Dear Friends,
On a recent trip I heard a phrase “Eat Deliciously” and I thought why not take it a step farther..."Live Life Deliciously"! This resonates so deeply for me not only because of Napa Café, but because of all of the beautiful, and sometimes very delicious, aspects that life has to offer! Whether we live life deliciously through what we eat, the hobbies we take part in, the way we interact with others, or how we contribute to the community, they all have an impact on us and our environment.
How are you living life deliciously?
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Last month, I embarked on the frightening journey of gardening. I have been so busy with the restaurant through the years that I rarely paid attention to the things that were growing around me. Since I started, I have asked a million questions to anyone that will listen about this fascinating and challenging world of gardening.
I started gardening with only one tool- kitchen scissors. Ironic don’t you think? I was using them to prune, cut flowers, battle a crazy vine trying to choke my hibiscus, saw a weed tree down, used it as a plant auger for planting… literally all the things in a garden. It’s been my sabre!
For all of you experienced gardeners out there you know that having the right tools makes all the difference. My kitchen shears only got me so far and were not the most practical I must say. But you use what you know!
(It’s a good thing I knew not to bring a chef’s knife to the garden though using it as a sword against those crazy vines would have made it a little more fun!)
The next time you are in Napa Café, let me know of any tips you can pass along to this beginner! We would love to feature your tips in the next
Garden with Glenda!
Hold on tight this month (like you're on the Zippin' Pippin) while scrolling through, because we have something special for you! Our month has been jam-packed with activities that we are so excited to share with you!
Here's what you can look forward to in this newsletter:
- Philanthropic Opportunity wtih Samaritan's Feet
- Thank you for Dining with Us!
We look forward to seeing you for dinner soon!
Cheers!
Glenda Hastings and the Napa Café Family
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We are excited to highlight Famille Hugel's 2019 Pinot Gris! This Pinot Gris is truly dry and gastronomic, helping reveal itself at the table! Rich and rounded, although still dry. Of all the varieties, this Pinot Gris has the greatest aging potential.
Famille Hugel's Pinot Gris is harvested exclusively by hand from clay and limestone vineyards in a dozen of the most favored localities in and around Riquewihr with a high percentage of estate grapes.
We offer this Pinot Gris by the glass and it’s a perfect companion for our Recipe of the Month. It’s also a perfect transitional wine that pairs beautifully with food and if you’re looking to expand your horizons from the typical white wines like chardonnay or sauvignon blanc.
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It has been two weeks and dare I say it, I have a new passion!
I recently embarked on the (tedious) adventure of gardening after realizing I never spend as much time as I’d like appreciating the landscape and greenery around me. Ms. Jan, one of my long-time servers, has always handled the exterior of Napa Café, allowing me to hand her the credit card, then sit back and enjoy her marvelous work! While I am not sure I am ready to take the reigns from her, I am grateful to have her guidance as I navigate this journey!
Each month I hope to bring new tips and tricks that I have been learning along the way that help your garden look as spectacular as ever. Ms. Jan will also be including her own tips, and this month, we are grateful to include a professional tip from one of our guests, Tiffany Boyd, owner of A Perfect Bloom.
If you have visited Napa Café recently, you have seen our new menu design, hydrangeas and sunflowers! We thought it was only fitting that we introduce our first Garden with Glenda segment with hydrangea tips!
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To cut for flowers for Napa Café, water the shrub the night before trimming, cut one inch from the base of stem, remove leaves, cut again on an angle and a vertical cut about ¼” inch up the stem, place in water treated with flower sugar powder… the flowers will remain sturdy for days! |
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Allow the flower to grow to its full potential before cutting to get the most longevity from the flower. |
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Hydrangeas are one of the only flowers that actually absorb water through the petal.
When a hydrangea is cut, displayed in a vase, and looking quite lifeless, turn the flower upside down and completely submerge its head into a bowl of water.
