Monday, November 1, 2010

A Happy Girl in the Kitchen

We knew that an eery scene lurked behind the door of the fruit cellar in the basement. Inside were shelf after shelf of old Mason jars filled with murky liquids of unknown contents, which seemed to continually bubble and ooze. To us kids these looked more like failed anatomy experiments,

than successful turns at domestic science.

No wonder that it took me years to appreciate the nuances of home preserved food.

But happily today I am a convert!

That is why I am so delighted with our new "foodie" neighbor...


This inspired food concept business was created by the husband and wife team, Todd and Jordan Champagne. Well-known on the local outdoor organic market scene, they are producers and retailers of fine preserves and canned goods sourced from local organic produce. Recently they opened shop in Pacific Grove, CA.


There in a state-of-the-art professional open-view kitchen, they prepare their popular Happy Girl Kitchen products, which are sold in-house and on-line,







and hold workshops on Home Canning and Preserving Techniques.


Workshops on Raspberries, Blackberries and Strawberries; Heirloom Tomatoes; Apples, Pears and Quince; Pickles; and Marmalades.




A cosy cafe serves excellent teas and coffee, and delicious old-fashioned cinnamon buns.


Proponents of "food that feeds your soul", the owners are very community minded, and envision this space as a multi-functional food event center.


Yum!
Marjorie

2 comments:

  1. marjorie..i so LOVED this..right up my alley...everything i LOVE...
    perhaps i could make it up there and i would love to meet for lunch..would be so fun to meet you.

    and YES..just yesterday i was looking at pictures of my little Buddy. I DO MISS that sweet little dog...am so glad to have Teddy with me now..so bittersweet..such is life, i guess...

    it's a cozy rainy night here..i bet it is the same up there by you...

    happy to visit with you today

    sending love,
    kary and teddy
    xxx

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oooooh, this is just my kind of place! Wish I could visit it with you, Marjorie. Plus, you reminded me of the preserves my mother made when I was a kid. Mostly they were wonderful, but there was that year of the Exploding Pickle Jar. Not a good one! :D

    Have a wonderful weekend, my friend! xo Gigi

    ReplyDelete