tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11006625474324479932009-12-21T15:55:52.628-05:00Information about the Alcove Cafe, musings by the owner about Charlevoix, the restaurant, and anything else that strikes her fancy.Raechelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664090154521786270noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1100662547432447993.post-62208350171353699922008-03-26T17:12:00.002-04:002008-03-28T22:18:04.167-04:00

For various reasons I've moved to WordPress from Blogger.  If that makes no sense, don't worry about it.  For awhile I will post important things at both websites, so you won't miss anything important.  Here's the new URL: http://alcovecafe.wordpress.com At the end of May, I will phase this one out.  I do apologize for any inconvenience. In the meantime, take a look at the new one; I've posted

Raechelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664090154521786270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1100662547432447993.post-90540466863811138912008-03-23T21:06:00.003-04:002008-03-23T21:34:43.273-04:00

I'm pleased to announce several new products.Recession beater, Flower of Prosperity Tea. It's as much fun to watch as it is to drink. From Republic of Tea, www.republicoftea.com Tabone, a wonderful locally-produced sparkling cherry juice, from Blue Truck Food. I hate most juice, but this stuff is addictive. We're serving the juice in the restaurant, and we're going to pack a bottle in each

Raechelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664090154521786270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1100662547432447993.post-56157379419970162462008-03-14T22:09:00.002-04:002008-03-14T22:14:49.427-04:00

It seems simple. Most people just order it to go or delivered, scarf it down, maybe eat some cold in the morning. If you make your own, though, you start to notice things -- starting with the crust. The pizza you order from your local pizza place has crust with all of the flavor of cardboard. So they add salt and cheese (inside the crust, ugh!) But the crust itself has no taste at all.We

Raechelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664090154521786270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1100662547432447993.post-82485310205638492142008-03-03T21:08:00.001-05:002008-03-03T21:08:23.699-05:00

In 1879, the Philo Beers estate was finally settled, with block 2 divided and sold to a number of eager buyers at the courthouse. It was divided into three sections of approximately the same size, running from the Pine River channel to Main St. , now known as Park Avenue. The western section was sold to Mr. Amos Fox, one of the town's earliest settlers, owner of the sawmill.  Fox owned several

Raechelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664090154521786270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1100662547432447993.post-38123858822328984062007-12-13T20:48:00.003-05:002008-02-14T21:00:43.118-05:00

Georganna Monk, the owner of the building that houses the Alcove Cafe, has been researching its history on and off for years. She planned a meeting of the Charlevoix County History Preservation Society at the Alcove on November 26. It was the group's Christmas/Holiday party, and in addition to dinner the group enjoyed Georganna's presentation on the history of 103 Park Avenue, formerly 101 Park

Raechelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664090154521786270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1100662547432447993.post-43088361560960364892007-10-19T22:01:00.000-04:002007-10-20T17:43:59.880-04:00

I knew it was coming. It's still a shock. Like walking off the cliff and falling into the Grand Canyon. Last weekend was Applefest, and we had as many customers as we'd had in any weekend this summer. We served more than 400 people. This week we went to a five-day-a-week schedule, closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays, so we were open three days -- Monday, Thursday, and Friday. And we served a little

Raechelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664090154521786270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1100662547432447993.post-92186980101409371552007-10-16T22:11:00.001-04:002007-10-16T22:17:33.127-04:00

Yesterday the zoning commissioner called again. Apparently there's been a complaint about the planters I have on the sidewalk. They're in the city right of way (mostly around the telephone pole where they don't interfere with anyone walking). I had to move all of them to the patio.We don't have many outdoor eating days left, so it's not going to pose a big problem, but I really have to wonder

Raechelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664090154521786270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1100662547432447993.post-4432796408234664012007-10-15T23:22:00.000-04:002007-10-16T09:26:20.856-04:00

What a pain it is to make omelets.Most people in the US want them browned. If they aren't browned, they're undercooked, and you're trying to poison them with salmonella. People who've traveled to France, people who consider themselves foodies, are appalled by any spec of brown on the omelet. You stir gently until the egg is almost set, then stop stirring and roll the omelet. The inside is creamy

Raechelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664090154521786270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1100662547432447993.post-53972669664190948012007-10-15T21:32:00.000-04:002007-10-15T23:22:23.374-04:00

If you're in the restaurant business, you're in the hospitality business, and you'd better appreciate and enjoy people. Sometimes that's easy, sometimes it's quite a challenge.Yesterday Taylor had a couple of ladies who came in a short time before closing. They chose to sit outside. After a few minutes of looking over the menu, one of the ladies complained to Taylor about the prices, and the way

Raechelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664090154521786270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1100662547432447993.post-54066409403666384302007-10-10T21:38:00.001-04:002007-10-10T22:08:23.904-04:00

A lovely family of six, visiting from Finland, returned to our restaurant today a week after their first visit. The first time they came in they paid with credit card, and left the lines for "tip" and "total" blank, so their waitress received no tip. We shrugged it off -- either they assumed we would fill in the tip, or they didn't know about tips, but either way we just had to live with it. It's

Raechelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664090154521786270noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1100662547432447993.post-8445804369233703312007-10-10T20:13:00.001-04:002007-10-10T21:35:45.987-04:00

