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.

The White Saturday SALE

Okay! here are the details of the SALE. 4 hours on Saturday, December 1, 2007 from 4 - 8 pm

15% OFF EVERYTHING IN THE STORE!!

Even more special....

15% off all Vietri in stock. Crazy, but fun.

All Christmas Serving Pieces from Demdaco (so beautiful!) 25% discount.

All bamboo cutting boards 15% discount.

All holiday table linens 25% discount

AND! We received these amazing oversized (very large) acacia wood salad bowls by mistake. They are sooo cool. I was only supposed to get one and you know how small the store is! So, the first two happy shoppers who mention this blog can have it at 50% off. ($80)

Oh, yeah!! There will be homemade chocolate truffles and port wine to taste while you shop.

Tis the season...

Mark your calendar for Saturday, December 1st!! Plan to come out for the Tree Lighting Ceremony and stay to shop in the many stores that will stay open until 8 p.m. We will serve you delicious snacks and beverages and warm you up with special discounts.

Call it White Saturday! No crowds, a ten minute commute (tops), parking with ease and great gift specials. Why would you ever leave town? Join your neighbors and friends for this festive evening guaranteed to put you in the holiday spirits.

This is local shopping at it's best!!

Anniversary SALE

Bella is celebrating her 5th Birthday! OCT 25 THROUGH NOV 5! We are so thankful to this community for supporting us through our 5th year of business! This sale will be the largest ever! Everything in the store will be sold at 15% discount, including sale items. Take a look at a few of the items already marked down:

All last year's holiday items at 40% discount

Dinnerware - 48 pc set at 50% discount

Summer linens at 30% discount

Oilcloth tablecloths at 40% discount

Pink Fleur de li glassware at 30% discount

Pine Cone serveware at 25% discount

Selected home decor vases, pitchers and platters at 25% discount

Selected wall decor at 25% and 30% discount

The value will be amazing. See you soon!

Sleeping inn at the Modern

1314 West Grove St. in Boise, Idaho is the site of one of the newest boutique hotels in Boise, and has one of the finest beds that I have ever slept in. Opened in June of 07, the Modern is a remake of a former Travel Lodge done with grace and lots of style. Very hip, very comfortable, with (again) remarkable beds, beautiful bathrooms, very friendly and engaging staff, the Modern Hotel and Bar should be on your Boise list for places to stay in downtown. Just blocks away from the downtown core, the Modern is in the Linen District of downtown Boise near galleries, special event centers, and a couple of blocks from the convention center.

We had the opportunity to test drive the Modern while in Boise for a friend's wedding, and found the accommodations very comfortable, the staff quite friendly, and the furniture and rooms just too cool. Walk-in showers, very mod free-standing baths - room enough for two - ipod docks, flat screens, coffee, snacks, croissants in the morning, hipster bar in the evening with old movies on the screen, record players with 45's to play while using the bathrooms, and a nice story about cowboys, confections, and the power of the press to open up the in-room service guide.

Not once did we get the typcial corporate spiel while talking and visiting with the staff. They have created a very cool place to work and share with the traveling public, and they truly seem to enjoy their jobs.

I have worked in and around hotels nearly all of my career, and have heard the statement, "all I need is a room to sleep in" about a zillion times. If that's all you need in a hotel, then you definitely should stay at the Modern. The only bed more comfortable that I've slept in, is my own. If you want to experience a hotel stay that is a little brighter, more fun, and less starchy than one of the national chains, then you need to call them up and join the growing family of Modernites.

Find them online at: http://www.themodernhotel.com/ Tell Elizabeth that John and Lisa sent you!