Bread and Cocoa Cafe in SF- they do catering!

I had a chance to go to Bread and Cocoa Cafe this past month since I was in San Francisco for a doctor appointment.  It is a natural cafe and all offerings are handmade.  They use all-natural and organic ingredients sourced from local purveyors and farms.  The cafe is in the heart of San Francisco near Union Square and the financial district.  The menu consists of the following:  cocoa (of course!), coffee, sweets, salads, soups, sandwiches, and hot paninis.  It is a comfortable, cozy cafe.  The food was yummy enough that I would consider using them to cater an event.

Resources:

Bread and Cocoa- A Natural Cafe
199 Sutter Street
(corner of Sutter and Kearny)
in the Galleria Park Hotel
San Francisco , CA  94104
(415) 956-7200
www.breadandcocoa.com
e-mail- info@breadandcocoa.com

Catering
(415) 282-2869
catering@breadandcocoa.com

Friedmans Appliances - Kitchen ventilation

I visited a kitchen design center yesterday and they told me that when it comes to kitchen ventilation, Friedmans is the most qualified in the area (in their view) to give advice.  I'm going back there today to look at what they offer for vents.

Resources:

Friedmans Appliances
2304 Monument Blvd.
Pleasant Hill, CA
925-808-2950

Friedman's appliances, Pleasant Hill, CA

When we went shopping for stoves we visited two places, Sears and Friedman's.  At Friedman's we looked at Wolf 36 inch stoves because for years we have been dreaming of getting one.  Yet, when we really looked at the big stoves they didn't seem as appealing somehow.  I liked having so many burners, but couldn't figure out why I really needed such a large stove.  I hope I don't regret that decision later!

Resources:

Friedman's
2304 Monument Blvd.
Pleasant Hill, CA  94523
(925) 808-2950
(right near the movie theater)
friedmansappliance.com/

cozy cheddar beer fondue for winter nights

My aunt B. was the one in my family who introduced me to fondue.  Every Christmas she would make it, and it was enjoyed by all!  I've never tried this fondue, but it looks delicious!

Recipe for cheddar beer fondue:

12 oz. light beer
1/2 teaspoon of Dijon Mustard
1 garlic clove crushed with press
1/4 tsp. of hot sauce

In 4 qt. saucepan on low, whisk in 4 cups of  sharp shredded cheese tossed with 2 Tbsp. of cornstarch until melted and smooth.

Serve with cooked sausage, cooked new potatoes, bread cubes, and apple slices for dipping.

Makes 2 1/2 cups.

Recipe borrowed from Good Housekeeping, February 2013, p. 147

Sears - great place to shop for stoves

We went stove shopping last weekend and ended up purchasing  our stove at Sears.  Originally, I really wanted a Wolf 36" stove, but when I went to Sears I fell in love with a standard size oven that had the perks of 5 burners, with the middle burner also having a removable Lodge griddle.  Plus, this oven had two ovens rather than one!   We were supposed to have our stove delivered yesterday but had to cancel the delivery due to a family emergency.  It seems like whenever we are going forward to our home something comes up, why is that?  Are we alone with that phenomena?  Or, is that life?

Resources:

Sears
GE
www.geappliances.com
model:  PGB995SET2SS

Dearie, By Bob Spitz

In this book about Julia Child, we see her as not just a hugely influential cook but also a catalyst for epochal change in the way people feel about who they are and what they eat.  Julia Child was ahead of her time, and because of her people began thinking of themselves as chefs!

I love to read anything about Julia Child!

Resources:

Etsy- Great place to look for handmade crafts

I love Etsy.  I honestly have never even purchased anything from Etsy.com, but I love looking on the site for ideas of ways to decorate my home.

Resources:

www.Etsy.com
Handmade, vintage crafts

The Simple Things Magazine, London

I found a wonderful magazine tonight at Whole Foods Market called, "The Simple Things."  It is about eating, growing, sharing, making, living, and escaping, which are some of my favorite things and also go along perfectly with a bungalow lifestyle!

This issue # 5 that I got has directions for making homemade pizza, homemade pasta, things to do on cozy days, and the best food to make with friends.  There are directions for cutting a simple paper candle shade, and even games, gear, and snacks for snow.

This is a perfect magazine to read in front of the fire or in bed with some tea or hot chocolate!

