This past Sunday marked the first day of autumn—the Equinox—the day where the sun is visible and invisible for equal amounts of time. While the true colors of autumn are yet a month away, the harvests are winding down, and we adapt to shorter periods of visible light or around here known as "can't see to can't see". I can feel the inner stirrings I get this time of year. This has always been my prime time of year for doing art shows and being on the road. It is like an itch I don't get to scratch.
We've got some wonderful music lined up this week with a Linda Stoffel and Dennis Crider—both from Blackberry Winter Band. Any members of that band have consistently packed the house and we expect that to happen again this week. Other members of the band may join them, but so far, these are promised. Dennis' awesome guitar picking and Linda's Songbird voice are well loved in these parts. Reservations are pretty well the only guarantee you'll get in. So don't mess around—get your reservation in early. While you are doing so, did you know you can call in and reserve your dinner entree? This is especially important on the seafood entrée as we have only 16 servings for the week. Entrée information is listed a few paragraphs down
If you are a fan of Renée Wood's After Hours Big Band, come listen Thursday evening this week. They will play in the Annex. If you want the full dose of big band, you can sit close by. If you wish the sound to be more background, we'll seat you in the main dining room. We close the doors between the rooms as the intensity of the big band can carry you away...in a good way.
The seafood entrée this week is crab-stuffed sole paupiettes with our fall potatoes (mashed with gouda and peppadew peppers), eggplant parmesan with fresh mozzarella, and a salad of microgreens, radishes, pears, walnuts and blue cheese with a mustard vinaigrette. Paupiettes are made by stuffing lengths of sole fillet with the crabmeat, then rolling them up and cooking in a stock. The result is a tender, flavorful roulade (rolled meat). The sole will be topped with a white wine sauce (Sauce Vin Blanc). It is a very elegant dish from Normandy France. On the plate, I am stuffing some of Mary's lovely small eggplants, adding in those seasonal potatoes (which are getting rave reviews) and a pear and blue cheese salad. Perfect for fall. $16.99
The Flavor journey is apple and bacon stuffed pork chops. I'll be using some fresh local sage to season the stuffing as well as local apples plus apple-smoked bacon. As there is no bread in the stuffing, it is lighter than many stuffed pork chops. There will be a pan sauce using the stuffing that doesn't fit in the chops to which I'll add a bit of white wine. This will be drizzled over the top. We'll plate it with our seasonal potatoes and seasonal stir-fry. $14.99 I'll have about 12 servings for the week. Another perfectly timed fall dish.
The Autumnal Equinox Salad returns this week. It starts with a base of romaine, then topped with a combination of arugula and spinach, feta, chopped fresh pear and apple, red onion, wood-fired chicken, pomegranate, walnuts and served with a hot bacon dressing. For many, this is a declared favorite on the menu. We'll have it until late December when things change with the Solstice.
Also returning this week are soups. This first week I have Roasted Poblano-Cheddar Soup made with fresh local poblano chilies, sharp cheddar cheese, chicken broth, cream, tomatoes and onions. We usually take turns from week to week with our choices. As always variety, rather than predictability combined with local availability dictate the whim of our choosing.
You may already know this, but occasionally there is some confusion regarding Monday's lunch. First of all, we serve our entire lunch menu each day. We feature a meatless special on Monday that has a strong vegetarian following. Since I am often still working on the rest of the week's menu and blog, I can seldom post it beyond the Facebook listing for the day. You are encouraged to come in on Mondays whether you are vegetarian or not. We are lucky to have such talented vegetarians on our staff who can present a wide variety of dishes. I have gotten to taste more vegetarian dishes in the last three months than I have eaten in my entire life. Good for us all.
Come Wednesday I'll have some pumpkin crepes for dessert. The crepes themselves have the pumpkin. They are filled with a sweetened cream cheese and topped with a warm praline sauce and chopped pecans. $6. Holy moly.
Now here are this week's lunches~~
Monday~ Portabella pizzas with feta, spinach ,garlic and tomato plus side salad $7.59
Tuesday~ Equinox Salad~ romaine, spinach, arugula, chopped pear and apple, feta, red onion, wood-fired chicken, pomegranate and walnuts with hot bacon dressing. Normally $7.59; today $7.39
Wednesday~Chicken enchiladas with Spanish rice $7.79
Thursday~Lasagna Bolognese with side salad. Traditional lasagna. $7.79
Friday~ Pork Estofado with side salad. A traditional Filipino pork stew (estofado means stew) that includes tomatoes, potatoes and carrots. $7.79
I hope you are able to take a few moments to slow down and notice the very beginnings of the change of seasons. The colors are not here yet, but the delicate air, light as a feather, foretells the advent of autumn. Now if we can just have a bit fewer allergies to go with it. So far, so good.
~~Susan
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