GREETINGS FROM THE BISTRO

And, another fine week it has been! We were certainly blessed not to loose our power during the storms. Our poor Lori went from Friday until late Tuesday with out electricity. Years ago Tom and I went for days in the middle of March with no heat, lights or water due to an ice storm. We ended up in a hotel for close to a week. Soon after we purchased a gas run generator and filled the barn with 5 gallon containers of petrol. It was a noisy beast and a pain to get started. That was replaced with one that automatically kicks on and runs on natural gas. It is a luxury that I am thankful for every Monday morning as it starts up and goes through its “weekly check-up.”  

Yesterday, September 11th, the 13th anniversary of 9-11, brought to mind how an act of terrorism has changed our lives forever. I remember getting ready for work and Tommy, Tom’s son calling, which was expected as it was his Dad’s birthday. Instead of birthday greetings he told us to turn on the TV and we watched in horror as the second plane plowed into the South Tower and subsequent planes into the Pentagon and a corn field in Pennsylvania. The tragedy was the largest loss of life on American soil since Pearl Harbor. The days following were filled with images of people jumping from windows and running, shoeless, from the scene. Not to mention the police, firefighters and citizens who rushed into the burning buildings to save as many people as possible. As I said a prayer for those lost, their families and for our great nation I thought to myself that we are living in the land of the free and home of the brave. I said another prayer, one of thanks.

Niki, Pico and I went out for a late afternoon walk and happened to “meet” the school bus dropping off the kids that live on my road so we joined them as we headed back home. They are in Middle school and need to get up by 6:30 to be at the bus stop by 7:30. It was close to 4 when they were left off. That is one long day… then, they all had homework to do too. I noticed they carried lunch boxes and asked who made lunch. In the “old days” my siblings and I were responsible to pack our noon meal. Their mom does theirs as she makes dinner every night and they all sit down, as a family, to eat at 6:00. Each night is a surprise as she brings out the “main course” just as their ready for it. They love her cooking and were so excited to talk about the great suppers they have and how fun it is to have that time to catch up and get a head-start on planning the next day.  Very cool that they recognize the importance of family time and good food!

Speaking of good food.. the Board Features are awesome as usual. Baby Back Ribs Served with Baked Beans and Corn-on-the-Cob; Roasted Mahi Filet presented over a Braise of Kale, Bacon, Sweet Potato and Onion; Crispy Fried Snapper Fish Tacos Accompanied with Black Beans and Rice and lastly A Late Summer Tomato Cobbler topped with Buttery Cheddar Biscuits. Oh, I nearly forgot the Better Than Howard Johnson Clam Strips. They just may become a permanent menu item… Maddy’s Drink Special is an Aperol Spritz. Aperol, a bitter-sweet Italian aperitif, flavored with herbs, orange and rhubarb, is topped with Prosecco and garnished with an orange twist. Yum! I’ll have one please.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AT THE BISTRO!

MAKE EVERY DAY A MILLION DOLLAR ONE.

XO, MARY