet a friend for dinner at Prune, one of my favorite spots. Home. Bed. Up. A visit to a farmer’s market (ours is MILES better, though I did manage to get a fantastic MacIntosh apple.) Then a visit with a friend who is a conductor. I heard the final run through of part of that evening’s concert and then headed to Rockefeller Center with five extra minutes. I was thrilled to get to connect with Roz Savage (www.rozsavage.com) one of my heroes. She just completed a 104 day row, by herself, from Hawaii to Tarawa, an island halfway to Australia. She’s already rowed the Atlantic AND the Pacific from San Francisco to Hawaii. I followed her blog on her recent journey and was delighted that we had an hour together. I’m trying to get her to Asheville to promote her book: Rowing the Atlantic.

 

Anyway – we both had to scoot, she to have lunch with the folks from Simon and Schuster and me to the airport. Into the subway, under the Hudson River, through the airport and onto the plane as they were announcing the final boarding call (that’s a bit closer than I usually play the game but….)

 

Got to Asheville and went right to a party where I helped cook and serve for a little while. Home. Bed. Up. Cooked some more. Did a little speaking engagement. Went home. Vacuumed. And cooked one more dinner – a gift to the YWCA that was set up a while ago. (I do not usually fill my life this much!) They came, ate, left. I cleaned up my house and myself, slept, came back to work and did the final cooking for today’s wedding fest.

 

I’m almost done. As soon as I finish this note. It’s a beautiful day and I’m going to go home and take my dog for a very slow walk. Very slow. And then I’m going to have a nap. And then. Nothing. Not for while.

 

It is good to be home. And good to slow down, any minute now!

I’ll be in touch next week and will, no doubt, have a story or two for you.

 

Cheers,

I visited little Henry last week.  Today he goes into the hospital to get the final preparations leading up to his bone marrow transplant on October 9th. 

 

We're going to have a BIG party for him, a pancake breakfast/brunch benefit. It'll be on November 8th so mark your calendars.

 

In the meantime, keep him and his sweet parents, Emily and Adam (two of our managers) in your thoughts.  And follow the link below if you'd like to know more.