Evening Shopping Extravaganza

4th Annual McCall
Evening Shopping Event

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5TH
4-8

We'll stay open late. We'll woo you with truffles & port wine.
We'll have special pricing to help save the economy & the world.
We'll play Christmas music. Quietly.
We'll do our best to make your holiday shopping fun, relaxed & social.

A festive evening guaranteed to put you in the Christmas spirit.

So much more civilized than the whole four o'clock in the morning crowd rush thing, don't you think?

Cookie Decorating Class

An Adult Only Evening with Kristen DeGarimore

Martha is good but Kristen is better!

A just-for-fun class for the holidays. We will supply each participant with a package of tools of the trade for gorgeous holiday cookie decorating. We will learn the basics and not-so-basics of artistic cookie decorating. A great evening for friends to get together. Thursday, December 4, 2008, at 6:30 p.m. right here at Bella Kitchen. $24 per person. Call Lisa at 634-4730 or email at lisa@bellakitchen

A HANDBASKET (6th Anniversary) SALE

We at Bella Kitchen hear that the economy is going to HELL IN A HANDBASKET!
So, we decided to put HANDBASKETS ON SALE.

Then we thought, what the heck, since it’s also our 6th anniversary - Let’s put it all on sale.

15% DISCOUNT ON EVERYTHING
including stuff already on sale!!
Together we can save the world - Or at least some hard earned dollars. Mention this blog! Sale expires November 5th, 2008

COOKING CLASS!

Sweet and Savory Cheesecakes!

Kristen DeGarimore, a.k.a. Dusty Baker, will host a class with tantalizing recipes for the fall and holiday season. Desserts and Appetizers great for sharing with friends and family. And of course, we will serve wine, coffee and tea. Join us for a fun, entertaining and informative evening!

Thursday, October 2, 2008

6:30 p.m.

at Bella Kitchen

Located Upstairs at the Hotel McCall Courtyard

Call 634-4730 for reservations.

FRESH FLOWERS!

The spirits of the Flower Merchant has moved us. We are offering fresh flowers at Bella! So, this is how it works...We send out an email with a menu of what's available. You order and prepay. The flowers are delivered within a couple of days and you pick them up at Bella.

If we don't store and have no waste, we can offer a great price. Interested? Send us a quick email and we'll add you to the list. Then we'll let you know when we are ordering. If you see something you like you can add to our order. Fun, huh?

A New Face at Bella

Meet Ardis (Ardie) Hewitt! Ardie has generously agreed to come to the store and help out a couple days a week. She is quickly becoming familiar with the store and you will love her kind and friendly manner. Ardie and her family moved to McCall a couple years ago, love the area and plan to make their home here. Next time you are in the store, please make her feel welcome.

Bella Loves Odos!! Lisa, John and Murray, too. Odos has been our partner at the store for over three years! Not one to meet a stranger, he has made many friends and return customers at Bella. We are so grateful for his help but more grateful for his friendship. He will still be around from time to time but mostly, finally retired.

Help Wanted!

Yes, we are doing great in our new location and we are looking for just the right person to join us. This is a year around, part-time position approximately 15-20 hours per week. Starting wage is $10 per hour with increase after a short probationary period. Bella Kitchen is open seven days a week and you may be asked to cover for vacations of up to seven days.

Retail experience helpful but not necessary. Love of cooking also helpful but not mandatory. Will train someone with a pleasant, customer service-oriented personality. Must be flexible and able to work weekends. Basic computer skills - Word, a simple spreadsheet and email. Must be able to lift 35 lbs and stand for long periods. Previous experience with cash register and the ability to count change required.

Hours are 10:30 - 5:30 daily and 11 - 4 on Sunday unless a three day weekend in which case Sunday is treated the same as Saturday.

Job duties include but are not limited to: Greet customers, assist in shopping, unpack freight, price and place inventory, and manage inventory files. Wrap gifts and pack items for shipping. Operate cash register and perform credit card transactions. Light cleaning - dust, vacuum and mop. Sound like a fun job?

Please send resume to lisa@bellakitchen.com to apply.

The World

The products of the world are at Bella Kitchen. While we can't get away to travel the world, we can get a small fix from shopping from importers of fine worldwide products. Take a look.

