ok, it happened- and it's official, spring is here, even though (i know) i though it would never happen. And just like everyother year, it snuck in and surprised me. on sunday i walked to work without a jacket on! i felt naked and exposed, but smaller, less bulky, and free!! Working in the kitchen also feels different- though we have been using local foods all year long- there is something amazing and special about the wild foods of vermont that come in freshly picked- it was especially cool to open the bags of wild day Lillies, sunchoke roots, and wild leeks, as well as open up our reserve of dried powdered wild mushrooms and put together plates that were full of all kinds of shapes, colors, and textures that fully embody spring in vermont. Thanks to Dave K. (our personal wild crafter) the restaurant has been abuzz with awe and intrigue and conversations have been enlightening- dave spends quite a few mornings at kismet in the dining room eating and connecting with folks, and it is exciting to see his business take off as local folks request his services to help teach them foraging skills for their homes and land.
On the other side of things- spring also is a big healing and purging time, and kismet and the families of kismet of been riddled with our own quakes and shifts- we did close the restaurant yesterday because my children were sick and there was no-one well enough or available to cook-- wow! talk about micro business! we were only open for an hour! today i am running back and forth from my home to the restaurant to take care of things, train our new cook genevieve, and try to maintain things on both fronts- stefi's back is out, alexis has college finals, and saragrace is still recovering from her cold-- alanna hasnt been sleeping well, and the rest of our staff has had to cover and care for us! YIKES! but, thankfully, montpelier is a fun and comforting place to live and do business and i am so thankful for everyone's support-- while other businesses note slow business, i am happy to report that ours has doubled since last year, and we are stronger than ever!
Thanks so much---
and I know, I know-- you want info about our move-- i will know soon--!!

april snow = still some winter left to go

even though the sap harvest peaked two weeks ago- and even though we've been serving local salad greens for the last month, and our local tomatoes are just as bright and luscious as they could be, it is indeed snowing... still.

if you've been reading my posts, you would see that i always get a bit anxious for summer around this time of year- and anyone who lives in vermont year round would after nearly 6 months of freezing temperatures- but after already having had some really lovely warm and 60 degree afternoons back in february, it is a bit disappointing (and confusing) to have there be snow falling and for the air outside to feel and taste and smell like november.

But, regardless, Easter is in just a few days and montpelier children will hunt for eggs int he park regardless of snow wind rain or slush, as they do every year, and we at Kismet, will create a bright and lovely Easter brunch menu like we have for the last three years. Ahhhh- brunch. It's such a great meal really, and when eggs are our canvas, creating a special menu for Easter just feels so-- natural.

Though I haven't completely decided what we will be having- i do know that it is absolutely necessary in include some items- lamb, asparagus (looking for wild red "asparagus", if you have any let me know), quail eggs, local ham, and eggs-- of course. In my family, it was a tradition to have eggs and sobrasada, apparently (after doing a google of that so i could link it for you) that must be something very specific to my family, as sobrasada seems to only exist in one photo- I have decided that i while this year i will do my best to replicate it (i'm sure my aunt marilynn is scoffing at me now), i will make it a mission to reconnect with my Portuguese roots- master my family's original recipe, and share it with all of you for real next year.. in the meantime, i will make do with some hose made lamb chorizo and egg frittata's and hope everyone in my family appreciates my efforts...

Speaking of efforts-

Kismet has been steadily gaining on expansion plans-- though there are lots of rumors out there about where and when we are moving into a larger space, I can tell you only this:

we are currently negotiating 2 spaces downtown in montpelier and hoping to have things clarified by the end of june and plan to be in our new space by the end of the year. In the meantime, we are planning to have about ten more seats outside for the summer, and will hopefully have our liquor license by next month (in time for deserving mothers on mother's day). What else? Oh! and the space currently inhabited by kismet???? well, there are lots of ideas, one of which is for us to share it with others-- do you have any ideas??

also, we are working with someone fabulous to recreate our menu and re-do our website-- i am REALLY excited about this and hope that everyone will give me some feedback about what you would like for the new menu to include.. do you have a favorite? was there a special you had once that you think deserves permanent placement on our menu? is there something we should know about items we have now and how they could be different? Kismet is yours just as much as it is ours-- trust me-- i just work here.

