Alejandro’s Mexican Grill recently opened on Campbell Ave. in downtown Roanoke where Green Dolphin Grill used to reside. My friend, Brian, ate there on Sunday - yes, it’s open Sundays! - and enjoyed the food. He especially liked the salsa bar. Read more on this new restaurant over at Lindsey Nair’s blog.
I ran across a simple recipe today for making your own Vanilla Extract. The recipe is incredibly easy and calls for only whole vanilla beans and brandy, vodka, or bourbon. It works wonderfully in recipes, will keep indefinitely, and is less expensive than purchasing it commercially. You can find the recipe at Mountain Rose Herbs.
Once you’ve made your extract, why not try it in a tasty, seasonal recipe such as Chestnut Ricotta Cheesecake. Chestnuts are currently very plentiful on the Roanoke City Market and are cholesterol free, low in sodium, and high in fiber. They also contain Vitamin C, thiamine, and riboflavin. After dessert you may also want to try cooking up a delicious Chestnut Souffle with Brandy Custard Sauce or some hearty Chestnut Ravioli.
On Thanksgiving my husband, Adam, got it in his head that he had to have Rockband Special Edition
Knowing that he wouldn’t be able to wake up at 4am, Adam instead chose to stay awake all night. And at 4:30am he headed out to the Wal-mart at Valley View for the line of a lifetime in an attempt to score this game. After an hour in the line for Rockband, his turn was finally up. Unfortunately, he discovered, it was the line for Rockband for the PS3. The XBox 360 line? Well, there wasn’t one. Apparently the store had only had two of them? So, rather than go home empty handed, he took my son’s suggestion - yes, he dragged the poor boy out of bed to experience Black Friday hell with him - they went to what Cody refers to as the “Green” Wal-mart. That being the Wal-mart in Bonsack. In twelve minutes they’d made it in the store, grabbed Rockband off the shelf - no crazy lines there - had paid and were headed home.
Now, while I admit I was rather skeptical over this game, I did finally give it a whirl. I lack rhythm in a scary, scary way, but Rockband not only has drums, bass, and a guitar to play, it also has a microphone so a band member can play the singer. For days now Cody, Adam, and I have enjoyed after-dinner play taking our band on a world tour. Adam plays guitar, Cody plays bass, and I sing. We’ve all moved up to level medium now, and we’ve earned ourselves a tour bus and some roadies. So, was Adam crazy to attempt shopping on Black Friday? Yes. Do any of us regret it? No way. This really is the hottest game of the holiday season. And if you have a chance to buy one, I wouldn’t pass it up.
Last Tuesday was the “Greening of the Market.” Bill Carder, the new Executive Director for DRI took time out from the office to join in the occasion. Bill helped a number of volunteers to cut and hang pine branches on all of the market tables. The greenery was then set off by big, red bows. The end result is quite festive and will stay in place through Christmas for everyone to enjoy.
Speaking of Christmas, Dickens of a Christmas is just a weekend away. This annual event takes place on the first three Fridays of December from 6pm to 10pm. This year those dates fall on December 7th, 14th, and 21st. December 7th starts off the event with a Christmas parade followed by a pet contest and outdoor holiday movie on subsequent Fridays. There will also be shopping, carriage rides, roasted chestnuts, a kid zone, carolers, and much more. Be sure to bring the family for this wonderful celebration filled with the spirit of Christmas.
As Christmas draws near, you’ll begin to see more and more new vendors on the City Market. Our newest vendor is Pamela Dodson who creates her own, unique handmade cards and boxes. Pamela informed me on Saturday she’d be available on the Market every Saturday through Christmas.
Jack Ferguson had black walnuts for sale Saturday for $2 a pound. If you prefer not to shell your own walnuts, Julia Light was selling bags of walnuts she’d shelled herself along with some of her wonderful black walnut cake. Look for Julia at Table 24 in front of Agnew Seed. You’ll find Jack in Space 46 in front of The Blues BBQ Co.
