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Samantha's Cafe — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:02:10 +0000

Tonight!

Samantha's Cafe — Thu, 17 May 2012 22:05:43 +0000

Join us tonight for an artist reception for the very talented, Jenny Hutchinson! Music by Colorful Tones (Damon Cook)

Jenny Hutchinson & Colorful Tones

Samantha's Cafe — Mon, 14 May 2012 03:56:32 +0000

Join us this Thursday, May 17th (5-8pm) for the opening reception of Jenny Hutchinson’s fine art show featuring music by Colorful Tones (Damon Cook). Learn more about the artists on their websites:

Jenny Hutchinson - http://www.jennyhutch.com

Damon Cook - http://colorfultones.bandcamp.com

We are very excited for the opportunity to blend our professional and volunteer efforts as Art in the Public Eye‘s newest Third Thursday Glens Falls Art Walk venue!

Don’t be like the rest of them, darling.

Samantha's Cafe — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 21:03:06 +0000

Thanks to the efforts of trendy culinary circles in western Europe, many “forgotten” vegetables and heirloom edibles are now coming back into fashion around the world. However, you don’t have to travel to France or the Netherlands to find these unusual foods. This weekend we only had to go across town to the Glens Falls Farmers Market to fill our bags with rhubarb, sunchokes (Jerusalem artichokes), celeriac, and fiddleheads – all of which will find homes on the lunch special board over the coming days.

Dutch trend watchers at HBMEO make annual predictions about food, drink, and lifestyle changes each year. It seems like many of their 2012 theories are on point, not just for Dutch consumers but, right here in our own little city. Check it out….see what trends might apply to Glens Falls.

Source: So HBMEO Trendlist; Foodinspirationmagazine.nl

FOOD & DRINK TRENDS

Long, leisurely breakfasts
Quality instead of quantity
Artisan instead of branded; Authentic craftsmanship
Pressure cookers allow us to cook classics like draadjesvlees in half the time
Small scale instead of mass market; Industrial crafts
New vegetarian
Pure and real
Homemade granola
Ban the microwave; no more prefab dinners
Black pudding
Old World wines for an honest price
Homemade vla (see our recipes for star anise vla with forest fruits and chocolate vla)
Forgotten vegetables, e.g. purple carrots, white beets, turnips and forgotten vegetable soup
Surinamese sambal
Fresh jalapenos
Truffle potatoes
Thai basil
Homemade pickles
Chutney (anything but mango)
Fenugreek
Beer & steaks; Beer with a twist
Dumplings
Food as medicine
Asian persimmons
Asian snacks
Gin is the new vodka
Tonics
Ginger beer
Cooking without sugar/salt
Madeleines are the new cupcakes
Pumpkin is in
Tea trends: fresh ginger tea; black tea
Real products: More quality, fewer additives
Real instead of Light
Eating out at home
Classic cocktails 2.0: Bloody Mary; Bellini
Regional pastries
Miniature vegetables
Using up leftovers
New coffees: percolator coffee; herb coffee
Homemade cookies (see our speculaas recipe)
Hamburger variations
Fresh, fresh, fresh ingredients; full of fiber
Hard-boiled eggs
Foreign breads: German loaves, Persian flatbreads & Greek pitas

KITCHEN & DINING ROOM TRENDS:

Tulips on the table
Table linens
Personal, unique style and atmosphere
Black wood floors
Centerpieces
Mixed ‘n matched tableware; Eclectic mix of styles
Norwegian vintage
Old-fashioned stove-top kettles
Curtains instead of blinds
Natural scents (no chemicals)
Wild plants on the table
Recycled furniture instead of IKEA
The kitchen becomes a culinary workshop
Homemade art
Inspired by nature; Natural materials like wood and stone
Everything becomes (multi)functional; Flexible interior
Pastels and sorbet colors
1920′S elegance meets 1950′S happiness
Classics with a personal twist
Gas cookers

FOODIE LIFESTYLE TRENDS:

Food tribes – Food as a lifestyle; Clandestine night markets; You are what you eat
Urban Farming is hip
Ritualized dining brings people together
Culi-crossovers – a marriage or film, food, fashion etc.
Ethical eating is in
No waste: Top to tail eating; Smaller portions; Recycling
Etiquette is in
Money is out – living soberly as a statement
Singing in your kitchen
Social dining: Food sharing; Guerilla dining; Eating with the neighbors
Men in the kitchen
Hobby catering is hot
Antique cookbooks

RESTAURANT & BAR TRENDS:

Creativity is king: Creative new concepts; Pop-up restaurants; Originality
Affordable luxury
Flexible pricing – prices are fluid and adapt continuously, based on availability, weather, group size, etc.
Smaller portions
Bistros
Weinerei (Berlin-style wine bars)
Wohnzimmer bars (relaxed ‘living room’ bars)
Single purpose bars and restaurants
Brunch on Sunday
Impersonal restaurants are out
Elitist eating is over
Restaurants in bars
Gin bars

Source: So HBMEO Trendlist; Foodinspirationmagazine.nl

To market, to market to buy some rhubarb…

Samantha's Cafe — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 03:08:33 +0000

We had lots of rain this past Earth Day weekend! That’s good news for our farmer friends. We can’t wait to see all of the beautiful fruit and veggies they will be bringing to opening day of the summer Glens Falls Farmers Market on Saturday, May 5th. It’s also Rhubarb Festival at the market so grab your re-usable grocery bags and take the opportunity to treat yourselves to the many culinary uses of this herbaceous perennial.

Soup’r Delicious – schedule

Samantha's Cafe — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 22:38:56 +0000

Soup’r Delicious: Recipe Contest & Community Cookbook

ALL MONTH April 9 – May 11
House Soup: Squash Apple Bisque (April) or Gazpacho (May)
Charity: Art in the Public Eye
Created by Samantha’s Café & Catering

Week 1 – April 9-13
Soup: Grandma’s Chicken Soup
Charity: House of Grace
Created by Irene E. Fischer, of Glens Falls

Soup: Mushroom Soup
Charity: Relay for Life “Charlie’s Angels” Team – American Cancer Society
Created by Peg Carter, of Corinth

Week 2, April 16-20
Soup: Harvest Soup
Charity: American Heart Association
Created by Lawrence M. Hart, of Whitehall

Soup: Cream of Ratatouille Soup
Charity: Schuylerville Public Library
Created by Rachel Jagareski, of Gansevoort

Week 3, April 23-27
Soup: Moroccan Carrot Soup
Charity: Freedom to Marry
Created by Doug Gruse, of Glens Falls

Soup: Farmers Market Soup
Charity: Make A Wish
Created by Sharon Stortz, of Chestertown

Week 4, April 30-May 4
Soup: Mom’s Spinach Soup
Charity: SPCA of Upstate NY
Created by Pamela M. Lafontaine, of Fort Edward

Soup: Mushroom Barley Soup
Charity: House of Grace
Created by Irene E Fischer, of Glens Falls

Week 5, May 7-11 (SPONSOR WEEK)
Soup: Tortellini & Spinach
Charity: Youth Ministry Program at Our Lady of Annunciation
Created by Lisa Balschunat, of Queensbury
PR CONSULTANT/FREELANCE WRITER

Soup: Peter’s Tomato Soup
Charity: Open Arms
Created by Nina Mucha, of Queensbury
BALFOUR REALTY

What’s in the bag?

Samantha's Cafe — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 05:47:25 +0000

Wondering what’s in this bag? Well, here are a few clues. It’s organic, farm direct, and fair-trade. The flavor and aroma might remind you of dark berry, vanilla, baking spice, tobacco, and hops.

You guessed it smarty-pants! It’s the very first shipment of a new socially conscious coffee to be featured at Samantha’s Café! This rich blend comes from the Gayo region of Sumatra (largest of the 17,500+ islands that make up the archipelago of Indonesia) and is roasted at the hip Caffé Vita in Seattle, recently named by Condé Nast Traveler as one of the best places in the world to get coffee.

“Sumatra Gayo River” is the first of many new roasts that will be offered at the café in the future. We hope you enjoy this velvety smooth brew as much as we do. Be sure to tell us what you think!

Soup’r Delicious!

Samantha's Cafe — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 01:52:50 +0000

Well, what are you waiting for? Submit your recipe today and you will automatically be included in our Soup’r Delicious Cookbook! Eight recipes will also be hand selected to be featured on the cafe menu in April. Local chefs will be secretly judging the soups to determine which is worthy of the Giant Soup Spoon Award!

50% of all soup sales will be donated – the participants to pick the charities! Two soups will be featured each week in April.

Don’t know how to make soup? I bet you know how to EAT soup!
Buy a bowl of soup during April and help raise money for one of the eight featured organizations. In addition, Samantha’s will be donating 50% of all sales from their “house” soup to a charity that we have chosen (Yes, you guessed it. We picked Art in the Public Eye as our charity).

Download the ENTRY FORM

Click here for the Official Press Release

Main Streets Go Blue – March 2012

Samantha's Cafe — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 20:57:33 +0000

Football, Friends, & Food…

Samantha's Cafe — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 20:13:02 +0000

Having people over for the big game? Don’t be stuck in the kitchen all night! Let us bring the food so you can enjoy your party. Custom orders also available for vegetarian, vegan, or gluten free diets. Call us today for more information 792-5839!