so, what do you want for breakfast?

good night, i love you, and I'll see you in the morning!

thinking about how things have been-

the sap flowing like mad--flooding- then stopping and standing at a STAND STILL-- that's kind of like how i feel--

man, i felt it all in February- it was overwhelming, it was all flowing freely--then slowed down... but now and now in mid march, i am feeling it again.

you may have heard about the "skinny on the skinny" post-- it was all pretty bizarre and unusual, and it set off all sort of reactions-- one of which was my choice to remove the post from this blog--

while i hoped that folks would read it and be inspired by both benjy's and my generosity (in sharing our process-s), what actually happened was an overwhelming amount of feedback that has been very distracting-

for the last time (i hope), i will say again that kismet is not worried about competition-- our (sp and kismet) conversations previously posted was about getting to know each other... that's it....

and now that time has passed, and time does what it does (allows us to evolve), we all are able to settle in to what is what..

what is what?

love is in the air....

love me and i love you back

loving redhen ham and cheese croissants, loving so many things--

montpelier...

more later

sap flowing

it was early when i got up this morning, still dark, and still snow on the ground..
it feels endless- and lately i have felt a bit overwhelmed by it- but when I unlocked the front door, and started putting together my prep list, i started getting really excited-
I remembered that joel had brought down a delivery of local beans from the north east kingdom (yellow eye, king of the early and jacobs cattle). And as I started pulling things out of the fridge to prep for the day, I came across the salad greens that Pete's Greens brought us yesterday (full of sunflower greens, tiny baby kale and little leaves of radish and lettuces-) sitting next to the absolutely fabulous greens from joe at screaming ridge- And though it doesn't feel like spring outside, i can see that it is close- i can taste it, literally- and it tastes good!

During my morning chores- making coffee, mixing crepe batter, melting chocolate- I kept thinking about this whole thing with the skinny pancake. I still feel kind of confused- i know that everything will work out as it needs to- i just feel distracted. I have been getting a bit of response about the post and the situation- unfortunately, quite a few of them have been very intense and from folks who have never been to kismet. I am questioning myself- maybe even doubting a bit- pausing when maybe i wish i were flowing-
and then, the sun is up- and it's warm and cozy and the tomatoes in my hand are ripe and meaty and juicy, and I am inlove.... and just like that, the sap starts flowing.

closed till march 4!

here's our recent press release:

PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release
February 26, 2008
Contact: Crystal Maderia
802 522 3403
kismetkitchen@yahoo.com

Kismet Re-opens After Spring Break
As many know, most restaurants suffer slow sales and profit losses in February, and for those restaurants dependant on local ingredients, February is a cold and bleak month. But many Central Vermonters who have visited Kismet in Montpelier, know that this restaurant has a way of avoiding the odds. Thanks to a dynamic business plan, and a commitment to a sustainable business model, Kismet owners Alanna Dorf and Crystal Maderia have been able to navigate this usually slow season with ease.
Thanks to the diversity of their business, which offers event and wedding catering as well as an in-house menu of locally sourced breakfast, brunch and lunch menu items, February is a time of planning, prosperity, and productivity. As couples around the region plan for their summer weddings, Kismet collects deposits well in advance, and often finds deposit checks rolling in during the winter months. “Unlike other restaurants, our bank account is full in February”, remarks Crystal co-owner and Chef, “this gives us an unusual opportunity to enjoy the slower season and make the most of this time to plan for the upcoming season”.
One of the ways business owners Alanna Dorf and Crystal Maderia make the most of their time is by closing the restaurant doors for all or part of February. This year, the business partners remained open for most of the month due to local customer insistence, closing just the last week of the month. “It’s amazing how much networking I have been able to do”, recounts Crystal, “I am really excited to go into spring having re-connected with local farmers and wild harvesters and having had a chance to really consider all of our options, intentions, and opportunities for this coming year”.
In addition to continuing their search a new larger downtown location, Kismet is planning to build a large patio for outside dining, has applied for a liquor license to serve organic brunch cocktails, has collaborated with several local farms to ensure year-round local produce, and will re-open Wednesday, March 4, with a new Take-Out Dinner menu. To celebrate the re-opening, and in the spirit of spring, Kismet will be offering $2.00 shots of local organic wheatgrass normal restaurant hours Wednesday through Sunday 8am-3pm, and free house-made butter with all take-out dinner orders.
For more information about Kismet, to read the Kismet blog, or to view the online menus, go to www.kismetkitchen.com. Business hours will resume Wednesday March 4. Kismet is open Wednesday through Sunday.

