New on the Menu

There is something that will sound different about to appear on the lunch menu . It was a recipe that Chef found on the internet , and  being rarely satisfied, tweaks everything. Its called bacon cheeseburger pasta. With the popularity of fried pickles  growing, it even has pickles in it. ( Yeah , there was a moment of gross out factor for me as well but , with my involvement with Henri , came the responsibilities of test subject. ) It has everything in it that you would find in a bacon cheeseburger. The pickles are not fried but they are hot. He experimented with about four brands of pickles , and surprise, the ones that held up best were Breckenridge Farms Hamburger Chips- Bigger shock, these are the least expensive ones that I buy for home use at my local dollar store. They seem to hold up better under the heat,staying crisp.  He upped the cheese from cheddar to sharp cheddar as well. It is amazing and good. 
The men with the notebooks are back. We thought that they might be critics or from the health department but that does not seem to be the case. They are very secretive about the notes that they are taking. It might be nothing but they act like students cheating on a test, they are trying so hard not to be noticed that ,of course, they command our attention when at the cafe. We did speak with the Sheriff in case we are being set up for a robbery. They just don't feel right. 
This being Sunday , Henri and I spent some time on our own. We watched the last four episodes of  True Blood (Season One ) while we drank our coffee this afternoon. Can't this poor girl find herself a Human boyfriend? Even her boss is s shape shifter... I like the Vampire sheriff- he's hot. And as for Bill's Fledgling? The eposode whould have been titled "When Good Christian Girls Go Wild." I don't think much of Bill as a training master. But he does have it bad for Sookey. 
Bon Soir et Bon Apetit ,
Arina Copain,Office Manager

Another Sunday but not so sleepy

As I mentioned before , I love Sundays, the only day that the cafe is closed. I get to cook. I made my famous ( in my family) unstuffed cabbage .(Henri claims that its unstuffed because its easier to chop the cabbage up and add it rather than spend the time making the little tiny meatloaves wrapped in cabbage leaves. I'll never tell.)

We listened to Cole Porter, Glen Miller, and Scott Joplin. There was an article online , I think  that it was alternet.org which spoke about the appeal of evil, which we read . My comment to Chef was that the concept of Evil is subjective . The article was based on Christian values. We don't embrace those as we were both raised more generic pagan.  The author of the article was bemoaning the fact that evil is appealing- Henri wanted to know what degree of evil the author was discussing. Is it as Evil to not want to do without in the name of the common good when the people that will benefit have nothing in common with the doer? And what if your survival depends on it?

 I believe that some acts are intrinsically evil, molesting children for one, but to call lack of thrift and maybe good judgement because you bought a Dior ( I haven't) evil just does not measure up. I am sorry if there are children starving in the Third World. I don't understand my responsiblity in their support - I certainly do not want to see anyone hungry,

Is it more evil to let a dictator kill his own people than it is to send US troops to fight the said dictator, knowing that you may cause nine children(one family)  from our neighborhood  to lose their father after serving three tours in Iraq and is currently serving his second in Afghanistan? We know these nine children, we have met their parents. Though there are many things that their mom and I  do not share in common- what of the privation that their children would suffer at his loss? It was probably preventable if anything happens to him. Losing a parent is hard no matter who you are.

The author also claimed that evil was lazy and good industrious. If a universal definition of good and evil cannot be agreed upon, how can one determine the quantity or quality of the work involved in one's life? If two people each wrote a business plan and one required five hours of labor like some executives, and others like Henri , put in sometimes twelve or fourteen hour days due to the nature of the labor, is one more evil than the other? What if the man who works five hours a day puts hundreds out of work due to the nature of his labor? Is he evil? He does not know the people who will suffer at his hand. But they will suffer all the same.I don't view either of us as evil, but I am sure despite the long days at work and lack of involvment publically with charity towards others , there may be some who would consider us to be evil.

I am reading Night Rising by Chris Marie Green as my bus book . Like the writing, hate the vampires that I have encountered . They aren't human , have tails and lack intelligence.

We are looking forward to the premiere of Atlas Shrugged Part 1, due out in April. We have heard good things about it and seen the trailer.

Chef is thinking about some kind of special relating to the movie that week so do watch for it.

Bon Soir et bon apetit,
Arina Copain , office manager

Arrgh! Its Monday again- with an hour less sleep.

I love Spring, except for the allergies. Everything is so fresh , and the produce that Henri uses is local . We will be posting a new menu soon which will reflect changes in the season.

There have been some men in suits visiting us recently. We know most of the locals and they don't act like tourists. Has anyone else seen them ? They come in , write in notebooks , and hardly speak. Not even to Katie. Everyone loves Katie and she usually can get customers to open up. There are no conventions in town. Wonder who they are.