USA (LamsonSharp Knives), Canada (Accents de Ville), Mexico (Outdoor rugs), France (Comptoir de Famille), Germany (Waechtersbach dishes) Italy (Vietri Dinnerware), Poland (Polish Pottery), Czech Republic (Glassware), Spain (Olivewood spoons), Portugal (hand painted pottery), Turkey (Olive Pots), India (Linens), Malaysia (decorator bowls), Indonesia (Acacia Wood), Thailand (Brooms), Vietnam (Bamboo Bowls) Japan (tetsubin cast teapots), and yes, even China.

Our favorite TV show is Globetrekker. PBS, Monday nights at 8:00.

Your Ideas

Until the website is updated please take a moment and see what's up at Bella.

A few thoughts that have come after the move...

Expanded Linens?

We want to offer more selection of table linens. Good idea?

Fresh Flowers?

Yeah, since we are in the space once occupied by the famous and much missed Flower Merchant, the subject has come up. We aren't florists BUT we thought we might be able to offer fresh cut flowers ala carte and by order. Kind of along the lines of, "Fresh Fish Friday". Pre-ordered from a menu. If we don't have to store them we could theoretically offer flowers at a great price. Interested?

Cooking Demonstrations?

Lots of interest in Cooking Classes. We are looking into it. Promise. Suggestions?

The Grand Re-Opening?

Probably schedule the last week of August. I understand from one of our reps that the vendors like to donate stuff for door prizes and such. Good food, fun prizes and always fun inventory. We'll make it an event. Suggestions?

How about greeting cards? Do you have a couple really great cards that are favorites? Take a peek on the back and email or stop in and let Bella know who your favorite card creators are. As you can imagine there are at least more the 23 different creators out there.

Suggestions?

A very big THANKS

To all who helped make this move incredible. In fact we were the INCREDIBLES!! With a few extra cast of characters...

Tracy - Magnificent Colorist and Painteress. Three people, Five Hours - Total Transformation. Saved us hours and hours and dollars and dollars. Thanks for your expertise and really fun company.

Maria and Marv - WoW! Not only did Maria spend hours unpacking and stocking shelves, she has an eye for the dramatic and arranged the shelves with a fabulous flair. Then - get this - she and Marv GAVE us this beautiful antique wood stove. A perfect addition to the store. That's superhero stuff.

Gail - Gave up her precious Sunday off and spent the entire day helping us haul and unpack, haul and unpack. She worked her fanny off! She asked for nothing in return. Great company, too. Thanks so much, Gail.

Odos - Well, what can we say...He was kinda, mostly there in spirit. But his heart and physical self were more concerned with the planet Venus. We love ya, Odos.

Brock - Three very long days of hard work with a smile and song. So glad you came along for the ride. Thanks, Brock.

Beau - Most Valuable Player! with a Drill and Table Saw and a Router and a Bag of Levels. Unbelievable technical support. Made all the fixtures work and work in a most professional and aesthetic way. A pleasure to work with. Truly a superhero.

And my sweetie - John. Thanks for your love and support.

We did it three days. We didn't break a thing!! It was totally meant to be!

New Digs

Here we are in our new space. We seem small because we are so faaar awaaaay. So much space - so many fun things to look at in a whole new light.

We were a bit taken aback at the amount of well wishes we received after the announcement that we were moving. Wow. Thank you! It is humbling and heartwarming to live in a community with so much generosity.

We aren't advertising a "sell-it-so-we-don't-have-to-move-it" sale. We are just putting some items out on the sale table to sell quickly. So, stop by for unusually low prices and take advantage.

Do you have suggestions as to what you would like to see Bella carry? We would love to hear from you.

We are planning a Grand Re-opening after we are all settled to show off the new place. Thanks again. John, Lisa and Murray

MOVING UP!

Bella is growing up!! Remember the Flower Merchant? We will soon be moving our kitchen store to that space in McCall. So exciting!! We love the beautiful, light and airy space and think Bella will be very happy and prosperous there. This move will triple the size of our small shop. Lots of room to shop and browse. We look forward to seeing you soon. John and Lisa

Annual Spring Sale

Whoever Has Been Doing the Snow Dance...Great Job!!
Now, Please Hold Still.

