A Safari Dinner – Wednesday, February 24

 

Here is a snap taken by John Moody, our host for this special dinner.

 

Join me and John as we serve a typical South African Safari dinner, complete with South African Wines. Following dinner, John will share tales and photos of his travels in his native lands. Cost of the dinner is 45.00 (+ tax).

 

Please add $10 if you’d like to have wine.

 

From Africa to Asheville, John’s life passion is Africa. A native to this beautiful and stunning land, John has ventured through Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya, Zimbabwe and South Africa. Born in Zimbabwe John now resides in Asheville and welcomes the opportunity to share some of his Safari sojourn through this captivating land.

 

Here’s what we’ll be serving:

 

At the start:

Samoosas with Chutney

Chicken Sate Piri Piri (an African Chile Sauce)

 

The Safari Buffet:

African Chicken Stew

Yellow rice Pilaf

Kenyan-style Curried Cabbage

 

Grilled Pineapple on a Stick

Pumpkin Fritters

 

The Dessert:

Baked Bananas with Crème Fraiche, Toasted Walnuts, and Amarula

 

Don't wait any longer - call to make sure we save room for you!

I told you about the Christening we did last Saturday.  What a lovely time for the little pink and polka-dotted baby of honor.  Another party was scheduled to come here too - later on in the afternoon.

 

Right like clockwork the baby and her entourage left JUST as the birthday party givers showed up.  We all cleared away the christening things and helped set up for the surprise. and then - RIGHT on time the birthday girl arrived.  Oh, it was her 70th birthday.

 

And also last week, mid-afternoon, I saw a blur of red across the street. 

 

"What's going on?" I shouted at a man dressed in running shoes and a red dress.

 

"Save the Ta-tas!" he shouted back, grinning.

 

More men in dresses followed.  And a bunch of women too.  (I guess this was a run for breast cancer awareness.  Or maybe, well, not!)

 

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. Orders are ready by 3.

 

Feel free to stay here with us, listening to music and visiting with your friends. I can't think of a nicer place to linger and we're now open until 8, you know.

 

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

 

Dinners for this week are:

 

Monday February 22

Chicken Cordon Bleu 11

 

Tuesday February 23

Pan-seared Scallops with Butternut Squash Risotto 12.75

 

Wednesday February 24

Pan-roasted Pork Chops with Roasted Cauliflower 12.25

 

Thursday February 25

Roast Alaskan Salmon with Braised Greens 12.75

 

Friday February 26

Bone-in Fried Chicken with Slaw and Jalapeno Cornbread

 

We make a special casserole each week.

 

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.)

 

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

 

This week's casserole is:

 

Wednesday, February 24

Spinach, Potato, and Mozzarella Torta Rustica

 

Full: 38

 

 

Ami Worthen (from The Mad Tea party and - pictured right here) and Caroline Pond (from Snake Oil Medicine Show) take charge in our cafe this coming Thursday from 6-8.  Jason Krekel will be here too. 

 

Ukes.

Wild tunes.

Silliness.

 

What a day we are having today!!!

 

We also made dough and turned it into pizzas. 

 

What a fun way to spend a morning.  Me, kids, food.  Grand!

 

February 20, 2010

 

Howdy! Gosh – I’m getting a late start to this today. I spent the morning teaching and then met with a couple who is going to get married in November. Then I had a lunch visit. All good. All fun. And all keeping me away from the newsletter.

 

It’s FINALLY a nice day here. People are out and about in droves, happy to be rid of their winter coats and scarves, if only for one day. Me too. I’m sick of all that heavy clothing and I want things to start to grow and I want to open my windows and get some air. It’s only February and I DID start this whole life thing in Vermont, but I now live here and I am done with winter. OKAY!???

 

(I feel better.)

 

Actually, I am pretty excited about this weather. I can really notice the change in light. This morning I woke up earlier than I needed to and just lay in bed watching the horizon brighten. Yesterday I took my pup for a walk after work and it was light the entire time and even stayed that way once I got home. Simple things but – OH – how welcome.

 

I’ve spent the week nursing a sore back too. I leaned forward and tried to move something that was just out of reach and ka-ZING! That was that. It’s horrifying and sobering to see how debilitating something simple like that can be. I mean, I couldn’t tie my shoes! STUPID! But now, today, finally, it is almost better. ARGH.

 

I went and picked up my new bike yesterday. Yes, a new bike. Doesn’t make a lot of sense to ride all the way across the United States on a bike and then come home and buy a NEW one, but, um, I did. So hopefully this warmth will continue and I’ll be able to get out for a spin tomorrow. I’m way out of biking shape. Amazing that this time last year I was doing my final packing. My ride started at the beginning of March. Where does the time go? Where?

 

So, things here are good. Do try to come for the Safari dinner this week. I’m sure you’ll have fun. John is a character and I can’t wait to hear his stories and see his pictures and videos. Then there’s Uke jam on Tuesday and “Sugar and Spice” playing here on Thursday. March is jammed with all sorts of things. You’d best clear your calendar. I have enough to keep you fully occupied almost every night.

 

See you next week.

 

I took a test on Friday which is the first step toward getting the first level of certification as a beekeeper.  Whee!  The practical will follow once it is warm enough.