Jean Paul will be making an Irish Stew with Guiness for St Patrick's Day. He made me culcannon which is mashed potatoes , cabbage and onions the other night. Sadly, we can't offer Guiness as a beverage. No liquor license. He will be giving samples this afternoon after 4:30 if you want to stop in and try it.

Bon soir et bon apetit,
Arina Copain,
Office Manager

Sunday , Sweet Sunday

I really love Sundays . The cafe is closed. Its quietand today, it has rained all day. Its a day that Henri and I get to reconnect for the week . Doesn't mean that we don't work- I certainly have enough to do. He does weekly specials based on available seasonals. His father calls us perfect two year olds- we play nicely by ourselves together.But then its really about the balance between work and personal lives.
We have a large order of  fruit coming in this week- I love the way that they smell when they are fresh . I found a recipe to surprise him with this week. He's pretty sharp so I have to work to put something past him . I normally think of cider for fall but can't think of any reason why it would not be just as nice in the spring.
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Country Witch Eggnog 1 cup apple cider 3 cups milk 2 eggs, beaten 1/2 cup whipping cream 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg 2 tablespoons brandy Combine all of the ingredients in a large cauldron or pot and cook over medium heat for 13 minutes. Pour the hot eggnog into mugs and top each serving with fresh whipped cream (if desired). Country-Witch Eggnog is the perfect drink to serve your Wiccan friends and family members at Yuletide (Winter Solstice) and Ostara (Spring Equinox) Sabbats. (This recipe yields two quarts.) ~Gerina Dunwich -The Wicca Spellbook~ Its much too soggy to go out today . Plus the dogwood is just starting to bloom , and I am allergic. (Betcha thought I was going to say garlic .) I challenged Chef to sit still long enough to watch Las Vegas season 4 disc 4 this morning. He countered with True Blood season 1 disc 2. I hope that it was intended as a comedy because we both found it funny.   I did finish Blood Prophecy. Liked the writing, hated the rats . Plus I dislike vampires not staying true to their nature. But I suppose that its mostly humans who buy the books so what ever makes them comfortable.   I am currently reading a book on designer Edith Head. For those too young to remember her- think Edna in the Incredibles- the character was based on her.   Bon soir et Bon Apetit, Arina Copain Office manager

Did Anybody Think to Ask?

We are very fortunate that Sothwold CommunityParanormal and Science Fiction Book Club has chosen the Cafe as their meeting place on the third Wednesday of the month. As I am such a avid reader. Henri suggested that I participate.

The book for March is ,Blood Prophecy  by Stefan Petrucha. I picked it up at the library yesterday . The writing flows well but I have a problem with it. The protagonist is a vampire named Jeremiah Falls ,who, like Stephanie Meyer's Cullens feeds only from animals. I am tired of vegetarian vampires, they are so politically correct. When he won't eat whatever glop they have thrown together for him as a ship's prisoner, he feeds off the rats of the ship. Ugh! Public service has its limits! When he has the opportunity to have a decent meal in the form of a character named Saint-Hilaire, a government official under Napoleon, Jeremiah stops and asks the date because he is worried about the end of the world.

Now let's be practical about this. The average man has 10-12 pints of blood in his body and the average woman 8-10 pints. I wasn't able to find out how much blood the average rat hold but given the comparative body size, I would bet that it would take a heck of a lot of rats to make up the difference . In which case, the ship had, I believe, bigger problems than one vampire on board. Besides, I hate rats and would not want them for my dinner. There are much nicer things to have than rats. Like, say, chocolate ice cream?

Henri and I recently went to a food show in Nashville, TN . One of the vendors that exhibited was a local named Mike's Soda Fountain and Coffee Shop. Henri tried the Red Velvet Cake Ice Cream while I ate the Chocolate Overload. I wish that they would go national because the texture, the temperature, and blend of flavors was just perfect. Pricewise, they would be competitive with Haagen Das or Ben and Jerry's but are so much better . They have a store just a few blocks from the world famous Tootsie's bar on Broadway. Their shop is located at 208 Broadway in Nashville. Phone is 615-742-6453.

I like chocolate ice cream. No one ever feeds their vampires chocolate ice cream. Just an entree of rodents that the Human population didn't want anyway. Now, I ask you , is that polite? I mean no one even asks if the vampires would like some chocolate ice cream. Probably it wouldn't be high on their list but given the alternatives that most Humans offer most vampires in the printed and media world, its got to be up there.

Post Valentine Fun. The Compatibility Test Results:

We asked some of you who had to wait for a table on Valentine's Day to take a compatability test. ( If you could not join us- leave me a comment below and I will send you the website.) Its based on Numerology . In keep our promise to also take the test, I am posting the results . I think that they are fairly accurate.

