TIME AFTER TIME...

THERE’S A SONG LIKE THAT, AND IT IS THE NEW STORY OF MY LIFE. FROM THE MOMENT I WAKEY-WAKEY, UNTIL THE MOMENT I TOSS THE TOQUE AND SINK INTO THE SOFT NEST, MY DAY IS RULED BY THE CLOCK. FIRST THE BAKERY ORDERS, THEN CHECK THE E-MAILS TO SEE IF THERE IS ANYTHING FORWARDED FROM THE WEBSITE; NEXT FACE THE DAY BY PUTTING ON MY HAPPY FACE - THE WONDERS OF MARYKAY!. SINCE I AM GOING TO KEEP HOURS FROM WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY, I HAVE TO BE PRESENTABLE FOR WALK-INS BY ELEVEN AM. OF COURSE, CUSTOM ORDERS ARE READY AT THE CLIENT’S REQUEST, SO SOMETIMES I HAVE TO DON MY HAPPY FACE FIRST. AT MY AGE, I CAN’T RISK SOMEONE WALKING AWAY, SHAKING THEIR HEAD AND SAYING, “WHY DID MARILYN HIRE THAT OLD BAG?” BUT I LOVE BEING BUSY, AND ACTIVE AGAIN AFTER THE SIX MONTHS OF RECOVERY AND REHAB. IF ONLY THERE WAS A FIX FOR MY MENTAL DISHABILE - THAT’S FRENCH FOR “TATTERED“. .

JUNE/JULY CLASS SCHEDULE Regular classes are scheduled every other Tuesday evening at 6:00. Custom classes from two, up to twelve, can be scheduled to accommodate your schedule, virtually any day of the week, within reason. If you have a specific interest, and a willing group, give me a call and we’ll work out the details. Class descriptions are posted on the website: Class Descriptions

JUNE 8: NORTHERN ITALIAN FEATURING VEAL (OR CHICKEN) SALTIMBOCCA, ARTICHOKE HEART APPETIZER, RISOTTO, & ZABLAGIONE.

JUNE 22: FRENCH ELEMENTARY - NO RISK OF ME ATTEMPTING A FRENCH ACCENT, BUT THIS TRIBUTE TO JULIA CHILD WILL TAKE YOUR CULINARY SKILLS TO A NEW LEVEL. COQ QU VIN, POTATOES ANNA & CREAM PUFFS 6:00 PM $25

JULY 13: HIGH COUNTRY MEXICAN - GARLIC SHRIMP EMPANADAS, CHICKEN RELLENO, PUMPKIN FLAN 6:00 $35

JULY 27: COUNTRY FRENCH Escargot in Puff Pastry, Duck Breast with Plums & Armanaque Potato-Onion Tart Salad of Field Greens, Strawberries & Raspberry Vinaigrette, Chocolate Éclairs 6:00 PM $35 per person

GOURMET TAKE-OUT

THIS IS BECOMING OUR MOST POPULAR OFFERING. TOO BUSY TO COOK, TOO TIRED TO GO OUT - WE HAVE THE ANSWER. AN ARTFULLY PREPARED DINNER WITH ENTRÉE, SIDE DISHES AND FRESH-BAKED ROLLS. WE CAN HAVE IT HOT, READY TO SERVE; COLD WITH INSTRUCTIONS FOR REHEATING, OR FROZEN, WITH INSTRUCTIONS TO THAW & HEAT ($2 EXTRA FOR FROZEN, DUE TO THE COST OF PACKAGING). UNLIKE MOST RESTAURANT TAKE-OUT MEALS, WHICH YOU PICK UP RIGHT AFTER THEY ARE PREPARED, THESE DINNERS ARE DESIGNED TO BE REHEATED. THIS MONTH’S OPTIONS ARE:

WEEK ENDING JUNE 6: BRAISED TRI-TIP (A SUCCULENT POT-ROASTED BEEF FINISHED WITH A GLAZE OF CHOPPED PEPPERS, ONIONS,CELERY, CARROTS & GARLIC. POT ROAST WILL NEVER BE THE SAME. COMES WITH OVEN-ROASTED POTATOES & A MEDLEY OF CARROTS & PARSNIPS. $9

WEEK ENDING JUNE 13: COUNTY LIME CHICKEN (GRILLED AMISH-RAISED CHICKEN BREAST WITH HONEY-LIME SAUCE. COMES WITH YUKON GOLD POTATOES, SUGAR SNAP PEAS AND BABY CARROTS. $8

WEEK ENDING JUNE 20: BEEF STROGANOF (TENDERLOIN TIPS, ONIONS, MUSHROOMS IN SOUR CREAM SAUCE) OVER HAND-ROLLED NOODLES; GREEN MEDLEY $10

