6 week session – Saturday afternoons from 2 to 4PM.

This is a great opportunity for anyone who has ever wanted to expand their knowledge in the kitchen or to just add a few recipes to their cook book. Blu Moon Cafe cooking classes will be presentation style with take home recipes and materials. Volunteers will be requested to help with preparation, and any and all questions will be welcomed. Each class will end with enjoying the meal we’ve created along with an appropriate wine pairing.

The cost is $30 per class, or $25 if you book all 6 classes at once. Reservations must be made by the Wednesday prior. Payment is due upon reservation; however cancellations will be accepted up to the Friday preceding the class.

March 20th Back to Basics
In this class we will introduce you to the fundamentals of cooking. We will be discussing different knives and their uses, prepping and cooking techniques, and basic food terminology.

March 27th Breakfast and Brunch
Want to wow your friends and family at Easter, this class will show you how. We will highlight some of the classics and introduce you to a few of our new favorites.

April 10th Pastas and Sauces
Hop in the gondola, we’re taking a culinary tour of Italy. We will talk about the different types of pasta and how they compliment different sauces as we prepare some of our own delectable dishes.

April 17th Spring Appetizers
This class will have everyone planning a garden party or hosting the best tailgate for Steeplechase. We will get really creative and practice our knife skills while utilizing the fruits and vegetables of the season.

May 1st Healthy Living
This is not diet food, this is good food. We will focus on the importance of fresh, local and organic vegetables and meats and demonstrate healthy ways to showcase all of their benefits.

May 15th Great on The Grill
With the weather heating up, you’ll be ready to take the cooking outdoors. We will create an entire menu to be prepared out of doors and on the open flames.

For more information or to schedule classes, call us at 704-288-1766 or email us at blumooncafe@gmail.com. Hurry, classes are sure to fill up soon!

This year we will be hosting a V-day dinner on both Friday and Saturday (February 12 – February 13th). You will have many options to choose from as we are preparing a special dinner for 2 for only $50.00. If that does not suit your needs you are free to order off our regular dinner menu or you may choose to pick some of the selections from below.

This is our V-Day dinner, feel free to choose any of these items for your regular meal as well.

We are now taking reservations, but make sure you hurry… spots are filling up fast.

Valentine’s Day Couples Special
$50.00 for Two (includes 1 appetizer, 2 starters, 2 entrees, 1 dessert)

Appetizer
Fried Oysters with Bacon Horseradish Hollandaise
or
any menu appetizer

Starter
Roasted Pear, Goat Cheese and Walnut Salad
with Port Wine Vinaigrette
or
Cream of Asparagus Soup
with Garlic Croutons

Entrees
Grilled Sirloin with Mustard Peppercorn Sauce
with Truffled Mashed Potatoes and Asparagus
or
Fettuccine with Wild Mushrooms and Parmesan
or
Grilled Salmon with Cherry and Port Wine Reduction
with Truffled Mashed Potatoes and Asparagus

Dessert
Death by Chocolate
an assortment of chocolate favorites

Join us for a wine tasting on Monday, February 1st at 5:30pm.  We will be introducing cheaper wines that are great for Valentines Day Dinner.  Try them tonight and reserve them for Valentine’s Day Weekend. As always wine and hors d’oeuvres only $10.

Spanish Tapas and Wine Dinner

Saturday, January 23, 2010

7pm

$35.00 per person

Upon arrival we will be sampling

Juve y Camps Cava

First Course

Sopa de Garbanzo

(Garbanzo bean soup)

With chorizo sausage and smoked paprika oil

Paired with

Bodega Fontana Mesta Blanco

Second Course

“Taste of Tapas”

Manchego y Jamon

(Manchego cheese wrapped in prosciutto)

Tortilla Espanola

(Potato, onion and egg torte)

Serrano Ham and Blu Cheese Croquettes

Paired with

Almira “Los Dos”

Third Course

Pinchos Morunos

(Spicy pork skewers)

With Salsa Verde and Paella

Paired with

Piqueras Valcanto Tempranillo

Fourth Course

Bizcocho Borracho

(Drunken cinnamon cake)

With Chili Anglaise and Chocolate Drizzle

Paired with

Hildalgo Morenita Cream Sherry

Reservation must be made or cancelled by Jan 21st

Blu Moon Cafe will be closing at 2:30pm tomorrow December 24th for the holidays, and will reopen for lunch and dinner on Saturday, December 26th…. See you then!