"Rae, your Heart's Desire is 23/5
Freedom is essential for your happiness. You love change, new experiences,
meeting new people, adventure and travel. You love the exotic, far away places.
Variety is more than mere spice of life -- you thrive on it. You are extremely
flexible and adaptable. You have more curiosity than the proverbial cat. You
have a sharp mind and a natural ability with words. You are a born communicator,
clear, fluent, and imaginative in every area that interests you -- which are
many!

Your Heart's Desire makes you very well equipped for life. Change -- the only
constant in life -- doesn't threaten you, as it does other people. You are
highly resourceful. Generally, you can think clearly in a crisis; you have good
mental and physical reflexes. Whenever you fall, you tend to land on your
feet.

You are highly enthusiastic. You get excited easily over a new idea or
opportunity. Your nature is unconventional. You are a bit of a gambler, taking
risks whenever you think the rewards are worth it.

You are very socially oriented and rarely, if ever, dull or boring. You are,
of course, drawn to those people who, like yourself, are original thinkers and
have exciting personalities.

You enjoy being involved in several projects at the same time. You need
continual stimulation by the new and fascinating. You tend to discard boring
pastimes quickly.

Your love of freedom and change can have numerous consequences. You can be
irresponsible, especially when it comes to finishing tasks. You have a hard time
persevering at a given project and bringing it to completion.

You must be careful that your love of sensory pleasure doesn't lead you to
excessive indulgence in alcohol, food, sex, and even drugs.

You are a bit of a hero and want to save the world. This causes you to make
promises you often cannot keep. Down deep, you long to please everyone, an
impossible goal.

Many 5s can be emotionally superficial. They feel love passionately, but fear
making deep and lasting commitments. As a result, they resist the depths of
emotional attachments and remain on the surface where it is safe.

You will experience many changes and unusual events, but you learn best
through experience. Therefore, your life will be full and you will make great
strides in personal growth

Henri, your Heart's Desire is 19/1
Your overpowering need is to be independent and to direct your own life
according to what you believe. Your dream is to become the leader of whatever
field you enter. Whether it is in business, community, or in your general area
of expertise, you are driven to be the reigning figure.


You have the courage and the confidence to lead others. You believe firmly
that your judgment is preeminent over all others. This gives you the confidence
to make bold decisions and carry them out, even when other lives are greatly
affected by what you do. You rarely look back once you have made a decision.


You possess intelligence and wit. You are keenly insightful and are good at
evaluating the abilities of others.


You are supremely individualistic. In your manner and dress, you like to
project your own unique persona.


Consequently, you don't mind being controversial, and can even enjoy the
attention and impact you have made on your surroundings.

You dislike routines, or anything that limits your freedom and
independence.


Whenever you commit to something you truly love, you are absolutely tenacious
in your ability to endure difficulties and overcome obstacles. You are highly
responsible; you hate passing the buck. You possess remarkable willpower and a
strong drive to succeed.


You are always looking for innovative ways of doing things.


Because you seek to be the boss in any endeavor, you have a tendency to
dominate others. If you are not careful, especially in dealing with your
subordinates and family, you may become ruthless in your decisions and behavior.
You can also fall victim to impatience and intolerance, particularly if you grow
conceited or superior.


You are the pioneer and the ground-breaker. You love the foreground, the
hot-seat of responsibility. You have all the talents to succeed. As long as you
maintain balance in your life, allowing others full expression of their thoughts
and abilities, you will easily rise to the top of your chosen field and realize
your ambitions.

Your Heart's Desire's compatibility is 5 and 1

The compatibility of these two numbers is about as good as it gets. There
will never be any danger of boredom, complacency, or emptiness in a relationship
that has heads turning and people whispering. Like wind and fire, the
personality traits in this combination can both create and destroy, but the one
and five feed on each other and respect each other's powers. They are like a
blacksmith and his anvil, and when they set out side by side to fulfill their
goals and dreams, nothing can withstand their combined forces. This is a
relationship of intensity and moments of rarely achieved highs, where the
promise of ecstatic experiences of love, spiritual bonding and shared dreams is
very real.


As with any number combination, dangers also hover over their heads.
Sometimes, undesired winds blow and forces turn - not so much against each other
as against their shared dreams. When that happens, their mutual influence
becomes destructive, turning a moderate, healthy need for variety, sensual
pleasure and adventures into a negative force.