Resources:

The Simple Things
www.thesimplethings.com
Future Publishing Ltd.
Tel. +44 (0) 207 042 4000 (London)

B & B - Cocoa Cottage - Whitehall, MI

The Cocoa Cottage is a period restored 1912 arts and crafts bungalow.  This B & B is minutes from Lake Michigan's white sand beaches in the Whithall area.  A stay at this B & B includes evening port and chocolates.  The home has special craftsman touches such as Bradbury and Bradbury wall coverings and craftsman pottery.

This next summer when I am in Michigan I plan to visit this Bed and Breakfast and explore this area.  In the past,  I've explored western Michigan.  The color of Lake Michigan is a gorgeous ocean blue.  I love Saugatuck, near Holland, Michigan.

Resources:

Cocoa Cottage B & B
223 S. Mears Avenue
Whitehall, MI  49461
(800) 204-7596
relax@cocoacottage.com
www.cocoacottage.com

San Francisco Flower and Garden Show, March 20 -24

This show features spectacular international gardens from all around the planet.  There are also over 14,000 square feet of nurseries to shop in.  There will be edible gardening workshops, cooking demonstrations, seminars on design and horticulture, and celebrity chefs and music.

Highlights and fun features:

Bring the kids - Dozens of educational and fun activities for children.  Tiny gardens designed by local schoolchildren.

Edible Gardens

International Display Gardens

The Globe- View the largest living mechanical Globe made of succulents on the garden floor.  Constructed by Robin Stockwell of Succulent Gardens with technology designed especially for the show.

Resources:

San Mateo Event Center
1346 Saratoga Drive
San Mateo, CA  94403

When:  March 20-24, 2013
Hours:  Wed-Sat.:  10am-7pm
             Sunday: 10am-6pm

www.sfgardenshow.com
(415) 684-7278 (ex. 2 for ticket sales)

Fundraiser, Julia Morgan built church in Oakland,CA

There is a crab feed on February 23rd, 2013 starting at 7PM in the gym at College Avenue Presbyterian Church.  All proceeds go to replace the original oven of the church, installed when Julia Morgan built the building more than 100 years ago.  The church uses the oven for church celebrations, and also for a program on Friday nights where they have a dinner for homeless people.

Resources:

College Avenue Presbyterian Church
5951 College Avenue
Oakland, CA  94618
(510) 658-3665
www.capcchurch.org

Outdoor Furniture

Finding good patio furniture can sometimes be a challenge.  We actually found some great stuff at Ace Hardware in Concord, California.  We figure that outdoor furniture should be simple, easy to maintain, reasonably comfortable, and generally nice to look at.

Here's a photo of our bench-swing and one of our chairs that we got at Ace Hardware:

We bought an elephant-shaped outdoor umbrella holder (which weighs down the umbrella so it doesn't blow over) from Pier One Imports in Concord, CA.  We ended up having to chisel the elephant's ears in order to get him to fit under the table (he didn't seem to mind):

We found these wicker-like rocking chairs at an outdoor furniture store in Sonoma, California,  called Villa Terrazza:

I said "wicker-like" because the material is stronger than wicker.

Here's a view of the table, which we found at Ace Hardware in Concord (elephant underneath):

And here's a view with the umbrella, which (like the elephant stand) is from Pier One:

Urban Ore Berkeley, CA - Buy supplies for reuse

Our family has used Urban Ore many times since we've purchased our home.  The last time I went there I dropped off curtains and rods.  I've also dropped off wood supplies, and all sorts of things people may need when doing renovation or construction.  When it comes to Urban Ore, one man's garbage really is another man's gold!  They have everything it seems!  If you are a collector, then you will love this place.  When dropping off items, call ahead and they will tell you whether they will take them.  Then, they'll tell you where to pull up your car to meet an associate, and then they will even load the stuff from your car.

The lofty purpose of the store is to end the age of waste by advocating and developing total recycling.  The idea of unwanted home renovation things being dropped off by contractors and home owners so that they can sell them for reuse is a brilliant idea!

Resources:

Urban Ore
www.urbanore.com
900 Murray Street
Berkeley, CA  94710
Monday-Saturday 8:30AM-7:00PM
Sunday 10:00 AM- 7:00PM
(510) 841-SAVE  (7283)
Note:  Receiving (dropoffs) closes daily at 5:00PM.

