Time for a Touch of Cinnamon! Recipes to follow!

As you all know, I love food, but one of my favorite staples in my pantry is CINNAMON!! I add cinnamon to everything! Including cereal, toast, fruit, chicken, anything that needs a little touch of, well I call it "YUM". So cinnamon is my touch of "YUM" I know I must not be the only one like this, as I seem to be convinced that cinnamon is as American as Apple Pie...see even Apple Pie has cinnamon..or at least the ones I make or eat! :)

So I was looking for some awesome unique cinnamon inspired recipes and found a bunch that sound delicious that I want to share with you! These were found on www.kitchendaily.com
I will share a new Cinnamon recipe daily this weekend!

1st Recipe: Cinnamon Poached Pears with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
Ingredients:

4 medium sized pears, ripe but firm (Bosc or Anjou work well)

3 cups port wine

2 cups water

1/2 cup sugar

1 lemon

2 cinnamon sticks

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

1 quart vanilla bean ice cream

Directions:

Begin by creating the poaching liquid. In a medium saucepan combine wine, water, sugar, and spices. Using a vegetable peeler remove 1 strip of zest from the lemon and add to the pot. Cut lemon in half and squeeze juice into the pot also. Set over high heat and bring to a boil as you stir.

Take a sharp knife and cut off a small slice from the bottom of the pear so it has a stable base. Using an apple corer, or the tip of a paring knife, carefully remove the core from the bottom. Peel the pears but leave the stems attached.

Place the pears in the poaching liquid and reduce heat to a simmer. Cook for 10-12 minutes until just tender and the tip of a paring knife goes through with a little resistance. Stir occasionally so the pears color and cook evenly all over. The cooking time will vary depending on the ripeness of the pears. Shut off heat and allow pears to cool in the poaching liquid. Once pears have cooled removed them from liquid. Pour half of the liquid into a container and reserve for another use. Bring the remaining liquid back to a boil on stove top and reduce by half. Serve warm or place all in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2 days.

Serve pears standing upright in a bowl with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream and a ladle full of the reduced poaching liquid.

Enjoy my idea of YUM

~Ally Wilson

www.thebistroatourtown.com

484-872-8793

Welcome Naomi & Open Doors to The Bistro...PLUS special offer!!

Find out about one of our newest vendors and take advantage of a special discount!

Naomi Cook began Open Doors as a way of helping others create the home environment they have been longing for. The name came from her desire to continuously check out the area she had just organized.
Starting young, she used to organize the pantry in her childhood home and when she got to college, helped her friends organize their belongings in small dorm rooms.
With a passion for design as well, she attended school for Interior Design and earned an Associate’s Degree in 2001. Since then she has worked in both commercial and residential realms.
By interacting one-on-one, Naomi gets to know her clients and their tastes. Once she knows what they are looking for, she goes on a mission to find the right solutions at the best possible prices.
Open Doors is located in Chester County, Pennsylvania serving the Greater Philadelphia Area.


Naomi is a Member of the National Association of Professional Organizers

For a limited time receive a 20% discount on organizing and design services when you mention Bistro!


Contact Naomi now to set up your complimentary consultation!
Open Doors, LLC

www.itlooksgoodinside.com
Naomi@itlooksgoodinside.com
484-367-7363

Tuscan Table...Tonight! & Last Week's Tuscan Ladies!

Don't forget tonight is Tuscan Table! Call NOW to reserve your space 484-872-8793

And just had to mention these girls who had a fabulous time at The Bistro's Tuscan Table last week! We try to please all, so I hope they enjoyed their night as much as we enjoyed having them!

Girls--let us know what your favorite item was!

~See you tonight
Ally Wilson
www.thebistroatourtown.com

Kevin Mengel Jr Benefit Month...Reminder & Follow Up

From someone who didn't personally know Kevin, I have been so extremely touched at the generosity of The Bistro's customers. After reading stories, hearing memories, and sharing personal moments from some people through email, I feel as I know Kevin a bit without ever haven met him in person.

Starting in July we deemed the entire month Kevin Mengel Jr Month and for those who came in and mentioned his name, we would donate 50% of the bill to Kevin Mengel Jr's Children's Trust Fund and also would give the patron 50% off their bill.
I can't stress enough how positive this benefit has been. I hope we can continue to raise funds for this family. We have been very pleasantly surprised by a visit by Kevin's father and I must tell you, that truly put an entirely new emotional connection to this event for all of us. I again this morning received an email from a friend of Kevin's, thanking us for what we were doing. Is it wrong that I really felt like thanking him? For allowing us to be a part of this, and for allowing us to help these children? I feel so lucky to do something, small in the scheme of things but at least I hope meaningful non the less.