As with all things in life, reaching up takes effort while sliding down is
only a matter of letting go. As long as the willingness to reach up and the
capacity to put forth effort and self-control exists for both henri and rae,
this can be a wonderful ride. But they should both always be on the alert - it
is not uncommon for this combination to pull each other down. When the partners
allow that to happen, they may end up involved with drugs, alcohol, sex,
food-addictions, laziness, or blaming the world for their misfortunes, and
blaming each other as a final result. Therefore, living this combination of
numbers can be compared to skating on thin ice.


rae, it is very important that you maintain focus on what you want out of
this life. Do not get distracted or seduced by the pleasures that are so easily
obtainable. Set high standards for yourself. In this relationship, Henri must
truly play the role of a captain on the ship, but not because rae is not
capable. As a matter of fact, Rae has more talents than you can shake a stick
at. However, Henri's energy is more directed and controlled, while Rae's is more
dynamic, more volatile - yet not in an aggressive way. Rae is impulsive,
responsive to the moment, less controlled and, for all that Rae is, therefore,
also vulnerable to being misguided. Keep in mind that too much adventurism can
be a dangerous thing.


While this is one of the most promising and long-lasting combinations, it is
also one that can take you both to the edge. Therefore, discipline and
moderation are the key words in this relationship."


Bon Soir et Bon Apetit,
Arina Copain
Office Manager

Valentine's Day

The last thing that I asked Henri and my father in law before I left for my early afternoon class in taxes was "Are you sure that you don't need me to stay here and help earlier than usual ?"

Henri  told me : We have it covered- most of the diners tonight are by reservation.

Jean Paul reassured me " We have done this forever. The truffles are boxed and marked. We have everything prepped . What could possibly go wrong?"

So I took my accounting text as well as the M R Sellars novel that I read on the bus. Henri usually picks me up after class but I had made arrangements for my Aunt Liz , a gorgeous tall blonde with a perfect figure , to pick me up and bring me home, as I do not drive. I had intended her to come into our flat downstairs for a cup of coffee before she went home to my Uncle Andrew.
We drove down Whitman to Poe , thinking that she could park out back. It was a wonderful idea. I hadn't counted on every parking spot on Poe being filled , people walking towards Hawthorne and Alcott. We were bombed. I was flabberghasted. "Need help? "she offered. I evaluated the situation. There was the problem of parking. " Let me unlock the gate, you can park in the yard where Henri parks. There is room enough. "She parked her Prius next to out Buick, running behind me into the flat , bolting upstairs. I thrust the bus pan at her " Would you mind? We are going to need tables as fast as we can get them." She threw an apron over her clothes and cleared at an inhuman speed. Jean Paul retreated to the kitchen as I took over the register . I went to the door and called out names of those with a reservations. The line moved forward. " No shows lose their reservation after 30 mins" called Henri from the kitchen. Dishes clattered , saute pans hit the sink to be precleaned for the dish machine. There was constant buzz of human chatter from the dining room. " Yes, Chef," I answered. From four o'clock to almost eleven we were swamped. I looked around about seven , seeing a tall thin man with a coffee pot making the rounds. I knew him. My uncle had come looking for Liz and jumped in when he saw the situation. It took the three of us working to return the dining room to readiness for the next day. The partners broke down the kitchen , steam from the dish machine made the air humid . I brought a carafe of coffee to the table that our family uses near the pass, where orers are placed and picked up. We were done, the door was locked. We had somehow pulled it off ."Excuse me "  A petite dark haired woman stepped from the hall which lead from the rest rooms.
" I am sorry , Miss. But the kitchen is closed. " Henri was exhausted.
 " I know, "she returned, walked over to Jean Paul , handing him a single red rose. " Happy Valentine's Day."
Jean Paul explained " Caroline got dumped by her exboyfriend in the cafe about two weeks ago. I comped her meal and we talked about the louse. She works for Hewlett Packard in Boston . "
The young woman pulled a chair to the table. " Did you guess that it was me? Sorry for the confusion , I did not realize that there were two Mr Copain here. You were so kind to take me home so I didn't have to take the late night bus.  "
Henri smiled " My father is nice like that"
"How old are you? " I asked her." Twenty two. "
" I dropped her off and there was nothing more," Jean Paul faced the waiting table.
" But there could be, I think" Caroline added. All eyes turned back to my father in law. "After all , you are what? Sixty? "
"Something like that" coughed Jean Paul. "You are very sweet, let me call you a cab. I am way too tired to consider anything as serious as this tonight. "
"Could be just what you need to pick you up," offered my uncle laughing.
 Jean Paul glared at him." There is the question of boundries to be considered. Someone else knows that she is here, I am sure. "
" Only my friend, Julie " the young woman added.
" There , you see."
"Well, I am pooped," Henri announced. " Coming ? " he asked.
" We have to be going anyway ," added Liz as she pulled Andrew from the table.
" You have keys, lock the door behind you" replied Henri , giving his father a meaningful look.
 " Nothing is going to happen ,"defended his father."Uh huh. Whtever." Henri turned to me " Coming? "
 I kissed Jean Paul good night. I followed Henri downstairs as he whispered " I told you that it wasn't me."