Katie Couric Show - The Power of Two

I have to be honest, I've never watched the Katie Couric show before, but I will be watching today at 3:00.  My friend Isa Stenzel Byrnes is going to be on the Katie show today with her twin sister Ana Stenzel.  In the Bay Area, Katie Couric is on KGO (ABC), channel 7, at 3pm today.  The focus for today is "Twin Madness," and Katie will feature stories about sibling multiples.

Isa and her twin overcame life-threatening illness with the "Power of Two."  They both were born with Cystic Fibrosis.  Together they graduated from Stanford University, went to U.C. Berkeley for Masters degrees, and got double lung transplants (Ana has had two).

You can watch their story in their movie, The Power of Two.  It is an award-winning documentary that tells the story of the twins' fight against CF, their transplants, and their advocacy on the life-saving importance of transplants in the U.S. and in Japan.

I've decided I'm going to have to start taping some of Katie Couric's shows for my late night TV watching.  When I looked at Katie's website, the topics she focuses on look fascinating!

Art by Amy Nelder at Chloe Fine Arts Gallery

I love the "Orchid Pop" painting by artist, Amy Nelder.  She has her studio at Chloe Fine Arts Gallery in San Francisco, CA and it is fun to take a look at all her props and actually see her paint.  She has a collection of paintings of things we find in real life, such as a paper bag open with all the goodies inside, or a plate of cupcakes.  Many, I think, would look gorgeous in a bungalow, adding splashes of bright color against the wood!  The gallery also has other American and International paintings, prints, and sculpture.

Picture is from http://www.chloefinearts.com/title.php?ititlenum=3053&artist=Amy%20Nelder&title=Orchidpop&artistId=1027  Please visit that site for details or to purchase.

Resources:

Artist, Amy Nelder

Chloe Fine Arts Gallery

645 Beach Street

San Francisco, CA  94109

(415) 749-1000

www.chloefinearts.com

(855) 275-3686

Chris Lyon

Associate Director

cell 415-596-0109

chris@chloefinearts.com

In Memory - Jane Powell - Oakland author

I met Jane Powell at event years ago, I was sad to hear she had passed away.  Her books about the restoration and preservation of old homes are still widely available.

Her books include "Bungalow Bathrooms," "Bungalow Kitchens," "Bungalow Details Exterior," and "Lincoleum," as well as articles and essays.  The books also have amazing photographs by Linda Svendsen.

Jane actually bought eleven houses that she fixed up, restored, and then sold them.  Then, she would move onto the next home.  Her last home in the Fruitvale District, she considered her keeper house, and a daunting fixer.  She dubbed the home, a "Bunga-Mansion."

Jane suffered from lymphoma and it didn't prevent her from writing her books, and her metastatic lung cancer inspired her to write her "Restoration Comedy" blog on her Jane Powell- The Author, not the Actress!" website:  http://www.janepowell.org/.

OaklandNorth wrote about Jane's life and work in the January 16, 2013 online issue, available at http://bit.ly/XEuVj3.

[Image from OaklandNorth article at http://oaklandnorth.net/2013/01/16/after-the-passing-of-home-renovator-jane-powell-the-legacy-of-her-bunga-mansion-lives-on/]

Stickley Insider View - Edina, MN - Th, Feb. 28

Gabberts Design Studio and Fine Furniture in Edina, MN is offering an event entitled, "Everything You Wanted To Know About Stickley but Were Afraid To Ask".  According to their website, "Enjoy a rare insiders look at one of America's most legendary furniture companies with Mike Danial, a 35-year woodworker and Stickley corporate Historian and Restorian Director.  Also, meet members of the Minnesota Woodworkers guild, whose goal is to encourage the highest standards in woodworking."

This event looks like something I'd really enjoy!  It's too bad they aren't offering it near me!

Resources:

Arts and Crafts events at Gabberts
"Everything You Wanted To Know About Stickley But Were Afraid To Ask"
Thursday, February 28, 2013
6:30PM- 8:00PM
Gabberts Design Studio and Fine Furniture
3501 Galleria, Edina, MN
(952) 928-3123
www.gabberts.com

Twin Cities Bungalow Club, Twin Cities, MN

The Twin Cities Bungalow club states on the website that, "They are committed to preserving bungalows and other arts and crafts style homes of the era along with the neighborhoods they occupy, to learning their history; and to exploring the furnishing and decorative objects that filled them."

This is a well developed website with classes and other resources.

The twin cities bungalow club is also dedicated to fostering an appreciation for the charming and livable   early 20th century homes.

Resources:

Twin Cities Bungalow Club
www.bungalowclub.org