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Philanthropic Opportunity |
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It’s an honor to call Manny Ohonme my good friend. Manny Ohonme is the
co-founder of Samaritan’s Feet and loves watching lives transform right before his eyes and seeing people walk in their purpose .
Samaritan's Feet is a humanitarian aid organization that serves and inspires hope by providing shoes to those in need around the world. Since its founding in 2003, Samaritan's Feet and its partners have served more than 8.7 million people across 109 countries and 530 U.S. cities.
I am regularly asked by guests how they can get involved with our community partners. This organization is extra near and dear to me because of my friendship and connection with Manny and Tracie Ohonme. The Ohonme's were in town this past weekend distributing shoes to our local children, and I was ecstatic to host a special dinner party to honor them on Friday, August 19.
This Parisian Soiree was a 5-course French-inspired dinner paired with a variety of incredible French wines.100% of the dinner's proceeds went to Samaritan’s Feet to support their mission of inspiring hope in young lives.
Thanks to amazing guests and friends, we raised $108,000 for Samaritan's Feet at the Parisian Soiree! We are so grateful for your continued support and a very special thank you to Radians for sponsoring this wonderful dinner.
Click on the short video to learn more about the Ohonmes and Samaritan's Feet!
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Recipe of the Month: Zen Guacamole |
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The recipe of the month comes from a guacamole to make at home for any Asian-influenced dinners.
This is a fresh and delicious dip that stays true to the theme of the night.
Our Zen Guacamole made its debut on the Taste Around the World bar menu I did back in 2017.
Feel free to play around with the ingredients for your particular taste!
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• 2 avocados
• 1/4 cup minced red onion
• 2 Tbsp minced cilantro
• 1 tsp minced mint
• juice of 2 limes
• 1 heaping Tbsp minced fresh ginger
• 2 Tbsps of diced pear
• 1 clove of garlic, minced
• 1 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
+ additional for garnish
• 1 Tbsp rice vinegar
• 1 1/2 tsp soy sauce (use sparingly)
• 1/2 Tbsp mirin
• 2 tsp sesame oil
• kosher salt to taste
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Mix all ingredients together before combining with avocado. Use a wooden or plastic spoon to prevent premature browning.
Garnish with pickled ginger and toasted sesame seeds.
There will be a slight discoloration from soy sauce but garnish with bright herbs to liven it up!
Serve with taro chips and fresh sliced radishes and enjoy!
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Thank You for Dining with Us! |
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Blackened Shrimp Dumplings
with tomato bacon gravy
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Sea Scallops
caramelized scallops, curry beurre blanc, chilled grapefruit salad with lemongrass and Thai chiles, black forbidden rice, sautéed spinach
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Carpenter Art Garden Yard Hearts |
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Decorate your yard this spring season with a Carpenter Art Garden yard heart- available at Napa Café!
Yard Hearts help raise funds for the children of Carpenter Art Garden and awareness for Le Bonheur Children's Research Hospital for $30.
Carpenter Art Garden is a non-profit organization dedicated to working with the children of Binghampton to promote each one's creativity and self-worth through exposure to artistic, educational, and vocational programs.
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In Case You Missed It - Links to Past Newsletters |
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From time to time, guests request to see past newsletters. We thought what better to way include them than in our monthly announcements!
Click on any, or all, of them below and enjoy!
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Ways to Support Napa Café |
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Have Dinner
at Napa Café
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Ask about our private dining rooms including Jan’s Room and the Wine Cellar. |
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One of our staff members will bring it directly to your car or home, whichever is best for you!
Add a bottle of wine that we’ll pair with your meal!
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Purchase Gift Certificates |
Purchase a gift certificate for yourself or to gift to someone else. There’s no better gift than to give to others! 💛
Call 901-683-0441 to purchase!
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Write a review of your Napa Café experience on OpenTable, Facebook, or Google. Reviews are very helpful in being able to spread the Napa Café cheer! |
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