WEEK ENDING JUNE 27: PORK ROMESCO (ROASTED PORK TENDERLOIN WITH ROASTED RED PEPPERS, ONION, GARLIC, SUN-DRIED TOMATOES & FINISHED WITH CHOPPED PISTACHIOS. COMES WITH PARMESAN SMASHED POTATOES & BROCOLLI WITH ALMONDS & LEMON $8

WEEK ENDING JULY 4: BEER-BRAISED PORK LOIN, WITH APPLES, ONIONS & CABBAGE. COMES WITH SMASHED SWEET POTATOES. $9

VIEW FROM THE SINK

SINCE I HAVE BEEN SO BUSY, I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HAVE SOME ABLE ASSISTANCE IN HANDLING THE SWINGING DOORS, BUT THAT DOESN’T MEAN I GET A BREAK FROM THE CORNER WHERE I FACE DAILY PILES OF COOKIE SHEETS, POTS AND PANS. (THE AUTOMATIC DISHWASHER TAKES CARE OF “THE DISHES AND SILVERWARE”) BUT LONG BEFORE MY HELP ARRIVES, I MUST GET THE DOWN & DIRTY PART OUT OF THE WAY SO WE CAN TAKE CARE OF THE DAY’S ACTION.

LAST MONTH I BEMOANED THE LACK OF COURTESY IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY - NOT EXCLUSIVELY LIMITED TO RESTAURANTS. THIS BROUGHT FORTH A WAVE OF ADDITIONAL PEEVES THAT MY CUSTOMERS WISH WOULD BE ADDRESSED BY MANAGERS AND OWNERS TO MAKE DINING OUT A BETTER EXPERIENCE. NOT NECESSARILY IN ORDER OF IMPORTANCE, THEY ARE:

THE QUERY, “DO YOU NEED CHANGE?” WHEN PICKING UP A CASH PAYMENT CONCEALED INSIDE THE FOLDER. IF THE CUSTOMER DOESN’T OFFER IT AS A COMPLETED TRANSACTION, BEST TO WAIT AND SEE. ESPECIALLY IF THE FOLDER REVEALS A $100 BILL FOR A $40 MEAL. CONVERSELY, THE SERVER WHO NOT ONLY DOESN’T ASK, BUT DOESN’T BRING BACK ANY CHANGE, THINKING THE PAYMENT INCLUDED THE TIP, BUT MAY HAVE BEEN OVERLY GENEROUS OR EVEN INSUFFICIENT. WE HAD TO CHASE DOWN A YOUNG MAN FOR $30 IN CHANGE DUE FROM A $20 DINNER. HE CLAIMED WE WERE KNOWN AS “BIG TIPPERS”, AND HE RELUCTANTLY GAVE BACK $20.

OTHER COMPLAINTS

*CHILDREN BEING ALLOWED TO ROAM FREELY ABOUT THE ROOM, TALKING LOUDLY OR SCREAMING, INTERRUPTING CONVERSATIONS, ACTING OUT AND IN GENERAL BEING KIDS. BUY A SITTER, PLEASE *CHECKS PRESENTED BEFORE THE MEAL IS COMPLETE. “CAN I GET YOU ANYTHING ELSE?” WOULD BE A NICE COURTESY BEFORE DROPPING THE CHECK AND IN THE OPPOSITE VIEW, CHECKS THAT DO NOT APPEAR IN A TIMELY MANNER AND TAKE WAY TOO LONG TO PROCESS. YOU START TO FRET THAT YOUR CREDIT CARD HAS BEEN SUCKED INTO CYBER-SPACE AND YOU’LL BE ASKED “DO YOU HAVE ANOTHER CARD? THIS ONE APPEARS TO BE INVALID/OUT OF DATE/OVER THE LIMIT/ OR, HORROR OF HORRORS - “WEVE BEEN TOLD TO CUT THIS IN HALF AND ONLY TAKE CASH.”

*SERVERS WHO SQUAT DOWN, OR SIT NEXT TO YOU AND SHARE SOME UNAPPRECIATED DETAILS OF THEIR PERSONAL LIFE, OR CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE RESTAURANT KITCHEN, STAFF OR MANAGEMENT.

*LOUD MUSIC, OR INAPPROPRIATE MUSIC. RAP AND COUNTRY WILL DRIVE ME OUT THE DOOR. BETTER NONE AT ALL, THAN PULSATING VULGAR POETRY OR DUELING GUITARS.

*SMOKING SECTIONS RIGHT NEXT TO NON-SMOKING, WITH NO APPARENT BARRIER BETWEEN THEM; IN THE SAME VEIN, SERVERS WHO SMOKE, REDOLENT WITH THEIR LAST PUFF - THEIR HANDS AND BREATH RIPE WITH TOBACCO RESIDUAL STINK. KENTUCKY IS SO OVERDUE IN GOING SMOKE-FREE, LIKE ILLINOIS, CALIFORNIA AND NEW YORK.

