Cedar Gables Inn Official Website

Chef Bob Hurley of Hurley's restaurant just sent in his menu.  Mouthwatering is all I can say.  He is pairing red wine with fish. Check it out. I love this job.

 

Just starting up a new deal for tastings.  Will have a page up shortly.  Look for it.  Should have some new menus for the cooking classes up tomorrow as well.  

 

So I tore apart the fireplace and followed the gas line through the wall.  Goodness me, what a mess.  I called in a plumber.  He told me that he would be here on Friday morning.  Never a dull moment.

 

We said goodby to the group, added several new items to the web, like Ken Frank's Menu for June 19th and added Mike C to the list for the Sept 18th "Trip to the Oxbow" class.  My next job is to rip out the gas line that was installed incorrectly in one of the fireplaces and put it back together "to code."  

Actually my next job is to go watch the Superbowl.  

 

The group of Sisters (not nuns) went to several wineries, came back about 3 and then we put on a cooking class just for them.  It was a blast.  Chef Graham Zanow was delightful, showing them dishes that they can make at home, but that look elegant.  We paired some great Napa Valley wine with each course.  For the main entree we served a Cabernet Sauvignon from Dutch Henry picked out by the wine grower/maker/owner Scott Chafen.  Delightful. 

 

We have a group of sisters coming in.  It is always a lot of fun when groups get together and come to the Cedar Gables.  They love the coziness and warmth of the Old English Tavern as a get together place.  We just received a package from a group we had several weeks ago.  They had played Liars Dice in the Tavern till wee hours of the morning.  Anyway, here is this package from them- a bottle of liars dice Zinfandel and a box that contained 4 shakers and some dice.  I think I know what this group of ladies will be doing tonight !!! We just signed up Angela Tamura from Zuzu's to be our October Chef.  Check out our updated cooking class schedule.

 

Feb 1-4, 2010

Susie and I usually only take off 3 days at Thanksgiving and a week at Christmas.  Otherwise we are here 7 days a week.  But we shut the Inn down and took off - went for a short respite.  We flew to Seattle.  Susie had never been to the Pikes Public Market.  It was fun watching them throw the fish as we walked by. We stopped by Sur La Table and Susie went nuts- she wanted one of everything in the store.  After extracting her from that pleasure palace we walked and walked.  There was quite a lot to see.  That evening we sat by our window overlooking the water and watched the ferries shuffling passengers to and fro.  Overall very relaxing. 

 

Another beautiful day in paradise.  We have much to be thankful for.

 

The big day is here, butterfli... extra energy in tow, Joe and I sat down and started playing as the crowd filtered in.  We had about 20 people, a great crowd.  They snacked on Susie's hors d'oeuvres and drank wine while we played.  We had picked several songs that lots of people knew and some were singing along, when we got to "Little Red Riding Hood"  everyone knew how to howl.  It put everyone in the spirit. 

We gave up the stage to Amalie Riis, half of the husband and wife team of songwriter/singers.  She dazzled us with her voice and the witty comments between songs.  Switching places, Brett came up and sang songs from the heart.  Some fast, some slow, but always rich and meaningful.  He drew on every kids experience (well at least kids who are now 45 to 60 years old- that played in the streets) with Red-Light Green-Light.  I fondly remember that game. Very memorable.  We will have to do this again. I shot some video- as soon as I figure out how to put it on the website you will see it.

 

We are having a House Concert tomorrow.  It should be a lot of fun.  Susie and I provide the venue and a room for the artists.  They provide the music.  It is free to come and listen.  All donations are given to the artists.  I found out that Brett also holds songwriting workshops sooooooo. We will see.

My computer is finally functional and will be whole soon, but I am no longer having to wait for my hour on the computer.  I will miss the chase however.  Susie asked me, with a mischievious grin, if I would like to open for the group tomorrow.  So I called my good friend and fellow guitar player Joe and asked if he would like to join me in a little opener.  He came over and we practiced a few songs.  I've been told by experts that the butterflies are nothing but extra energy (adrenaline) so a few deep breaths and off we go.

 

Sharing a computer is really fun.  Susie and I both want to get things done, on the computer, at the same time, then the phone rings and who-ever answers the call gets the computer.  You should see us race for the phone!  ha ha.  It is the little things in life that become apparent when you slow down to enjoy them.  As my computer was humming along, slowly deleting years of fond memories, pictures of family and friends, I sat in the window seat and watched the rain dripping off the trees, the sun trying to break through, giving me that awe inspiring view.  You know the one I mean, when you see the clouds and the rays of light that pierce through, as if God were just on the other side. 

 

A whole day spent trying to undo the damage.  I was delighted that I found a free antivirus helper called Bit Defender Rescue CD.  It allowed me to copy data files from one place to another before I had to re-format my hard drive- wiping out everything.  Now all I have to do is reload all my applications reload all my data files and I am back in business.  The word for the day-- BACK UP-- your hard drive.  Well OK technically it is two words.

 

Another computer crash before I could download pictures.  I've decided to switch my antivirus company and try out firefox.  I will post pictures shortly.

