We've had the Oscar Party to support Maiden Alley, Mardi Gras for the Lourdes Foundations, and next up:

Desserts for Girl Scouts!
That's right, more of our food for free! This time it's all about dessert on Monday, March 2 at the Carson Center. We, along with several other area restaurants and cooks have been working to develop original dessert creations featuring Girl Scout Cookies. I can't devulge our secret yet but here are a couple of hints. We are using a brand new cookie for 2009, the Dulce De Leche, and if you were at the Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting VIP Dessert Reception, you got a sneek preview.Now, back to business.

Are you going to see Mama Mia at the Carson Center?
If so, make reservations for our preshow dinner in the Myre River Room. We'll be serving each night, March 3, 4, and 5. You will have first access to parking, no wait in a restaurant, and regardless of the weather you'll show up dry and warm for the show. Contact the Carson Center Box Office to make your reservations. We have a special Greek themed menu that is sure to satisfy. You'll find it just below.

Greek Salad with feta, kalamata olives, green pepper and vinaigrette.
Fresh Fruit Salad

Stifado: A Greek Stew with pearl onions, beef and tomatoes.
Vegetarian Moussaka
Basmati Rice with pine nuts and fennel
Sauteed Haricot Verts with Red onion and Lemon

Baklava: a traditional Greek Dessert

Stifado is a very hardy dish traditionally done with lamb or venison. Our version is done with beef, seared in olive oil with onion and then simmered with tomatoes, red wine, cinnamon sticks, bay leaves, allspice berries, rosemary, thyme and whole peppercorns. Potatoes and carrots are added part way through the cooking process. The result is a very rich, seasoned stew.

Our Vegetarian Moussaka is a twist on the traditional which would be made with lamb. We use thin slices of potato and eggplant, and layer that between layers of feta cheese and a light tomato sauce of onions and chic peas with a hint of nutmeg.

Our Baklava has a combination of almonds and walnuts in a very sweet and buttery filling. This gets layered between sheets of phyllo dough, drizzled with an orange and lemon infused syrup and baked.

American Culinary Federation
Karla and I have officially joined the newest chapter of the American Culinary Federation (ACF). We are both so excited about the possibilities this has for informing the local culinary landscape and bringing an even more professional attitude to the field. It is based in Murray, and membership is open to professional chefs, cooks and food enthusiasts. Our meetings are once a month and include informative and interesting presentations from various members of the food world including producers, distributors and chefs. The ACF offers an excellent way for professionals and food enthusiasts to network and gain access to educational programs and materials. One very important aspect for professionals looking to further their careers is the various educational certification programs available, as well as national networking opportunities. Whether your interest in the culinary world is professional or personal, all are invited to attend a few meetings to learn about what membership in the ACF can mean for you.

Develop a Theme for your next get together! (Call us. We'll Help)
Every little get together deserves a theme. It just helps an evening come together. And the little effort you put into developing the theme will pay off in the amount of time you can spend at your gathering enjoying the company of others rather than entertaining them. Look at your theme as pre-entertaining.

The great thing about a theme is that they turn every guest at your party into a actor. And you get to stand back and direct. Everyone on your guest list is a character around which to weave a story of humor and good cheer. As long as your motives remain pure, you can be assured everyone will have a good time. One of the lessons I have learned is that almost everyone wants to have a good time. They just need permission and an excuse.

A few suggestions:
Make attire a part of the theme. This helps to get everyone on the same page and eliminates a very important question for every event- What to wear? It gives them license to create their character and insures they are still in the same play. This doesn’t have to be overwhelming. You can think about what conversations you would like to hear. Think about an event you find interesting. Even if it is as simple as blue jeans and sweaters, someone you know will take this to an extreme and boom, you have a party.

Music sets the mood. This will help keep everyone in character. It doesn’t have to be loud and intrusive. You want your guests to be the focal point. But some nice background music gives a subtle hint as to what is expected of their behavior. If you have loud, frenetic music, your guests are going to be loud and frenetic. If you have quiet, sullen music, your guests will be quiet and sullen. We’ve all be to funerals. It’s no party. Plan your music accordingly.

Please feed the animals! This is obviously near and dear to my heart. Give your guests something they don’t expect and can’t get every single day of their life. Worry less about what you think people like and more about what you would like to try. Even very good, boring food is boring. Find a cuisine you would like to learn more about. Your guests don’t have to eat everything on the menu, and if your menu is extensive enough, everyone will find something they like.

Finally, relax and have fun. Your anxiety will become everyone’s anxiety. If you have done a little work beforehand, all you have to do is put on a big smile, confidently invite your guests in and the rest will take care of itself.