So please continue to come in and help raise money for Kevin's children. So many of you have refused the 50% discount off your meal, but we have saved those funds and will be donating them to Kevin's fund too!

I will update everyone a the end of the month with the total funds raised.

Thank you again and never forget to "Pay it Forward"

For more details about this event please visit:

Kevin Mengel's Benefit Month


~Ally Wilson
www.thebistroatourtown.com

A NY State of Mind...with a side of Matzo Ball Soup! July 24th 11a-2pm

Who doesn't love NYC??
It is definitely not a place I could survive living every day but it is a place I love to visit. The crazy busy lifestyle, the people, the fashion, the romance and yes THE FOOD!

The Bistro decided to host a new fun event..and for all of you who either are NYC natives or NY'ers at heart...this is for you. Join us July 24th 11a-2pm for a NY Neighborhood Brunch. It is $18 a person and you will NOT leave hungry, the food is a cornucopia of NY.

You will travel down Mid Town while enjoying a Pastrami Sandwich, make your way to Brooklyn while chewing on a bagel with lox. Then turn onto Bleeker Street for a slice of heaven on a plate--pizza! Quickly stopping off at a local street vendor for some warm peanuts! And then winding it down in Little Italy for a much anticipated Cannoli.

Check out the food presentation:
~Mid Town Deli: Pastrami, Turkey, Corned Beef, Roast Beef, Swiss Cheese, American Cheese, Deli Mustard, Rye Bread, Pumpernickel, Sourdough, Coleslaw, Pickles, Potato Salad, Russian Dressing, Matzo Ball Soup & Knishes.
~Bagels in Brooklyn: Assorted Bagels, Cream Cheese, Lox, Capers & Red Onion ~Street Vendor Eats: Hot Dog with Sauerkraut, Chili Dogs, Soft Pretzels, Warm Peanuts & Gyros ~Little Italy Desserts: Rum Cake, Cannolis, Black & White Cookies, Sfogliatella, Cheese Cake & Pantone Bread
~Bleeker Street Pizza: Sicilian & Neapolitan Style

Please RSVP for this fabulous event 484-872-8793

See ya there!
~Ally Wilson
www.thebistroatourtown.com

Beauty.."From the Inside Out"....Saturday July 24th

You are invited to:
Beauty "From the Inside Out"
Saturday July 24th 1pm-4pm

Many of the event we present, focus on how we look, clothing and jewelry and shopping for items that make us look "pretty". This event is focusing on how to achieve that but also start it from the inside..where it matters most! We will be having cooking demonstrations for healthy eating, healthy demo for your body, skin evaluations, makeovers and of course shopping! Because when you feel good on the inside you will look great on the outside!

Some of you don't know but The Bistro at Our Town is not only a restaurant...we are also place for you to come and seek advice on local resources. So if you have a leak in your house and need a recommendation on a plumber, stop in and we can recommend an honest, reliable business. Or if you just had a baby and need adorable accessories, stop in, we can help too. Or if you just got engaged and want to book a photographer but are unsure of who...stop in and we will be more then happy to talk to you about who we recommend and why. We have vendors that we have researched and done lots of checking on, so you don't have to! Everything from dog sitters to green cleaners.

So sign up for this awesome event on July 24th 1pm-4pm, it is COMPLIMENTARY, which means FREE! You will receive not only some great services but also some wonderful and knowledgeable advice on things we all need to touch up on.

Please call to reserve your space, 484-872-8793

See you there, Beauty Queen!
~Ally Wilson
www.thebistroatourtown.com

Tuscan Table Menu...July 9th

As promised...back to the basics of Italy..Tuscan Table Menu Friday July 9th right from the chef's hands....
RSVP Now! 484-872-8793

Tuscan Menu:

Antipasti Bread-Italian Meats and Cheese wrapped in a warm bread dough

Orecchiette with Meatballs, Spinach and Chicken(Pasta handmade in Southern Italy to look like domes): Served with grated cheese, mozzarella cubes, grape tomatoes, and basil.

Salad-TBA

Entree: Veal Scallopine topped fresh tomatoes and a white wine butter sauce

Chicken Florentine Pinwheels served with a béchamel Sauce

Traditional Spaghetti Pie

Roasted Red Bliss Tomatoes with Porcini Mushrooms

Zucchini with Garlic and Rosemary

Dessert:

Lemon Pistachio Cake

Mint Chocolate chip Ice Cream over a homemade brownie.

Buon Appetito!!
~Ally Wilson