Welcome to the Bistro!

And, another fine week it has been. My daily mantra from the time I open my eyes is “you are what you think.” So, this week I’ve had to let go of the bad thoughts of road work, dirty doggies, horses and cars and grab onto all that is so incredibly positive. I had a great Easter, very low key for the most part. I actually had a minimal catering lunch that I delivered and then spent a few hours alone in the Bistro doing “things” that I can’t when it is full and bustling. I love my alone time in the restaurant just looking around and absorbing what a cool space it is and how fortunate I’ve been for so many years. I nearly always cook myself a piece of salmon to take home and build a nice salad. It’s very cool to put a sauté pan on a burner and feel the uneven-ness of the pan. It doesn’t matter which one I grab from the stack of dozens, they are all bowed and skewed from thousands of passes back and forth over the flames. I am in awe of whoever is in the sauté station, mostly Chipps that they can balance and dance the pans over a very small stove top. The kitchen rocks. As does the front of the house. They are all business big time. We are all incredibly appreciative of the support, patience and good-will that you send our way. Thank-you.
 
Mother’s Day is Sunday and its history dates back to 380 BC in ancient Egypt with a festival honoring Isis, Mother of the Gods. Grecians celebrated Rhea; their Mother of Deities during spring fairs and in the 1600’s Christians in England worshiped Mary the Mother of Christ which evolved to include all mothers and became Mothering Sunday, a tradition held every second Sunday in May. Early settlers to America did not carry on the holiday in the new world. They were to poor, hungry and busy to take a day to celebrate. In 1908, after her mother died, Anna Jarvis, an Appalachian homemaker, wanted to celebrate her life and campaigned for a day dedicated to mothers. By the next year many states were holding services, mostly religious, and in 1914 Woodrow Wilson signed it as a nationally observed holiday. The day has become fiercely commercial and is the largest dining out day of the year and the biggest day for florists.
 
I don’t need Mother’s Day as a reminder of how much I admire and respect my Mom. She was born Marjorie Edick in 1929, the 7th of 10 children, in Buffalo N.Y. Her father worked the second shift for the U.S. Postal Service and her mother took care of organizing the havoc that a family of 12 could create. They always ate dinner together and Grandpa would do much of the cooking. They barely fit around the table and meals were mostly a roast of some sort, veggies, potatoes, “good bread and real butter.” Game was often the “protein” part of the meal even squirrel stew. Mom remembers that there was always a huge pot of soup made on Saturday morning that would be eaten throughout the week. It was always meat based because chicken was way too expensive. Bones were cheap. Mom started school just over the age of 4 because the nuns of Annunciation Parish felt sorry for her mother having so many little ones at home. She transferred to a public school, Lafayette High, at the ripe old age of 14 where she was on the swim, diving and cheerleading teams. She took mostly clerical and business classes and graduated at 16. Over the next few years she continued working for the law firm that she’d interned at during high school, then was recruited by Western Electric Company and was secretary to a department head in the plant. During that time she met my Dad, married and had 7 of her own children. In 1967 they moved to Detroit and she continued to be a stay-at-home mom until Josephine, the youngest, was in elementary school. She loves to read and one of the best things my Mom instilled in us as children was the love of the written word. Thanks Mom!
 
The other famous Bistro Mom is Sharon’s, Sandra Juergens. Born in Atlanta, Ga. in 1945 she, to this day, still has a soft Southern drawl.  Sandra studied nursing and retired after a successful 50 year career. I’ve known Sandra for over 30 years and have always admired the love she has for her profession. And, she is one tough cookie raising 3 girls after loosing her husband at the tender age of 36. She pulled up her bootstraps and made a good life for her children and herself. Each of her daughters has college educations and successful careers of their own. They adore their mother. Sandra loves to travel and has been to most states, Scotland, Mexico, Finland, Italy and Sweden. She too likes to read and play cards. And, most importantly is a really good cook who taught Sharon all her secrets. Our Mom’s Rock!!! We are Lucky Girls!!!

Sharon and Max have outdone themselves with the Weekend Features in honor of Mother’s Day.

As a Starter:
CHILLED SHRIMP SALAD: Tossed with Green Goddess Dressing and Served in a Butter Lettuce Bowl with Hard Boiled Egg and Tomato Slices. Bistro

Plates Include:
GRILLED LOIN LAMB CHOPS: 3 Petite T-Bone Chops Marinated in Oregano and Garlic then Grilled. Presented with Panko Zucchini Fries, Eggplant Caponata and DJB Zip Sauce;

RAINBOW TROUT BLT: Cracker Crusted Boneless, Skinless Fillet Roasted and served with Grilled Vine Ripe Tomatoes, Wilted Spinach and Warm Bacon Vinaigrette;

BARRAMUNDI: aka Australian Sea Bass, Roasted and Accompanied with an Orange-Fennel Basmati Rice, Steamed Broccolini and a Dollop of Pistachio Gremolata and

Save Room for Dessert – CHOCOLATE CHIP BANANA CAKE Coated with Ganache and Presented with Home Made Banana Gelato. YUM!!!


WISHING YOU MANY MILLION DOLLAR DAYS.
 XOXO, MARY, Maddie, Sophia, A and Kos