well, hello there...

well, hello there- how do you do?
it is now 2010, and wow, can you believe it?
I'm still kind of in shock- though thankful that this winter has been less cruel than others (at least here in Montpelier)
and wow- i realize that my age is like a wild weed- growing taller and with deeper roots- and lately it seems that i am constantly nostalgic.. last year doesn't seem that long ago- kismet, deep in snow, kale and eggs and polenta bread- and at the same time, 10 years ago i was only 12 miles down the road (and with the same lot of folks)- my children have grown, i have ventured into my thirties, and the little girls i watched (and admired) nine years ago at the river run are in their twenties now!

Alexis turned twenty one yesterday, and to celebrate, kismet sends her off with much love and encouragement. She left today for a cross country drive to visit her sister in Mexico. I am so happy for her- and happy for all of us who have been able to watch her grow into that person she is now! though it may be snowing in Texas, at least i know Alexis can manage... we will miss her, but happy to hear of her travels when she returns. and I am happy for this inspiration to revisit my own travels cross-country (and Mexico too!)..(ole!!)

ok
ok
so what of kismet?
well- let's talk about 2010.
kismet has been approved for a large loan to move downtown and expand.(!) Over the last year, it has seemed that everyone wants us to do that (expand). It's true that our space is tiny. we push ourselves to serve nearly 90 folks a day in our wee 18 seat space, and our catering business has grown such that we can barely fit anything in our fridge!! But we love it here too. And, it will be hard to say goodbye to this space that has become so (uncomfortably) comfortable. This has become our home, and you have become OUR family.
For the most part of this year, I have been working on expansion plans for kismet-
for most of this time, i have also been overwrought with confusion about the right thing to do. I know that financially, moving would be taking on a BIG risk.. more debt, bigger lease, more bills, more payroll.. but at the same time, it could mean more time together- more room & a place in the heart of downtown...
Anyone who knows me, knows that this year has been full of anguish for me. "WHY?" i keep asking myself.. "WHY CHANGE?"- and "WHAT?"

so..

this is your chance...

what do YOU WANT KISMET TO DO?

how should we do it

when we

make the move?

(here's your chance to speak your mind!)

part II: fall collaboration

well-it is kind of crazy that another season is at it's peak (it does sort of seem like spring summer and fall just sort of bloom and wither rather quickly...), and soon another season will follow. in these last few days, i have heard so many happy voices proclaiming their love for fall-- ah, yes, it is so nastalgic, and romantic, and plentiful... there is woodsmoke in the air (it is september, mind you) and there are still warm afternoons and quick swims while we can get them..
and then there is this:
mathew and i are planning part II of our three part seasonal collaboration menus-- and Fall is really around the corner!

if you cant read the above photo- (it is kind of small) it details our next chef collaboration meal, to be held at kismet (all candle lit and cozy), with just mathew and I and our guests.. we have a few reservations already, b ut there are still several open seats- please do consider joining us, and if you miss it this time-- dont you worry, WINTER is just around the corner (our winter menu debuts october 19>>about the time of the first snow.) .
to RSVP for either meal, please contact us through this blog, or through http://www.kismetkitchen.com/, there is a contact us page there, and you can reach us there very efficiently.

would yo like a squizz at the fall menu?

i thought so..
stay posted--
but it may include smoked duck ham, candied crab apple, willow hill cheese, venison, and (amongst other things..) mulled cider and emily's family-made bourbon whiskey...

c'est la vei

since last time:

yes! we did get the permit for the outdoor seating, and are working with a generous lot of folks to create an extension to the current kismet dining room--

yes! we did get our liquor licence-- mimosa's & bloody mary's and some rum drinks are all we have so far, but hoping that you will help us pick some wines and a couple of beers to add to the menu-- any ideas?

but alas, dining has been S L O W this week- so if you were waiting for an open table-- NOW is the time, because it seems that ALL of the tables have been open a lot lately!!

wild mushrooms!
thanks to Dave, our neighbor/forager, our fridge is FULL of them! and they are amazing in flavor, aroma, and unique appearance-- i feel like a little gnome in her den kitchen toasting, roasting, drying, and sauteing the assortment...

local strawberries-- i know, seems CRAZY because it has been so cold-- but yes, they are around, and as it so happens this time of year, the rhubarb and strawberry meet like two ships crossing in the night, and if we are lucky, we will be processing fresh rhubarb/strawberry jam within the next week or so-- yippee!

and wholly greens!! --local (like 2 miles away) spinach!, salad (with flowers--thanks joe!) from screamin' ridge

and it is life-

kismet is 2 and 1/2- and like a mother of a toddler, i am readying myself for the inevitable business of caring for a child who can walk on it's own... For the last 2 and 1/2 years, we have nursed her, held her close, and kept her in the little baby crib, off the beaten path, in a makeshift home (cozy and safe). We have introduced her to the world slowly and cautiously-- but now she has her little

ego-- her want to thrive-- her relationships and friends and connections-- and it's time to ready ourselves for her inevitable maturity--

as many of you know, we have been looking for a new home for kismet-- something a little bit more DOWNTOWN, if you know what i mean.

Well, we've been looking and two places presented themselves to us. We have been asked many times about the situation and i have to say, it's a little bit stressful- it's like considering three places at once--

where we are, one on state, and one on main--

there's a lot to consider and a bit of risk in each decision--

oh... if only things could be easy!

so-- we are asking for that right now.

On a bike ride after a day at the Montpelier middle school, i had this realization that kismet means fate-- but that it also means faith-- faith that what you do with good intention will pay off later-- so my life is this now-- kismet is becoming her own and teaching me-- that if i believe in fate, i have to have faith and just relax--

do my best, know what i need, and just try-- (aim, fire, shoot!)--

so, i don't have any new news for you, but i will say, that things are looking good, and no matter what-- if you want kismet in your life; she wants you and will always be there--