BELLA IS HAVING HER ANNUAL SPRING SALE
It's a Warm, Sunny Kind of Sale!
15% Off Everything, Including Sale Items. Almost Free!
Save $$. Feel Warm all Over
Sale Ends May 5th
Gift Wrap * Bridal Registry * Gift Certificates * Shipping
Hotel McCall Courtyard
http://www.bellakitchen.com/
634-4730

Estate Sale

Hey Everyone - This is a special collection of Mexican and Indian pots that belong to my parents. No, they haven't passed on but are de collecting some of their possessions. Whew!

These pots are all authenticated with the name of the artist, date of purchase, gallery where purchased and price paid. Most of them have current information regarding the artists.

They are on display at Bella Kitchen and will be advertised locally and on Craig's List. Please call or come by for more information. 208-634-4730

Georgetown Liquor Company, Seattle

Don't we all love to find that little neighborhood spot off the beaten tourist track? This is one of those rare finds!! While at the Gift Show in Seattle, my host and hostess extraordinaire, Billy and Pegan Cook, took me to this great little dive bar. I use the term dive bar with affection.

The Georgetown Liqour Company is literally across the tracks. We actually waited for a train to go by to get there. A small, nondescript brick building - I don't remember windows but it was dark.

Inside it's dimly lit, with three booths and a few tables. Brick walls partially covered with cement. Funky punk art on the walls. Apparently the owner rents a few art studios upstairs and displays the artists work in the bar. It smells wonderful!! Fully expecting smoky or greasy, not savory wonderful. Hmmm

The menu is fully vegetarian with vegan options on most of the choices. The service was warm, genuine and efficient. Just two guys running the place, one of them cooking and the other serving and bartending. Billy and I had IPA and Pegan had a Stella.

Billy ordered two appetizers, Crispy Baked Polenta with Chutney and a Wonton Plate. Oh, my, the polenta was so rich, creamy and delicious. The sesame wontons are filled with goat cheese, tamarind adn steamed bok choy and served with lemon-ginger sauce. I have decided that this is one place that I will tell everyone about.

We ordered the enchiladas, the tamales and the special, an asian flavored dish. The dish presentation was so pretty and the flavors were just incredible. The enchilada is described as follows:
Two corn tortillas filled with sharp white cheddar, queso fresco, green onions and tomatoes topped with Spanish red sauce and served with Forbidden rice and gouse green salad.
The forbidden rice was a dark brown, very small grain rice that was very nutty. The green salad was comprised of field greens and topped with parmesan shavings. Very elegant. Are you getting all this? Amazing.

The tamales were equally impressive: Wild mushroom filled tamales topped with Spanish red sauce and queso fresco. The masa was spread on the plate, filled with the mushroom mixture, then gently folded over like a "C", with the red sauce ladled over the top. Lovely.

A great experience. I can't wait to go back. I have a copy of the full menu if anyone is interested.

Georgetown Liquor Company
5501-B Airport WAy S.
Seattle, WA 98108
206-763-6764

Gift Show Inspiration

Seattle is home to the Northwest's premier trade show for Gifts and Housewares. It was my first foray to a show. What fun!! I am now inspired to have a grand sale and change out lots of inventory.

If you are a fan of Arte Italica, you are in LUCK! I am closing out the line and this fine Italian ceramic and pewter line is rarely found at a discount, so this is a great opportunity to save.

Also slated to be discounted and discontinued is the plaid and paisley line of serveware. Lovely shades of green, red, & gold in coordinating patterns, these are great for the holidays or any time of the year.

That's what's old. Here's what's new...

Two new lines caught my eye and I just know they will be a great fit for Bella - and your home and table.

COMPTOIR D FAMILLE
Inspired by antiques found in traditional country homes, these pieces combine solid construction with affordable elegance and fine styling.

Decorative and unusual yet pratical products that attract the eye and warmly welcome friends into your home. Linens, tableware, accessories and furntiture.

MARY CAROL HOME COLLECTION

Elegant and very affordable transferware. Gorgeous tableware and accessories. Can't wait!

Sale pending - stay tuned.