*AND KUNZIE PERSONAL PEEVE #1: ENTREES ARRIVING TOO SOON AFTER THE SALADS HAVE BEEN SERVED. OR WORSE, ENTREES BROUGHT BEFORE THE SALAD IS SERVED. I DON’T EAT HOT AND COLD TOGETHER, NOR WILL I EAT COLD AFTER HOT. SALADS WILL BE SENT BACK, AND AN ADJUSTMENT TO THE TAB WILL BE EXPECTED.

FINAL POINT: THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS, ALWAYS RIGHTEOUS. WE HAD A RECENT EXPERIENCE IN A NEARBY RESTAURANT, WHERE WE WERE ABOUT TO BE SEATED TOO CLOSE TO THE BAR (SMOKERS GALORE), AND WERE TOLD THAT THE SERVER WE REQUESTED DIDN’T HAVE ANY OTHER TABLES AVAILABLE IN HER SECTION. A TABLE IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT WAS OPEN - BUT IT WASN’T HER SECTION. WE SUGGESTED THAT THE SERVERS SWITCH THEIR POSITIONS TO ACCOMMODATE MY NEED TO BE AS FAR FROM SMOKE AS POSSIBLE - THE TABLES WERE RIGHT NEXT TO EACH OTHER. COMMON SENSE PREVAILED, BUT THE IMPLICATION WAS CLEAR THAT WE WERE SOMEHOW INCONVENIENCING THE STAFF.

JUNE INSIDE DINING OPTIONS

THE JUNE MENU, AS ALWAYS, FEATURES THE SAME BASIC INVENTORY, BUT UNIQUE AND DIFFERENT PREPARATIONS ARE DESIGNED EACH MONTH TO CHALLENGE YOUR PALATE. THE ENTIRE MENU, WITH DESCRIPTIONS, IS POSTED ON OUR WEB-SITE, OR CALL AND I’LL E-MAIL OR SEND YOU A COPY. IN ADDITION TO CENTER-CUT BEEF TENDERLOIN, WE ARE FEATURING STEAK MODIGA (WITH LEMON, GARLIC, PARSLEY & MOZZARELLA), SOUTHERN COMFORT CHICKEN, RACK OF LAMB, SCOTCH SALMON, PORK MADISON COUNTY & SCALLOPS ADOBADA (VERY SPICEY WITH ROASTED PIMENTO-GARLIC CREAM).

THUMPER TALES

THE NEWLY REMODELED SCREENED-IN PORCH NO LONGER OFFERS THE COMFORTS OF HOME TO THE THUMP-CAT. LET’S JUST SAY HE STARTED LIFE AS AN OUTDOOR KITTY, AND HE IS GOING TO FINISH IT THERE. SO FAR, SO GOOD, BUT I’M NOT TURNING MY BACK ON HIM ENTIRELY. HE HAS NICE ACCOMMODATIONS UNDER THE DECK, WHERE HE CAN KEEP HIS STASH OF DESSICATED MICE AND NOT ANNOY KATHY. AND IF YOU COME HERE, AND FIND HIM WHINING OUTSIDE, LOOKING PITIFUL, LOOK STERN AND SAY “NO THUMPNESS - YOU LIVE OUTSIDE NOW”. SHAKING YOUR FINGER IS GOOD TOO. HE’LL IGNORE BOTH. AND TRY NOT TO LET HIM TRIP YOU UP TRYING TO GET INSIDE. AFTER ALL, HE’S BASICALLY AN INDEPENDENT-MINDED, FUR-COVERED PEOPLE-TOLERANT PUSSY CAT, WHO ALLOWS US TO FEED AND PROVIDE HIM WITH SHELTER, TOILET FACILITIES AND BELLY RUBS. AND WE GET THAT. HE HAS TRAINED US WELL. SO IN TURN, WE EXPECT HIM TO RECIPROCATE BY SULKING QUIETLY, SIGNT UNSEEN, DURING CLIENT-ATTENDED EVENTS AND TAKING REVENGE BY SHREDDING MY PANTY HOSE ON HIS OWN TIME.

SPEAKING OF THE PORCH, IT’S A NEW LOOK FOR US, AND WE’RE PLEASED TO OFFER SOME DECK PARTY OPTIONS. I CAN GRILL OUTSIDE, WITH A BUFFET SET UP INSIDE THE PORCH (SHELTER FROM THE ENDLESS KENTUCKY RAIN) - CALL FOR DETAILS.

REMINDER: BRUNCH THIS SUNDAY, THE SIXTH: FRENCH CONNECTION OFFERS A NICE VARIETY OF FRENCH INSPIRED BREAKFAST/BRUNCH GOODIES: