Shifting Gear

I've been languishing for the 24 hours since we closed on Sunday afternoon. I've been watching hours of opiate-like international house hunters on HGTV. I ate Oreos and chili kettle corn, and lived vicariously through people who had the tough job of selecting homes in Paris, Italy, Cyprus, Maui, Buenas Aires...I read a new issue of Bon Appetit, two issues of US magazine, Martha Stewart's new Wedding---the one with the cover of shocking, dazzling diamond engagement rings! Spectacular! I cuddled a sleeping granddaughter. I ordered French bread for the cafe. And I suffered some gnawing anxiety. After four years of switching menus out almost as often as I've changed clothes, I'm going to start serving dinner...tomorrow night.

I had the idea kind of hollered at me, by a customer who brazenly pushed into the kitchen and...well, hollered at me that I was working too hard! She is in the restaurant biz, and said that my lunch food is dinner food! Hm. I guess it might be. I've thought about what she said, all this year and realized that the servings are large...and fancy. I've been serving family party food---the kind of food that we wait for, and sit down to enjoy as the centerpiece of all celebration days. I've also realized that when I prepare special dinners, I am liberated to expand my imagination and to be more creative! Ok, so I've organized a bistro sort of lunch plan and will start serving my "family party" food at dinnertime.

I can't abandon the quirky-ness altogether though---lunch for now, will include sandwiches served with lattes. I'll offer smoked gouda with pear, swiss with pickles, and brie with cranberry jam. I'll make a wrap filled with roasted winter vegetables---acorn squash, carrots, pearl onions, broccoli, tomato and white beans...served with fresh winter fruit. I'll make my grandmother's beautiful cranberry bean soup with Hungarian fry bread (Langosh) and her chicken barley soup with a tiny grilled cheddar and apple sandwich. Bending to mob-rule, I'll still offer two popular, huge, "family party" lunches---the Hungarian Chicken Paprikas and Raclette with roasted vegetables. And we'll see how it goes!

I feel the deepest gratitude to our customers, who have allowed me the freedom to explore! To evolve and create! I haven't ever felt the least bit restricted in this adventure, but instead, have been able to reach and wonder and delight in every new discovery! And so, a new chapter begins! Tomorrow night!