The honey guy - I’m so sorry I can’t remember his name - who sets up beside Charlie Lavinder at Table 9 offered shelled walnuts for sale as well along with the Osage-oranges he brings every year. The fruit is often used to help deter crawling insects such as spiders, cockroaches, boxelder bugs, crickets, and fleas. Just place them around your home to help keep the nasty critters out.
Holly has baked up White Fruit Cake for the holidays. Enjoy it with your family or give a cake as a gift for close friends and family. For those with diabetes, Holly makes sugar free varieties as well. You can find Holly’s Homemade Treats at Table 45 beside Jack Ferguson.
Penny Lane creates beautiful jewelry for those looking for a truly unique gift. This angel pin would be the perfect compliment to any outfit throughout the holidays. Penny is a regular to the Market on Saturdays and can be found with a wide selection of pins, necklaces and earrings - all made from fungi - at Space 11 located on the corner in front of Thomas’ Market.
Kari LeMay, who sets up beside Penny in the parking lot has created a fun stocking made from metal and paint. If you’re looking to give your home a whimsical look this holiday, you’ll definitely want to see what Kari has to offer. In addition to her stockings, Kari also sells birdhouses, lamps and sculptures.
In front of Wertz’s Restaurant you’ll find a wide variety of homemade treats by Peggy Gebauer. Currently her pumpkin bars are a big holiday hit. Additionally, Peggy also bakes and sells fresh bread, cakes, cookies, and pies. There are also pinwheels, fudge, and preacher cookies for sale as well.
Scott Traino, located down at Table 29, has an array of gorgeous dried wreaths for sale. They come in all shapes and sizes are made from dried flowers from his summer gardens and are really quite beautiful. These make lovely, year round arrangements that will last for years with proper care.
If you’re looking for seasonal wreaths, Thanksgiving weekend is the weekend to shop. That’s when a majority of the farmers come back with fresh wreaths, table settings, and even Christmas trees. You’ll then have until Christmas before they’re gone. This wreath was from a newcomer who showed up a week early.
This morning my son, Cody, left this note for me:
Mom,
I need new Hanes socks. Mine are getting holes. Also I need new shoes before long. I’m sorry I’m growing but that’s life.
I just bought the boy shoes right before school started. However, I’m not sure if he’s wearing holes in the end of shoes where he’s scraping them on the pavement or outgrowing them already. He’s in a men’s 8, or he was, at the end of August. His feet are bigger than mine and he’s not even 11 until next month. At 5′ 2″ he doesn’t have far to go before he catches up to my own 5′ 5″. I’ve been joking for years that he’s going to tower over me at thirteen, except now I think it’s really going to happen. I’m crossing my fingers that his size 14 slim jeans I bought brand new before school started hold out until spring.
Last year I could still pick Cody up. This year, it’s a no go. He fell asleep on my bed last night watching a DVD, and I had a heck of a time waking him up to get him into his own bed. I tried to pick him up to carry him to bed like I used to do, but I couldn’t even budge him. At almost 80 pounds, he’s gotten pretty solid. It’s killing me how fast he’s growing up. And then, he’s started puberty, which is really freaky. I mean he’s TEN and contending with zits on his nose and other boy issues. Everything else I can handle. Puberty, I’m not so sure about. Anyone else noticed kids starting puberty way early?
Blue 5 loses the chef that created much of its unusual menu, but a new chef has comfortably stepped into his predecessor’s old shoes. Read the full article over at The Fridge Magnet.
Sunday a balcony was installed on the Hartsook Building which sits at the corner of Market Square and Market Street. A balcony was part of the building’s original look in 1920’s. Currently Hartsook houses The Blues BBQ Co. and The Gift Niche. In September, the building also received a new, ten foot door.
Adam and I headed out to the new BBQ place, The Blues BBQ Company, Saturday night. We’d been hearing rave reviews, and while I’m not particularly a BBQ fan, my husband is. Lucky for me, there’s not just BBQ on the menu. They also offer starters like Grit Cakes, Fried Mac n Puppies, and Lemon Cajun Shrimp.