ne-ne

This weekend, I am offering two specials in honor of my grandmother

(we call her ne-ne), whose funeral i attended this week. My grandmother who lived in Pawcatuck CT near mystic and stonington, is part of a very large italian and portugese family, and many are fisherman, so I knew I could get something fresh. Unfortunately my wee little ne-ne (she was only 4'7" tall), was not known as being a gourmet- so, when I went to my aunt patty's fish shop in westerly, and asked for ne-ne's favorites, I new I was going to have to get creative. I did not leave the fish shop with a few dozen live lobster, I did leave the shop with a dozen stuffed scallops and a pile of finnan haddie. My grandmother loved the stuffed scallops (scallop shells filled with a breadcrumb mixture of shrimp, crab and scallops meat) baked as is, but today's benediction will feature the scallops topped with poached eggs and hollendaise and served with a salad or our classic local roots.

The finnanhaddie is a smoked haddock originally from scotlland, but a classic in many a cream sauce and chowder recipes from my home town. Today I will feature it in an omelette with pea tendrils, tomato, chevre and raw milk cheddar.

i dont really get out of town very often, so even though this trip was sort of last minute and in the midst of other dramas- i did appreciate the opportunity to get to re-unite with my family and.. to see the ocean!

winter wonder..ing how much longer???

As our supply of local foods narrows to just a few items- and the snow keeps falling- and it seems everyroom i am in nearly everyone is coughing or weezing- i am wishing more and more that i could hibernate for the season! But alas- you would not let me! each day, I get to share the warmth and coziness with some of montpelier's finest, and fantasize and make plans for the spring and summer to come- I am planning alot lately- planning our summer wedding menus (simple, fresh, and fabulous!), planning events for my book (come see me at the co-op in February!) and for kismet (can't wait for the farmer's market again this year!), and getting to work directly with farmers planning crops for this coming year! And... you may have heard, we are also hoping to plan a move by 2010! So, while the snow is still falling out my window and I am very much troubled by the depths and diseases of winter- I am also fully involved in an internal process like many of the farmers and foragers we love and depend on here in vermont- It is important to be just a little bit ahead of things- though sometimes it feels impossible to keep up a pace like that- winter does give us a moment (while stuck in our driveway) to contemplate easier and warmer times- and ways that we can help manifest them!

I would love to hear some of your ideas! Any idea where we should move to? what would you like to see kismet incorporate into it's plan for 2009? an outdoor patio? bloody mary's and mimosas? a new menu? dinner? let us know what direction you would like to see us grow, and if you have any resources you think we should know about-- please, LET US KNOW!

in the meantime, I will share with you some of my favorite Montpelier offerings you may not know about--

MAYDAY studios-- my favorite little bookbinder runs a letterpress shop here in montpelier- check out her website too!

Saragrace and the Suits-- this band only plays about once a month, but they bring the type of full sound that keeps you going well past that

fat toad farm cajata-- yummmmm

montpelier winter farmer's market-- every other saturday up on college street

an amazing sprout salad special at THE BLACK DOOR, using pete's greens micro salad (not on sale elsewhere)

soon to come-- Venus Tattoo studio! in east montpelier providing tribal, unique, and custom tattoos!

two rivers farm-- they are planning alot of work over there, and because it is so close to town, everyone who loves good food and loves montpelier should check it out and get involved

edible green mountains is a great new, FREE magazine dedicated to local food issues in vermont.. though they haven't featured us yet, I did have a conversation with Deb (the editor) that inspired me deeply.

transition vermont is this new communication and networking tool helping folks connect and participate in local events that will help to shape montpelier and the rest of vermont's future. Join us and become our friend!