October Newsletter 2011

Howdy!
Well, the seasons are definitely changing at this parallel… Leaves have turned; there is a brisk new edge to the wind… I’m even starting to think about where I put my ice-scraper and shovel last spring! At the restaurant, my walk-in refrigerator is completely full of veggies to pickle, freeze, prepare and preserve… let’s face it, the Autumn is upon us! I will start this newsletter, appropriately enough, given the week, with yet another round of thanks for everyone’s support these last two months. We are moving forward, we are seeing progress, change and growth every week and we are well aware that it is all because of folks like all of you. So, thanks.
This week (what’s left of it), is a doozie, so, if you don’t mind, I’ll just jump right in!
"Hi Bruce – Keith here. Got any spots I might fill? I just wanna get out and play, do some covers, some originals, make a noise, beat on a guitar. Any time is good. Weeknights, weekends, whatever. Lemme know what comes to mind. Thanks, Keith"
Needless to say, when 6 time Juno award winner Keith Glass of Prairie Oyster fame sends you this email, the answer is "Yes. When?" Turns out, the answer to that is today! Thursday, October 6; ...for just $8, you can be a part of an evening with one of Canada's most celebrated songwriters...having fun, hearing some "covers, originals, mak(ing) a noise, beat(ing) on a guitar..." In short? This. Will. Rule. OK, see you there?

Friday: Frank Western and Birdie Whyte and the irregular regular Friday showcase is back as if it never left...live the dream, be a part of the greatest story ever told in Kemptville! 7pm, no cover

Saturday: Fourth Annual John Lennon Birthday Tribute: Chef Bruce and Roxzilla are teaming up along with local and Ottawa area musicians to celebrate the life and music of John Lennon--'The Smart One'--Come hear Lennon's songs, both solo and Beatle as performed by Brian Simms, Christo Graham, The Heroic Mad Peasants, Katherine Amanda Giles, Lisa Poushinsky, David Wisjman, Graham Beverly, Josef and Joel Mieto and Bill Dagg...as well as Chef Bruce and Roxzilla, of course!! 3 sets, starts at 8:30pm, no cover (but buying beer for the performers is certainly encouraged!)

Sunday, October 9: Our fourth annual Thanksgiving Sally Ann Fundraiser is upon us...already, the food donations are starting to trickle in, 3 turkeys so far, some chocolate...hmmm...are you interested in volunteering? In singing some gospel tunes? Do you just want to come in and enjoy the bounty? The event, as always is free, aka 'pay what you can, pay with a can' We will be accepting donations of nonperishable items for the Salvation Army Food Pantry as well as feeding any and all comers...The meal will include turkey and all the trimmings and will be served from 11 am to 4 pm--volunteers can sign up ahead at the Salvation Army or at the branch, food can be donated for the meal by contacting Chef Bruce at the branch: 613-258-3737, everyone is welcome, so, well, come!
October Art:

Hanna Maria MacNaughtan is a self-taught artist who is always exploring. Her love for people and nature is evident in all she does. Her work as a Registered Nurse has an immense influence on her creativity. “I am thankful and feel very privileged to do the work I do as a nurse. The patients and families I meet continually humble and inspire me with their strength and courage as they face life’s challenges.” A drive for children’s portraiture painting was her initial fervor. Hanna quickly learned how to bring out her subjects emotions and personalities. She has been commissioned to paint dozens of portraits in the few years that she has been painting and it continues to be a passion for her. Recently her art has evolved beyond realistic portraiture to a discovery into veiled emotions. With this, new impressionistic and abstract creations in oil, acrylic and mixed media have emerged. As well, a new interest in carving sculptures has awakened yet another form of artistic expression. Working with soapstone and hand tools she files away the rock’s rough outer surface to reveal the hidden spirits which are bursting with colour and life. The unearthing of the secret treasure concealed inside each stone is pure delight. Hanna is a member of several art groups in the Ottawa area where her work has been accepted into numerous juried shows. She has her art for sale at various exhibits with these groups as well as at the Homestead Gallery in Kemptville and the Grotto Artworks in Merrickville. You may drop by her home gallery which is open to the public during the annual Merrickville Artists Guild Studio Tour each fall or visit anytime by appointment. For more information please call 613 258-7297, email: hmacnaughtan@cogeco.ca or visit her website at www.HannaMacNaughtan.ca
October Recipe:
Pumpkin Soup with Goat’s Cheese and Cranberry Coulis:
Try this with one of the many pumpkins or winter squash’s available darn near everywhere these days! It’s a fun addition to your Thanksgiving table or even in mugs as a warming tonic for an Autumn picnic…
1 medium yellow onion, peeled and diced
3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
1 tablespoon sunflower seed oil
1 tablespoon salt
2 teaspoons black pepper
¼ cup minced fresh sage leaves (less if dried)
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice: cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, allspice, ginger, etc.
1 medium pumpkin or winter squash, about 1.5 pounds, peeled, seeded and cubed
2 litres vegetable stock or water
2 cups Hall’s or Barkley’s apple cider

Goat’s chevre from Clarmell Farms or Fifth Town Artisan Cheesemakers, enough to garnish
Cranberry Coulis:
½ cup Upper Canada cranberries
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
½ cup sugar
½ cup water
Pinch salt