A Real Christmas Treat
Need a boost to get you into the Christmas Spirit…..
we have just what Santa ordered

6-9pm Friday, December 11th
Live Acoustical Christmas Classics with CHARLES DICKENS

We will be Closed Saturday Evening at 5:30pm

We will be hosting an annual Boujolais Nouveau party Thursday, November 19th at 4:30pm.  What is Boujolais Nouveau? Below are 10 interesting facts about the event.  The event is free and the wine is free, we are hoping you love the wine so much that you cannot go home without a bottle of your own!

1. Beaujolais [BOE-zjoh-lay] Nouveau is always released the third Thursday of November, regardless of the start of the harvest.

2. The region of Beaujolais is 34 miles long from north to south and 7 to 9 miles wide. There are nearly 4,000 grape growers who make their living in this picturesque region just north of France’s third largest city, Lyon.

3. All the grapes in the Beaujolais region must be picked by hand. These are the only vineyards, along with Champagne, where hand harvesting is mandatory.

4. Gamay (Gamay noir Jus Blanc) is the only grape permitted for Beaujolais. While certain California wineries may label their wine “Gamay Beaujolais” this is not the same grape variety as what is grown in France, and is quite different in taste and growing habits.

5. Beaujolais Nouveau cannot be made from grapes grown in the 10 crus (great growths) of Beaujolais-only from grapes coming from the appellations of Beaujolais and Beaujolais-Villages.

6. Beaujolais Nouveau owes its easy drinkability to a winemaking process called carbonic maceration, also called whole berry fermentation. This technique preserves the fresh, fruity quality of the wine, without extracting bitter tannins from the grape skins.

7. Beaujolais Nouveau is meant to be drunk young-in average vintages it should be consumed by the following May after its release. However, in excellent vintages (such as 2000) the wine can live much longer and can be enjoyed until the next harvest rolls around.

8. Serve Beaujolais Nouveau slightly cool, at about 55 degrees Fahrenheit-the wine is more refreshing and its forward fruit more apparent than if you serve it at room temperature.

9. Approximately 1/3 of the entire crop of the Beaujolais region is sold as Beaujolais Nouveau.

10. The region of Beaujolais is known for its fabulous food. The famed Paul Bocuse Restaurant is just minutes from the heart of Beaujolais, as is Georges Blanc’s eponymous culinary temple. These great restaurants have plenty of Beaujolais on their wine lists. This quintessential food wine goes well with either haute cuisine or Tuesday night’s meat loaf.

First Course begins at 7:30, bar opens at 6:30
Wines presented by Melanie Presson of Grape Vine Distributing

First Course
Creamy Wild Mushroom Soup
With Foie Gras
2004 Delas Muscat Beaume De Venice

Second Course
Hazelnut Infused Butter Poached Salmon
Over Sauteed Leeks
2007 Chehalem Reserve Pinot Gris

Third Course
Sweet Potato Gnocchi
With Asiago and Fried Sage
2007 Sineann Pinot Noir

Fourth Course
Pepper Crusted Venison Medalions
With Pomegranate Molasses
Over Parnip Puree
2007 Owen Roe Keeper Cabernet Franc

Fifth Course
Pumpkin Mousse
With Chocolate Dipped Pepita Brittle
2007 Amity Late Harvest Riesling

Shelby Rummage will be playing his acoustic covers tonight.