The atmosphere of Blues BBQ was really nice. It was very cozy and warm, and the staff was friendly. Adam and I sat at the bar, however, as all the tables were arranged for parties of four or more and I didn’t want to be a table hog as we’d planned on staying a while. The bar, while shiny and new, was apparently built a bit too tall and bar stools had to be special ordered to fit. My toes scraped the bar rail as a result and after a few drinks it seemed like quite a long trip down. But honestly that was the only flaw I really found with the place, and I thought it more humorous than troublesome.
For dinner Adam ordered The Blue’s Pulled Pork - a dry rubbed, slowly smoked pork shoulder using Apple & Mesquite woods, pulled and mixed with a special tangy BBQ sauce and stacked high on a Kaiser roll topped with slaw. The sandwiches are larger than average and Adam really enjoyed this one. BBQ is the specialty here and it only takes a taste to know they’ve hit the nail on the head. I ordered a half rack of Baby Back Ribs - which I don’t really consider BBQ, thank you very much - with a side of fries and collard greens. The ribs were tender, nicely smoked, and perfectly seasoned. The fries, well, they are probably bordering on best in town. They remind me a bit of Steak Escape’s fries as they have skins, but they’re seasoned differently. As for the collard greens - oh my God! - they are the best collard greens on the planet. They’re cooked in fat back and just too tasty to describe. I ordered an additional side of greens after I’d eaten the first side with my meal. That’s how good they were.
I should also mention that several couples had dinner at the table behind us over the course of the night. Two of those couples ordered the Brisket. Both of those couples could not say enough about how fabulous it was. The food rocks. Enough said.
After dinner and drinks we stayed a while to listen to the Jesse Ray Carter Trio. Jesse and his band play every Saturday night starting at 9pm and admission is free. I really enjoyed the tunes, and the rest of the crowd seemed to as well. There was much applause and lots of swaying and quite a bit of Bob Dylan. The restaurant produced a steady stream of business most of the night.
Open four weeks today, The Blues BBQ Company, looks to be a winner. Adam and I enjoyed it so much we ate there again on Sunday for lunch. I got the ribs again. And the collard greens. And the fries. What can say? I’m an addict. And Adam tried the Smoked Brisket Chili. The chili was a big hit, both with Adam and our friend Kyle who ordered it as well. Cheryl, who was also on the Market Sunday, had the Lemon Cajun Shrimp and was very pleased. And then there was the carrot cake. Don’t know how I could forget to mention the carrot cake. All handmade with thick, real, cream cheese icing, the carrot cake was to die for. A gargantuan slice was a mere five dollars and large enough to share. It was extremely moist and extremely edible.
The Blues BBQ Company is located at 107 Market Square and is open everyday from 11am to 2am. Sundays they’re open from 11am to 8pm. Patrick Maggi, the proprietor of Blues BBQ describes his restaurant as the coolest place in town with the best BBQ around. His staff boasts bright red t-shirts that tell you “It’s all about the love.” If you like BBQ, then you’ll love this BBQ. I hope to see you there. For more information on The Blues BBQ Company or for reservations call (540) 344-LOVE. Oh, and don’t forget to ask about the all inclusive, daily lunch specials.
Ladles & Linens, the Kitchen Shoppe, is hosting its 4th annual “Ladies’ Afternoon” on Sunday, November 11 from 12pm to 3:30pm in Roanoke. Treats and refreshments will be served. Plus, take the time to create a wish list for the holidays and Ladles & Linens will mail copies of your list to whomever you like. Everyone who completes a wish list will receive gifts. You can also register to win door prizes. For more information, call (540) 769-8181. Ladles & Linens is located downtown at 305 Market Street.
Additionally, for those who love to win contests, 202 Market is accepting comment cards from everyone who dines with them. Fill out the card and provide your email and you can win a $25 gift certificate to 202. Gift certificates are given away monthly. And, if you haven’t dined there in a while, be sure to try out some of their new menu items including a Shrimp Noodle Soup - a thoroughly interactive experience - or their veggie entree of butternut squash.
