Crazy as it may seem, it still is a bit of a secret that our cafe transforms into a lovely party venue.  We've hosted weddings (um, small ones...), wedding receptions, rehearsal dinners, birthday parties, office meetings, seminars, travelogues, and classes here.

 

This weekend we're having a color class.  I'm teaching again (see below) and we have music too.  The first and third Tuesdays are for Old-time music and the second and fourth feature ukulele jams.  We're getting ready to fill up some evenings with Classical guitar, small chamber groups and more of that sort of thing. 

 

Andrew, our shop manager, is quite a funny fellow.  He's a clever one with words and has been posting links to other like-minded businesses around and about.  He is bringing quirky to the page and I think that's a fine thing. 

 

Follow the link to get to the new page.  You can also go to our website and click on the Facebook icon on our home page and you can read about today's daily specials, dally deals, and ephemera from hither and yon.

 

Monday, January 14

Chicken Marbella 8.75 (GF)

 

Tuesday, January 15

Stuffed Portabellas with Risotto 7.95

 

Wednesday, January 16

Rosemary Flank Steak and Parmesan Potatoes 8.50 (GF)

 

Thursday, January 17

Pulled BBQ Pork with Sweet Potato Wedges 8.95

 

Friday, January 18

Shrimp and Bow Tie Pasta Provencal 8.95

 

Casserole to go:

 

Wednesday, January 16

Whole: 32 Half: 16

 

Lasagna to go:

 

Friday, January 18

Whole: 59.95 Half: 19

 

Want to spend an evening with me playing at the stove?

How about an evening cooking soups?

 

I invite you to join me for a “Celebration of Soups”

on Thursday, January 31.

 

The class will start at 6:30pm and will end around 8:00.

 

This will be a demonstration class (I cook, you take notes). At the end of the night you’ll get to taste all four soups that I cook, soups inspired by the season and featuring local ingredients when I can. My hope is that you will feel inspired and un-intimidated at the idea of making easy, delicious soups.

 

The cost for the class is $25 per person. We’ll have wine available for purchase. And if you’d like dinner, come early and sample our Simple Supper options in our deli case.

 

Call us to save your spots. 

 

 

There's a new on-line magazine in Asheville.  We were honored to be selected for an early-on profile.  They sent a real photographer to snap our food (a step up from my iPhone snaps...!)  Do take a look at this story and at others too.

 

Breakfast is catching on around here.  our oh-so-talented kitchen crew really knows how to whip together a spinach and mushroom omelet or "two over medium" for you.  We don't go in for snazzy names (though we could if you wish) preferring to focus on local ingredients and quick completion of our assignments.  As with lunch and dinner, this is a simple service sort of spot: order your food, pour yourself a drink, grab a fork and a napkin and be done with it.  No need to wait for your server to refill your water glass - just help yourself!

 

And, just to remind you, we make Simple Suppers for you during the week.  The cooks look out the cafe windows and, inspired by the weather and the contents of our stores, create small plates and fresh options for you to assemble just the way you like.

 

We are always working, adjusting, tweaking and improving what we have to offer.  I don't know about you, but getting to see and choose what I want is my preferred style of dining - and is woefully scarce around here. 

 

Keep us in mind when you are headed to The Fine Arts Theatre or to The Orange Peel or the Diana Wortham for a show.  We are a perfect pre-event option - especially when you get sick of standing in line (I waited an HOUR the other day at one of my neighbor's establishments!) or trying to catch the attention of your server. 

 

Saturday, January 12, 2013

 

Hello to you. Did you happen to see the sky at sunrise this morning? ZOUNDS! The horizon glowed bright, streaky orange with bands of lighter, darker and vibrant stripes. What a display. A five minute snooze and re-opened eyes revealed the bands still visible, but replaced with dull blue and grey strips. What a quick and dramatic transformation. Red sky in the morning – who knows what will happen later on?

 

I’m reveling in my final pre-return-to-treatment week. I feel good, back to my normal pesky self. My waist line is fuller, but that’s not such a bad thing. It’ll decrease soon enough and now I am giving myself permission to have seconds if I wish. Soon enough I won’t even want firsts, so I say Carpe Apetitum! Dig?

 

Tomorrow will be a fun day here. My friend, my color teacher Alicia is teaching her first class here in our café. The class is full and I am so looking forward to spending a day messing in the world of color with her and with my soon-to-be classmates. We’ll set up this afternoon, playing Mother Nature, transforming the sky inside my café with bright stripes of silk, chips of color, sheets of varied hues, glue, paints, and big rolls of inviting white paper to fill with our inspirations. FUN! We’re thinking of having her do a Card-making class before Valentine’s Day. She is accomplished in this too. Stay tuned.

 

I’m looking forward to returning to the stove for our Soup Making class on January 31. There is still room if you’d like to attend. This is a demonstration class with plentiful tastes of the four soups for you once they are done. My style is to grab ingredients on the way home and have a soup made a short time later. An all-day long soup is fine but is not exactly the way I do things. If you like the short and sweet approach, I think you’ll have fun and will go away inspired to play on your own. The next class will feature Local ingredients. In mid-February things might seem bleak but we’ll jazz it up and give you tools and recipes to take home. Mark Wednesday, February 13th, okay? Call 252-1500 to save your spot(s.)

 

I sent my manuscript back in earlier this week. Can I crow just a bit? This is going to be SUCH a nice book! People who have seen it chirped with delight, imagining completing their Christmas 2013 present list in one fell swoop – a signed book for each one! Hooray! The pictures are stunning, the typeset pages gorgeous. I am pleased with the way it is organized and sensible. A friend of mine, one of my bee mentors, sang with delight as she leafed through the galleys, stating how she wanted to make all the recipes NOW! What a delight for me right now. Soon I will be able to share The Fresh Honey Cookbook – 84 recipes from a Beekeeper’s Kitchen with you. Tra la!

 

It is a fine month. January, normally slow and bleak, is a warm one this year and I have been on some really nice walks on the closed Blue Ridge Parkway. The leafless trees make for open views of our near and distant mountains. We park at the gate and walk right up the middle of the car-free road. SO nice!

 

Planning for our JOYride to support Livestrong at the YMCA of WNC is well underway.  Put May 18 on your calendar and plan to join us on this ride.  We'll have a Fun ride for kids (around a traffic-free track), a 20 mile ride for riding newbies and a 63 miler for the fitter contingent.

 

This is a FUNdraiser for the YMCA's Livestrong program which helps cancer survivors.  The program is locally funded.  It costs $515.00 to send one person through the program.  We're hoping to raise $51,500 (at least) which would enable 100 folks to experience this life-changing 12-week program.

 

Oh - right now the YMCA is promoting a great deal for joining.  Until the end of January there is no joining fee so take advantage, sign up, and start getting your soft belly tightened up (oh - that would be MY soft belly!)