For the Soup:
In a large soup pot, sweat the onions with the oil and salt until transparent; add the garlic and spices and sauté for one minute. Add the remaining ingredients and bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until the squash is soft enough to pierce easily with a fork or paring knife (about 20-30 minutes). Blend soup with an immersion blender or in a blender or food processor until smooth, adding more water or stock if necessary. Garnish with a dollop of goat’s cheese and the cranberry coulis (recipe follows). Enjoy!
Cranberry coulis:
Combine ingredients in a small sauce pan and bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer for five minutes, blend and serve. For an interesting garnish, cool and pour into a small squirt bottle and use the squirt bottle to make designs on the soup!
October Music:
Don’t forget to come out for Keith Glass tonight, this show was fairly last minute, so we haven’t been able to promote it as well as it deserves, any help you might be able to offer is awesome! In other words: Tell your friends! Right Now! (It is tonight after all…) Most folks know him as the lead guitarist and primary songwriter from the successful and critically acclaimed band, Prairie Oyster; around here we know him for the astounding performance he gave with Lynn Miles earlier this year and for playing occasional sideman to branch favourites Trevor Alguire and Brock Zeman at other shows in years past. He is a wicked guitarist and a sweet songwriter, so come on out and enjoy this rare opportunity to hang out with a real Canadian legend… Tonight, Thursday October 6, 9pm, $8
Fridays this month, as always are hosted by our favourite eclectic electric duo of banjo and steel: Mr. Frank Western and Ms. Birdie Whyte! The George and Gracie of Kemptville music, the Gram and Emmylou, the John and Yoko, the Captain and Tennille, the…the…you get the idea, it’s a chemistry thing, OK? They got it, you want it, so come on down! 7pm, free!
This Saturday’s Fourth Annual John Lennon Tribute is nearly sold out so move quick if you’d like to reserve. 8:30pm, no cover
Next Thursday, October 13, I’ll be hosting our first annual Paul Simon Birthday Tribute—Call me or write me if you want to perform…Rhymin’ Simon is the man of the hour, but Garfunkeling is also considered acceptable. 8pm, no cover.
Saturday, October 15: Yes, you read that right, it’s Ryan Cook! I’m not exaggerating when I say that this timeless country crooner is a young, vibrant talent on the scale of Willie Nelson or Glen Campbell; he is instantly accessible, seasoned, and someone you’ll want to come back for again and again. I’d highly recommend reserving for this show; he’ll be outgrowing our little room pretty soon, so if I were you, I’d catch him here while you still can! Oct. 15, 9pm, $10
Matty McKechnie is back on Thursday, October 20—he’s been here twice before under the moniker of ‘Graven’ as an electric trio and an acoustic duo—Now he’s just Matty, and really, what else do you need? Matt is a songwriter’s songwriter—he has a knack for catching that turn of phrase right before it gets away—finding the moment that counts, reeling it in and making it stick. This will be show to listen to, to soak in and to enjoy—he’s got the Chef Bruce seal of approval. October 20, 9pm, $5
Special Thanks and a bit of excitement goes out this month to our pal, Montreal by way of Vankleek Hill’s Dave Martel, who has stepped up to fill in an unexpected, last minute vacancy in October’s calendar…And what a fill-in it is! Dave is an indie-folk god, just check out any of his videos online, or, better yet, buy one of his cds, they will get under your skin, snuggle in and stay there for years. His last couple of branch shows have been described as, ‘Phenomenal, I can’t believe I just saw that’ and ‘It’s like a full body buzz’! He is an incomparable talent and always a pleasure to bring back for our lucky, lucky ears. Thanks, Dave. October 22, 9pm, $10
Saturday, October 29, we are happy to welcome back Ottawa’s finest alt-country ‘Texas Red Dirt’ singer songwriter, Brock Zeman. Somehow, almost every song he writes is better than the last, a fact that is made almost even more amazing by the fact that he has put out something north of 7 albums in under a decade… Brock is a craftsman, a master tunesmith and one of the best story tellers that you’ll ever hear. That’s Saturday, October 29 at 9pm, $5
Sunday, October 30…Well, we turn five. In restaurant years, that’s like 40. If we’ve made it that far, we may not be old, but we’re definitely not kids anymore. We couldn’t be more excited than to spend this amazing milestone with all of you, our friends, our family…So come on out, the buffet is on us, we’ll have a cash bar, I’ll be hosting the open stage with my full band, The Burning Sensations, along with anyone else who wants to join in—Everyone is invited, Hey! It’s a party! October 30, 2-8pm…or whatever…
Thursday 6 ~ Keith Glass (Prairie Oyster, Lynne Miles) …9pm, $8
Friday 7 ~ Frank Western and Birdie Whyte...7pm, free!
Saturday 8 ~4th annual John Lennon Birthday Tribute, Roxzilla as the house band! 8:30 pm, no cover
Sunday 9 ~ Thanksgiving Fundraiser for the Salvation Army, turkey and trimmings, ‘pay what you can, pay with a can’ sing along gospel-themed jam session, everyone welcome!…11am-4pm
Thursday 13 ~ Paul Simon Birthday Tribute …8pm, free!
Friday 14 ~ Frank Western and Birdie Whyte...7pm, free!
Saturday 15 ~ Ryan Cook…9pm, $10
Thursday 20 ~ Matty McKechnie, (Graven) …9pm, $5
Friday 21 ~ Frank Western and Birdie Whyte...7pm, free!
Saturday 22 ~ Dave Martel, 9pm, $10
Friday 28 ~ Frank Western and Birdie Whyte...7pm, free!
Saturday 29 ~ Brock Zeman…9pm, $5
Sunday 30 ~ Our fifth birthday party (!), free buffet, cash bar; come jam with Chef Bruce and The Burning Sensations!