 

Last nights event was a blast.  The Julianne Band is so much fun and they have so much energy.  Everyone went home satiated.  What could be better- fabulous food (Susie rocks), great wines (Crain Brothers and  Toquade), Outstanding music.  Today we have the Wise Mans Wife talk.  It will be an interesting perspective on life. 

 

Today is the day for the Julianne Band to have their CD release party.  We are expecting our max 55 people.  We are going to have the band on the mezzanine and the guests below.  We've moved the furniture all around and I've set up chairs in the center of the living room.   Wine in the tavern (of course) and Susie is making a flower arrangement and putting on a spread on the dining room table. 
 

 

 

I just downloaded pictures from my camera- ohh what fun.  Take a look at the Hedgehogs that Susie and Sharon made. Flo Breaker is the fantastic baker behind these, and Susie and Sharon used her cookbook to copy them.  My job in all this is to taste them to make sure that they pass muster.  It took me several tries to figure it out!!!

Tomorrow we have a CD release party.  The Julianne Band is going to release their new CD and will play several songs from the CD. 

 Then on Sunday we have the Wise Mans Wife.  A small intimate group. 

There is always something going on at The Cedar Gables Inn.

Just met with Greg Cole and he has agreed to perform his magic in the Cedar Gables Inn Culinary Showcase Kitchen on Saturday July 17.  We think this will sell out fast, so get signed up. 

 

We are getting lots of rain but in bursts that the ground can absorb.  The river rose to 15 feet and it looks really full.  At 22 feet they start getting worried. Started the planning for our events this weekend.  Saturday we are hosting a CD release party for the Julianne Band- they are already sold out, and on Sunday we have the Wise Mans Wife talk.  Busy-Busy.

 

The heavy rains came and brought wind, lots of it.  I always look for the silver lining, and even though the ground is a mess of leaves that I have to clean up, the high winds knocked off all the palm fronds that we were going to have to have removed by a tree service ($2500).  What a blessing.

Then of course we try to keep the beds updated all the time and so in November I had put one of the old Queen beds in our van to take to the dump- they charge for this.  What a procrastinator.  Today I found out that a couple had been burned out of their apartment and were sleeping on the floor.  They were delighted with the mattress and all the Queen sheets and towels and etc. that we gave them.  God certainly knew what was needed.

 

The rains started and I have been busy making sure the gutters are cleaned out.  I have to figure out a way to clean the gutters on the 4th story without having to get on a ladder.  I have to make another run to the hardware store (a constant theme around here) to get a sump pump.  They seem to last about 2 seasons before pooping out. 

 

Susie put on another fabulous breakfast starting off with her World Famous Apple Fritters.  Everybody lingered around the dining room table because no-one wanted to pack up- that meant that they had to leave.  There were hugs all around and an exchange of e-mails and they were off.  After the clean up, I turned on the big screen TV and watched a little football. 

 

We had both a group, a couple, and a mother/daughter (she just turned 21).  Everyone decided to go on the Platypus tour together.  What a fun time, walking downtown to dinner, liars dice on the tavern bar till all hours of the night- sipping good Napa Valley wine that they purchased on their tour. 

 

We thought we had contacted our chefs so we can fill up these classes, but alas- the e-mail dragon struck and we are in the throws of resending all the information.  We will get the class schedules up as soon as we can. 

We have a group in tonight and they requested a specialty dinner here in the dining room.  It is a group of 8 ladies that work together- ladies weekend away.  We will do custom dinners for groups of 8 or more.  Just call and ask for Susie- I can talk BBQ, but she talks fine dining.

 

Bad news with our e-mail system.  Almost everything that could go wrong- did.  Should have it fixed by tomorrow.  Switching over from one service provider to another is a monsterous task.  I am, however, very pleased with our new website.  I just found out how to change the thumbnails on the pictures page and will fix them when I have time to resize the pictures.

 

Lots of projects today.  Will be polishing out all those small nicks and scratches that you get in the jacuzzi tubs today.  Working on the Churchill Chamber 2 person 4 poster tub.  Great fun and real stinky.  Windows will be open.  The response to the newsletter has been overwhelming.  It is short and sweet and to the point.  Want more- go to the website.  To sign up, just go to the pull down menu under events and click on "Join Our Mailing List"

 

Sharon came over this morning and she and Susie are baking up all kinds of things in the kitchen.  I found Susie showing Sharon how to make chocolate leaves.  They look fantastic.  The smell of Chocolate Cake make me really hungry.  Working on the Churchill Chamber bath tub this morning.  Should be completed by tomorrow.  The house is a never ending set of challenges and it is delightful. 

Better sign up soon for the Valentines day class as we just got another reservation. 

 

These leaves look like they fell off a chocolate tree.

 

This is the appetizer- Amazing

We have a housefull of guests- a large party took over the whole Inn for New Years.  It is a lot of fun- they are a great bunch of folks. 

Tomorrow we have set up a Gourmet Dinner for them in our Elegant Dining Room with chef Graham Zanow.  The 5 course menu is devine and we will be pairing each course with a different wine.  Too much fun. Must go entertain everyone at Happy Hour in our Tavern.