Today our zoning commissioner called to tell me she had received a complaint from a "persistent" person about the fact that I have tables and chairs on the sidewalk in front of the restaurant. Each morning (well, most mornings) our tables start out against the building, with chairs running parallel to the building, leaving a good 4 feet of sidewalk clear for pedestrians, not that there are any to

Raechelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664090154521786270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1100662547432447993.post-58479454581610966612007-10-09T22:53:00.000-04:002007-10-10T20:10:49.052-04:00

We are blessed here in Charlevoix. The Alcove Cafe is one block from "Round Lake," actually part of Lake Charlevoix; two blocks from Lake Michigan; and one block from the channel that connects Lake Michigan with Lake Charlevoix.Lake Charlevoix is spring-fed, so the water is clean and clear. It has a mostly sandy bottom, and all summer long it's a beautiful deep blue. Yes, I know it's just

Raechelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664090154521786270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1100662547432447993.post-35965685649038021372007-10-02T20:11:00.000-04:002007-10-02T20:52:44.354-04:00

We share our neighborhoods with a variety of critters here in northern Michigan. Deer are of particular interest. Most of our workforce finds itself "sick and unable to work" or "attending the funeral of a close friend" on opening day of hunting season. Nearly all of the guys and a few of the women head off to "hunting camp," which is what we call those grimy, primitive cabins where the

Raechelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664090154521786270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1100662547432447993.post-88671826638105705522007-10-01T22:46:00.000-04:002007-10-01T23:04:50.991-04:00

We opened on April 20. I had staff lined up, food ready, everything set. I'd programmed the cash register (nice, personalized greetings on the receipts), tested the cash register and the credit card machine both. I was READY.Our first customers showed up at 7:30, when we opened, and before we knew it the place was bustling. Not packed, thank goodness, because in those days we struggled to serve

Raechelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664090154521786270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1100662547432447993.post-17724794226860653892007-10-01T22:19:00.001-04:002008-02-28T19:15:32.366-05:00

My location on Park Avenue has been a mixed blessing. Lower rents, al fresco dining, and lower traffic noise are happy consequences of having a location just off, but not on, Bridge Street. The downside is that resorters tend to stick to the main street as they wander from store to store and restaurant to restaurant in our downtown district. They may travel up and down Mason or Antrim Streets

Raechelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664090154521786270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1100662547432447993.post-86070056913269363082007-10-01T22:05:00.001-04:002007-10-01T22:16:40.716-04:00

In the first couple of months of business we struggled a bit with cooking. I've learned what I can and cannot trust the prep cooks to do, and what I have to check before I give it to a customer. I've also learned that someone can be a great line cook without knowing how to cook.Tim made bechamel. He asked me to look at it. It looked like creamed small-curd cottage cheese. I asked how he made

Raechelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664090154521786270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1100662547432447993.post-43403306932553676922007-10-01T21:23:00.000-04:002007-10-01T22:02:41.160-04:00

I'm new to the restaurant business. Never even worked in a restaurant until I bought the old "Acorn Cafe" and turned it into the Alcove. I've been keeping a journal of sorts about the experience, and was planning to write a book from it. So I started to think about how blogs and books differ ... you've all thought about this, too, and heard experts drone on about it ... anyway, I'm intrigued. So

Raechelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664090154521786270noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1100662547432447993.post-32883006172865462682007-09-29T19:42:00.000-04:002008-11-13T14:54:36.775-05:00

Accompanied by a canine friend or family member? We have doggie dishes, doggie scooper bags, and a place for doggies outside, with our dog-friendly diners.

Raechelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664090154521786270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1100662547432447993.post-80965354403349645622007-09-29T19:41:00.000-04:002008-11-13T14:54:36.910-05:00

Yes, the edible flowers, peppers, and herbs in our award-winning window boxes and planters could end up on your plate!

Raechelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664090154521786270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1100662547432447993.post-74260900706400681552007-09-29T19:39:00.000-04:002008-11-13T14:54:37.089-05:00

The sunny gold room seats another 22 people and offers a view of beautiful Park Avenue.

Raechelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664090154521786270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1100662547432447993.post-86756664240197253482007-09-29T19:36:00.000-04:002008-11-13T14:54:37.590-05:00

Or check out Raechel's cookbook collection. OK, it's not in the picture, but it's in the bookcase now, promise! OK, well some of it is anyway.

Raechelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664090154521786270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1100662547432447993.post-38727660890065988212007-09-29T19:35:00.000-04:002008-11-13T14:54:37.750-05:00

 The orange room seats twenty-two people. You'll dine in cozy surroundings. Browse the books from Pine River Books. Admire original artwork from the North Seas Gallery.

Raechelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664090154521786270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1100662547432447993.post-3715605300413966782007-09-29T19:31:00.000-04:002008-11-13T14:54:37.852-05:00

 The weather is beautiful in Charlevoix -- not too hot, not too cool, and sunny most of the summer. Enjoy dining outside while you watch the sailboats in Round Lake.

Raechelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664090154521786270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1100662547432447993.post-74412464303052067262007-09-29T19:18:00.000-04:002007-09-29T19:20:17.116-04:00

Hi.This is the blog for the Alcove Cafe in Charlevoix, Michigan, arguably the most beautiful city in the U.S.We'll post menus, pictures of the restaurant, and general chit-chat. Feel free to comment on the food, the service, and anything else that strikes your fancy.RaechelOwner

Raechelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664090154521786270noreply@blogger.com0