We got to play together in the kitchen earlier this week.  Four chefs, four courses, and four wines.  Truffles with each round. 

It was really fun, not to mention delicious.

 

A last minute addition to our week, Susi Gott (from the Seasonal School of Culinary Arts) gathered a stellar collection of chefs and foods.  Keep an eye out, these things don't come along every day but when they do, I recommend you jump at the opportunity.

 

We're playing with this social networking site these days.  If you'd like an almost every day update about the soups or sandwiches or hot specials or, well, that sort of thing, join Twitter and then "follow" us @laureysyum.

 

The other day we had too many casseroles and anyone who followed us on Twitter had the opportunity to

a) hear about our bounty and

b) come get one and

c) get a free cookie as a bonus.

 

Okay - we're going to try AGAIN.

(I think this dinner has been postponed three times now.)

 

Mark Friday, March 26th on your calendar for our "Taste of Tuscany dinner and conversation."

 

A reminder of the details:

 

We’ll have hors d’oeuvres (“Antipasti”), a Pasta Course (“Primi”), A Main Course (“Secondi”), and a traditional Tuscan finish too (“Dolce”). The cost will be $55.00 (+ tax) per person which will include recipes, the demonstration, all the food (of course!) Tuscan wines too.

 

As they say, “Buon divertimento” (“have fun!”)

 

By the way – Frances Mayes, who wrote Under the Tuscan Sun, will be at malaprops on April 8. (I get to introduce her!) This dinner will get you in the spirit.

 

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, March 8

*Orange Rosemary Chicken with Wild Rice 10.75

 

Tuesday, March 9

Spanakopita with French Lentil Salad 10.25

 

Wednesday, March 10 Pot Roast with Carrots, Onions, and Egg Noodles 11.95

 

Thursday, March 11

Braised Pork w/ Olives Tomatoes and Mashed Potatoes 12.25

 

Friday, March 12

Crabcakes with Tri-colored Cole Slaw 13.25

 

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:

 

Chardonnay Chicken and Rosemary Polenta “Pie”

Full: 35 Half: 17.50

Also, Friday is lasagna day around here these days.

 

Friday, March 12 – Italian Sausage and Basil

Full: 45 Half: 22.50

 

Come for simple supper and fun old time music this Thursday.

 

Adam Tanner and Neil Carroll will be here with us.

Adam is a fiddle man.  Neil, banjo.

Fun!

6-8 is the time.

No charge (but we'll have a tip jar for the musicians.)

My new bees are getting ready to come to their new home.  I've moved the hives from the back to the front yard, hoping that the additional sunlight will help them.

 

This is, by far, the trickiest thing I've ever tried to do.

 

My sweet furry girl is a character.  I gave her this rawhide bone about a week ago.  She just carries it around from room to room, outside, inside.  she tucks it in next to herself when it is bedtime.

 

 

March 5, 2010

 

It is SUNNY!!!! What a thrill. What a delight. What a pleasure. It has been so snowy and dark and wet and cold that this day is like a breath of life. Whew! Long may it last! It is supposed to get warm this weekend. Hooray!

 

I SO want the warmth. I bought a new bicycle and it sits in my downstairs room, waiting, waiting, waiting for me to take it for a ride. I look at it as I do my laundry but have only had one chance to ride it so far. Sigh.

 

One thing that is stunning about today is that this year’s crop of cross the country bike riders left San Diego on their way to St. Augustine. One whole year ago I left there on my way to Florida. Who knew what was about to happen and how my life would change. I certainly didn’t.

 

I leave soon to go make another presentation to another group about this ride. And then there is another one and then another one too. I keep talking about the ride, keep writing about it, thinking about it, reliving it. A close friend who did the ride before I did told me that it would be a year before I got any sense of what had happened. She’s right. It’s only beginning to sink in.

 

As I write, little Henry is recovering from surgery prior to his second bone marrow transplant. All of this started when I was on the bike ride last year. I pray and pray and pray that this time will be the charm for him. His parents have gone through so much already, an unimaginable pile of sadness and persistence have been needed. They are not done yet. This day and the next few days to come are crucial days for him and for them. A lot is getting ready to happen for and to him: chemo for him, the marrow collection from the donor, the flying of the donation to Duke, the administration of it to him, and then the recovery and the waiting. In the meantime, we will all pray and pray and pray for him and them.

 

And we’ll also keep up with the day to day of things here. I will get my beehives ready in their new location. We’ll keep having music nights, special dinners, hot dishes and great soups. I’ll still practice my new fiddle tunes and I’ll still blow glass and I’ll still take my pup on walks and all that will still happen.

 

Earlier this week we brought lunch and dinners to Arlo Guthrie and his family. I was touched at how much they loved our food, calling out to us from the stage on the second night. His daughter, when we met, gave me a long embrace and sincere thanks. These sorts of things keep me going, take my mind away from other things.

 

But top on my list, tip top, is Henry. I really cannot think of much else right now. So forgive me. And please send any thoughts or energy or prayers or wishes to them all. Soon, very soon, I hope to be telling you that the second time was the charm.

 

Please keep Henry and his mother, Emily and father, Adam in your prayers and hearts this weekend and this coming week.  Henry's "do-over," his second bone-marrow transplant, happens this coming Tuesday, March 9th.  This time there is a live donor, an anonymous person somewhere, who is going to donate her marrow.  She's an angel.  And so is he.