Mother's Day Gift Ideas

Mother's Day is just a few days away and and Café Louise owner, Louise Albin, reflects back on one of her favorite Mother's Day memories and sends a special Mother's Day message.

There are so many great gift options when it comes to Mother’s Day.  Gifts can be fun, personal, and don’t need to be expensive.  Our advice?  Give something to Mom that she may not normally buy for herself, but would love to receive and say “what a nice gift”.  There are so many to choose from but here are a few of our favorite gifts ideas with a few different options:

Plants

You can never go wrong with a beautiful and practical plant this time of year.  We love the idea of giving pots of fresh herbs such as basil, parsley and thyme. Fresh herbs are great to always have on hand to add freshness to any meal. 

 

One of our favorite ways to use fresh basil is by making pesto.  Pesto is so versatile and can be used in many different ways.  Toss with hot pasta, spread on sandwiches, or mix with softened butter and the possibilities are endless. Below is Chef David’s recipe.

Basil Pesto by Chef David Tolly

2c packed basil leaves
2 clove garlic, crushed
1/4 c pine nuts, toasted
1/2 c olive oil
1/2 c grated Romano cheese
Salt and pepper to taste

Place basil and garlic in food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped. Add olive oil and blend until almost smooth. Add pine nuts, Romano cheese, salt and pepper and pulse until just blended. If you prefer smoother pesto pulse until desired consistency.

Lemon Trees

 You can take potted plants one step further with a Meyer lemon tree. Meyer lemon trees produce beautifully sweet, vibrant yellow lemons and are also wonderful to have on hand for everyday cooking and entertaining.  Imagine wowing your friends and family serving iced tea with lemon slices from your own tree. So fun!

Kitchen Linens

We use a variety of different linens every day in the catering world but know how useful they are for people at home.  If your Mom loves to cook and entertain, there’s a good chance she could use extra or new linens to freshen the look of her kitchen.  Here’s our list:

• Tablecloths- remember one size does not fit all. Choose fabrics that are easy to wash and care for.

• Napkins- Have some fun with these!  Choose colors that contrast a tablecloth or table runner that your Mom might already own.  Fun napkin rings add a nice touch.

• Dishtowels & Tea Towels- Dishtowels are usually more absorbent but tea towels can have beautiful designs and add great décor to Mom’s kitchen.

• Aprons- Aprons with fun fabrics and designs are still a big trend and so fun to collect.  If Mom likes to cook, we think she’ll like a new apron.

Whether you’re going out for brunch, sending Mom to the spa, or planning a relaxing day at home, we hope you have a great day celebrating the women you love. Happy Mother’s Day!

Food of the Irish

Saint Patrick’s Day is less than two weeks away so we of course have Irish food on our minds.  “The day of the festival of Patrick”, is a public holiday in Ireland but is widely celebrated around the world.  With holiday celebrations comes an emphasis on food and drink and Saint Patrick’s Day is no different.   What many people do not realize is that Irish cuisine goes far beyond your standard Shepherd’s Pie and boiled Corned Beef & Cabbage.  Here are some fun facts and myths about Irish cuisine.

Corned Beef

Corned beef is a salt cured beef product.  Corned Beef & Cabbage is the most recognized meal to eat on St Patrick’s Day, if you’re celebrating in the United States.  Corned beef and cabbage didn’t actually originate in Ireland and if served in Ireland, is more for tourist appeal. The Irish-American “Corned beef and cabbage” actually developed from the traditional Bacon and Cabbage.    The dish was made with back bacon and boiled with cabbage and potatoes.  It is believed that Irish immigrants replaced the back bacon with corned beef in the mid to late 19^th century due to cost and availability and it has been a tradition ever since. 

Irish Stews

When you think of an Irish Stew, you probably think of a combination of lamb or beef, potatoes, carrots, and Guinness.  While, these ingredients are traditional and popular among the Irish there are also many variations.  Coddle is a traditional stew made with sausage, rashers (thinly sliced back bacon), onions and potatoes.  Unlike many beef and lamb stews, Coddle is made with chicken stock or water, making the stew light in color but certainly still rich in flavor as it is usually cooked for several hours.  Also, fish stews and chowders can’t be forgotten.  Ireland is a country on the coast with access to an abundance of fresh seafood.  Oysters, wild salmon, white fish, and varieties of shellfish are among the Irish favorites for stews highlighting their sea.

Vegetables

Many believe that the only vegetables that exist in the average Irish person’s diet are potatoes, cabbage and the occasional root vegetable.  Potatoes are the pride of Ireland.  They grow in abundance there so it is no surprise they are such an important and celebrated part of their cuisine.  Other popular vegetables found in Irish dishes include cabbage, leafy kale, carrots, onions, leeks, parsnips, turnips, brussel sprouts, and cauliflower. 

Soda Bread

We can’t talk about Irish food without mentioning Soda Bread.  Soda bread is a traditional baked bread in the Irish culture.  It is a “quick bread” comprised of just a short list of ingredients; flour, salt, baking soda, buttermilk, and (depending on the recipe) a little sugar.  When introduced in the 1800’s, it was made in a “bastible”, a large cast iron pot with a lid, and cooked over a flame or coals which meant anyone could make it, no oven required.  Today, there are several variations of the recipe but if you ask us, there is only one way to serve it- with a generous smear of butter. 

At Café Louise, we’re celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day with, among other things, delicious Brined Corned Beef, Buttery Potatoes, Cabbage and Soda Bread.  See the complete St. Patrick’s Day menu below and call or email us to place your order.

Saint Patrick's Day Weekend Extravaganza

Corned Beef Dinner- Corned Beef with Cabbage, Baby Carrots and Yukon Gold Potatoes.

Bangers & Mash- Traditional Irish Sausages griddled with Sweet Onions, served with Garlic and Herb Mashed Potatoes.

Lamb Stew- Tender Lamb simmered with Root Vegetables in a rich broth with Fresh Herbs.

Cottage Pie- Ground Beef, Corn and Lima Beans in a rich Gravy topped with whipped Yukon Gold Potatoes.

*All meals served with Irish Soda Bread and Shamrock Cookies.

$20 per person plus tax (minimum 2 orders per item)

Available March 14, 15, 17

Pre-Order 24 hours in advance

*additional Irish Soda Bread and Shamrock Cookies available for purchase.

“The Changing Face of American Cuisine” The Conversation Continues

What a fun night we had speaking with the Ladies Guild group from the Church of the Holy Spirit in Newington.  Louise presented on “The Changing Face of American Cuisine”, a topic that highlights how America’s food has become highly processed and full of dangerous chemicals over the past 60 years.  The discussion then turned to how we as consumers can make better choices when it comes to shopping for food and preparing meals.  Suggestions included buying organic produce, and seasonal foods from local farms - all whenever possible.  Louise also cited two authors that helped inform and educate the audience.

First, “Salt Sugar Fat”, by Michael Moss, who explores the rise of the processed food industry and its link to a variety of health problems that Americans face, mostly the obesity epidemic.  

  “Clean Food” and “Clean Start”, both written by Terry Walters,  a local author and spokesperson, provide delicious and healthy recipes while guiding readers on how to eat clean and live well.

  After an engaging “Q&A” discussion, the audience was excited to sample delicious and healthy snacks provided by Café Louise.

  Curried Red Lentil Salad with Capers, Red Onion and Raisins

Quinoa Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette 

  Crisp (and highly addictive) Kale Chips 

  Black Bean, Pineapple, and Hearts of Palm Salsa with Flatbread Crackers

  A very special thank you to the Ladies Guild for hosting a fun and informative evening! 

Bon Appétit