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The Weekly Newsletter for March 31, 2014
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We are OPEN 8 am to 8 PM!
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 A note of JOY for the warmer months - Laurey's Cafe is now staying open from 8 in the morning (Breakfast!!) through 8 in the evening (Dinner!)
Please come read, relax, play with your children in our large welcoming space...
We take Sunday off to play with our own kids and walk our own dogs.... see you ANY other day from 8 to 8!
So now when someone asks you, "When is Laurey's open?" you can just say, "8 to 8"! Every day!
To quote the Godfather: "... lo so inglese! Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday...andiamo..."
- photo from Laurey's iPhone, January 2014
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Laurey's notes (from a lifetime of writing)
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[So much has been written about Laurey and her life projects these past weeks, but of course the best spokesman is Laurey herself. In this column we present archival reprints of her messages. This is an early newsletter from her online records.]
April 5, 2004
What a fun week it has been!
Yesterday, a cold and damp day, could easily have been one to drag a gal down and make her want to go home, light a fire, and hunker in for the duration. I mean, won't the sun EVER come back? Won't it EVER get warm?
Right around 11:30 in the morning, right when my morning flurry was winding down, I became aware of the pleasant bustle of people coming into the shop, settling in for lunch. There's nothing particularly unusual about that, I grant you. I continued to sift my papers and work at my desk. But gradually the bustle increased and I got up from my desk and peeked out my office door to see what was going on. Oh my! We had a full house! And not only was the house full, people sitting at every seat of every table, but there was someone at every seat in our front windows too and there were even more folks lined up at the deli case. I counted: 38 people sitting down, more standing. Unbelievable.
When I first moved downtown to my first kitchen, I kept the front door locked. My money, what there was of it, rested in a cigar box on my book shelf. I cooked, delivered, served, and cleaned up, all by myself. At one point I hired a cooking helper and then a baker, but the front door stayed locked. I did not want to have a restaurant. I loved the cooking and I loved doing parties, but I did not want waitresses or a cash register or any of that. The whole idea of it intimidated me. Customers? Scary!
The truth is that one day my business partner brought me a cash register that he had bought at a "going-out-of-business" sale. When I saw it I burst into tears, and, weeping, told him I did not want it and for him to please just take the thing away. He did, wondering, no doubt, what kind of lunatic he"d partnered with. The front door stayed locked.
But one day two people wandered in. They"d noticed my one table, and, peering through the window, they could see my deli case, an antique beauty, full of brightly delicious foods - all set for a catering later that day.
"We'd like to have lunch here," they said.
"Um, sorry," I stuttered, annoyed at myself for forgetting to lock to door, "this is not a restaurant, and, um, I, um, I, uh -okay, well, maybe just this once."
I fixed them each a plate which they carried over to my sole table where they sat and ate, quietly talking to each other, taking their time, enjoying their lunch. I hovered in my kitchen, aware of a quickened pulse and a flutter of excitement in my gut. When they left, there was a dollar bill on the table. I put it in my cigar box.
So yesterday, not exactly all of a sudden, if you really stop to think about it, we had so many people here that some had to actually wait a few minutes. I found myself skipping back and forth like a bit of a kook, clearing plates, visiting, chirping to myself. I must say, the whole thing made me very happy, and I think it might be time to order a few more tables. What fun!
[source: Laurey's Cafe and Catering newsletter, April 5, 2004]
- photo of fortunes from one of MANY boxes labelled "Laurey's Treasures"
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Dinners to go for the week
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Here are dinners to go for this week. This, if you do not know, is a fabulous way to have dinner. It's easy - just call us by noon
and your dinner will be ready for you to pick up by 3 that very day.
You can stop by to pick yours up until we close at 8.
Add salad (3.25) or bread (1.25) if you like.
