March 2010
This just happens to be my birthday month (again....)
It is also my favorite month because we can finally see the absolute beginnings of SPRING which is right around the corner. Have you ever noticed that the emerging greens on plants coming out of hibernation seem to be the very greenest we will see all year? I have some Podophyllum pleianthum x versipelle (try working that into a conversation....) 
that are just emerging from the mulch in the garden. They look like small 1" hats. But.....they are Spring to me. That one little sign it is coming.
Our native California Buckeye has the same effect: late February/early March we see the green leaves starting to unfurl on these rounded majestic trees. They are usually the first to be in bloom in the area. For a month before anything else sometimes......and we know that change is coming....
We are doing a re-model job of the entrance to the restaurant, the seating area, and then the ladies and men's bathrooms. Let Gary know if you like his new projects outcome...
Sooooo......cooking.....this time of the year.....
Slow braising in big ol' heavy enamel dutch ovens: turn them on, and walk away.....love this....
It is Chicken Pot Pie time, Beef Stew time, Arroz Con Pollo time.....and I am just glad that we were able to acquire the heavy duty pots we needed for this type of cooking. I am a firm believer in a brand called "Le Creuset" that has the crazy colors of reds, yellow, greens, white, orange and others but the heavy enamel over the cast-iron is something you can buy now, and will to your grand-children. They seem to be impervious to any kind of damage, and they go from stove-top, to oven, to table just like that. And on top of that, they hold their heat at a high boil, or the lowest simmer.
If you do not have one of these kinds of heavy dutch ovens, buy one. They truly are one of the kitchens essential items. Believe it or not, I purchased all my pieces on Ebay, from this Canadian company that sold them about 50% below retail, but I have heard that there is an outlet store for the Le Creuset line in the outlet stores in Folsom. Or I have also seen some awesome pieces at a place called the Home Goods on Sierra College Blvd. at Douglas in Roseville. These are crazy prices there, lower than wholesale and totally worth the trip there. (Side note: if you have ever been to Costco, you know it is overwhelming the first couple of times you shop: you go in for a bag of cashews, and come out spending $300.00 on other stuff you "have to have". Home Goods is like that .......bed-sheets for $10.00? Towels for $4.00, dishes and kitchen items galore.......it makes your head swim at the bargains they have there!)
And then eat ....and drink a good bottle of wine....and then take a walk and then a nap.....heaven......
Have you signed up for our Facebook page yet? It is a couple of times a week where you will know what special seafoods, desserts, and soups we are offering for the evening.....it is fun to see the responses from those of you who are part of this vast, vast network of socializing souls...
Here is a direct link to our sight:
For this month, we are offering our special "Buy one dinner, get the second one at half price" on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. This is a great savings for you.
And WINO WEDNESDAY = 30% off any bottle of wine on our list!
Thursdays is NO CORKAGE THURSDAY! Bring in a bottle of your wine (that is not on our list) and we will pour it for you with your dinner free! You gotta love that!
2006 Trefethen Cabernet Sauvignon - This venerable winery from the Napa Valley has always been at the top of my Napa wines.....this Cabernet is what we California wino's love in a Cab: big, bold, and almost staining the glass with its fruit. So good with red meats and stews, but also with tomato based pasta dishes too. We love this...
David at Cafe Luna
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