Blu Cheese Portobello Sirloin
with Burgundy Sauce
served with Mashed Potatoes and Vegetable
18.95

Grilled Swordfish Steak
with Rosemary Cream
served with Basmati Rice and Vegetable
19.95

Chocolate Hazelnut Bread Pudding
with Vanilla Creme Angaise
5.95

Union County Chefs Reunite
Blu Moon Cafe Will Host Guest Chefs
Logan Rink and Daylen Algarin
Friday Evening October 9th, 2009

Logan and Daylen have been traveling the world and are ready to share some of their culinary experiences with us. Come enjoy their fusion specialties from South Korea and Puerto Rico.

October 2nd and 3rd will be the bi-annual art walk in Downtown Monroe.  Stop by and see some of our great featured artists, and stay for dinner.

October 2nd – Rachel Garcia Quartet will be playing on the Patio, bring your friends!

Dinner Specials include:

Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Lemon Sage Butter

Mustard Tarragon Chicken Breasts
with Truffled Mashed Potatoes

12oz Organic Ribeye
with Truffled Mashed Potatoes

Music on the Patio tonight with Marty Dejarnette. Here are some events that are upcoming at the Blu Moon Cafe.  Dont forget to come and checkout our new renovations; booths, new bar area, and expanded seating!

Specials Tonight:
Cajun Rubbed Salmon with Goat Cheese and Lemon Aioli  17.95
with Smashed Red Skin Potatoes

Caramelized Onion and Brie Stuffed Chicken Roulades 13.95
with Smashed Red Skin Potatoes

Roasted Butternut Squash Pasta 12.95
with Rouqfort and Toasted Walnuts

Fudge Brownie Al a Mode 5.95
with Lemon Espresso Ice Cream

Sep. 26th – Underground Owls
Oct. 2nd – Art Walk and music by the Rachel Garcia Quartet

Entrees
Grilled Sashimi Swordfish with an Island Chutney served with Cilantro Lime Rice

Heirloom Tomato, Watermelon and Blu Cheese Salad

Pasta a la Vodka

Dessert
House-made Dark Chocolate Ice Cream with Rosemary Caramel Sauce

Due to the Labor Day holiday, we will be holding our September Wine Tasting on Monday August 31st… deep discounts on Bottles… Starts at 5:30pm, A little different than normal, create  your own wine tasting and pair it with dinner.

Friday August 28th – Shleby Rummage  will be playing for us.  He plays a variety of acoustical rock and alternative. Starts at 7pm.

Saturday August 29th – We will be welcoming a new performer to Blu Moon.  Karla Davis will be joining us playing acoustical guitar,  she has anamazing voice.  Join us and bring your friends. Starts at 7pm.

Friday night we will be featuring Martin Dejarnette,  he is an acomplished musician that plays a wide range of rock, indie and alternative…

On Saturday we return one of our favorites, the Rachel Garcia Quartet will start around 7:00pm,  bring your friends!

We will be having a mid-month beer tasting on Monday, August 17th.   These will be great summer beers that con be enjoyed in the hot sticky weather.  As always, appetizers and beer are only $10. Starts at 5:30pm

Musical guest “Son Hill” on the Patio
Dinner Specials

We have some very exciting events on the calender for August.

Tomorrow night(August 15th) we will be holding a benefit for one of our former employees.  Jamie Medlin was recently paralyzed in an auto accident, he has no insurance and needs our help… Saturday, August 15th, we will be holding a benefit featuring the music from One Big Love, 50/50 raffle,  silent auction with gifts donated from LOCAL businesses.  One Big Love will start playing at 10:00pm.

We will also be having a mid-month beer tasting on Monday, August 17th.   These will be great summer beers that con be enjoyed in the hot sticky weather.  As always, appetizers and beer are only $10. Starts at 5:30pm

This Friday Night Music on the Patio with

Shelton The Blues Man