Monday, March 31
Spinach and Prosciutto Stuffed Chicken 9.95
Tuesday, April 1
Rosemary Chicken with Sunchoke Hash 8.95
Wednesday, April 2
Morrocan Salmon with Lentils and Currants 11.25
Thursday April 3
Stuffed Peppers with Butternut Squash and Kale 8.25 GF
Friday, April 4
Flank Steak & Green Beans with Sherry, Honey & Thyme Sauce 9.95
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Casserole and Lasagnas to go
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The Casserole of the week:
April 2 Jambalaya with Housemade Sausage & Spicy Chicken Whole: 56 Half: 28
The Lasagna of the week:
April 4: Greek Beef, Olive & Feta Whole: 52.95 Half: 26.50
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So many marvelous friends helped make Laurey's celebration of life last Saturday a smashing success, I am sure to miss someone - but here goes!
Jubilee! Community Team
The inimitable Howard Hanger and his amazing collection of humanity:
- Daniel Barber and the World Beat Band, with special singers Paula Hanke and Delia Lytle, with special guest Kat Williams
- Program printed by Don Fortuna at Jubilee!
- Ushers organized by Cappy Tosetti
Michelle Marshall
Linda Patterson
Nancy Helm Estabrooks
Jennifer Kaylor
Marlisa Mills
Libby Cornett
Kathy Poling
Terry Poling
Andriette Kinsella
Reception Team
Laurey's great friend and event planner Kris Kraft INSTANTLY organized the Chefs of Asheville and a team of stalwarts for a reception for 500 (!) following Laurey's service.
and extra helpers in Jimmy from Early Girl, Henry from Mamacitas, and Rosemary all day.
- These lovely friends donated all the food and setup products:
Griff Porter of Sysco Foods,
and lovely altar and reception flowers courtesy of Ms. Jane Lancaster!
- photo of Laurey's former staff Rachel and Karen's new baby Cyrus in his red shoes, properly attired for the service! (More red feet contributed by Kris Kraft and Emily Thome!)
- from Heather Masterton
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Not-so-amazing alignment of the planets, around the weekend of March 22nd.
 Laurey had signed up to do a one-woman show that Saturday night, and friends were gathering from across the country to see the show and design and execute a lovely mosaic for her house.
As these things go, that day also HAPPENED to be the first free Saturday afternoon at First Baptist Church, where we hoped to host Laurey's service. So there you are.
The Mosaic Project got re-purposed to make a sign for the shop: "Don't Postpone Joy!" Earth colors were planned for the original design, so that's what has ended up on the final project. Here is a shot of the work in progress! Please feel free to stop in to our office to see the completed work - almost ready to hang!
Mosaic Designers:
Fran Halperin &  Eric Christ
Tile-Fitters:
Billy Bramblett
Greg Brock
Lucinda Masterton
Deb Caughron
Rebekah Lowe
Ann Smith
Annie Johnston
Alicia Keshishian
Supporting platforms by George Weber - THANK YOU ALL!
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 Saturday morning as I began this newsletter, a crew of politicians gathered just outside in the Garden Room, here at the cafe. The buzz of voices included hot discussions of Medicaid, hospital and insurance options, affordable housing, and all the necessary and urgent issues dear to a candidate's heart.
Hosted by prospective candidate Charles Owen III, these folks are standing for the seat of our recent dear departed State Senator Martin Nesbitt, hero to many.
We are happy to tell you that the non-affiliated by-standers (by-eaters?) at Laurey's Cafe included the requisite number of babies, standing by to be kissed!!
Chief among them, to my eyes, is the darling Margot, whose parents are recent Ashevillie-ians (imports from Portland, Oregon).
Her folks tell me that our Laurey got to meet Margot when she first appeared at the cafe some months ago.
We are certain Laurey is just a-kissin' these darling pink cheeks.
(Don't you think little kids were made just so grandparents can get them these AWESOME outfits???)
I thought about editing this photo for a cuter composition, but I found myself incapable of trimming those darling tootsies and the round little fist. Rock on, Margot!
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JOY Ride - Saturday, May 17, 2014
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And our tag article, the link for Laurey Masterton's JOYRide, Saturday, May 17 at 1 pm, supporting the amazing work of the folks at LiveSTRONG at our local YMCA.
...and THANK YOU so much for your ongoing support for Adam Thome's May 31st 24-mile hike for Henry's Make-A-Wish. His project is coming along quite nicely! Go Adam!!
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