Customer Service God(dess) Needed

We have had such amazing luck with our employees. Jan, Ardie, Sunnie, Odos, Debra, Amber and Kate. Not just job monkeys. All of them charming, friendly, helpful and hardworking people whom John and I also call our friends. They have raised the bar. Want to join us?
Job requirements:
* This is a long term, part time job. If you are hoping for something until you find full time employment, please do not consider us. It takes a long time to learn the inventory and practices and we really need someone who is looking to work part time for a long time.
* Customer service experience is good but a genuine desire to provide a great shopping environment is better.
* Must be able to lift 40 pounds, stand for long periods, carry boxes, reach high shelves, bend to low shelves and walk up and down stairs.
* Cash handling and light bookkeeping.
* Proficient with email, EXCEL and WORD
* Must be self-motivated. This position is often unsupervised and requires a mature, responsible and self-directed individual.
* Light housekeeping, dusting and vacuuming.
* Bella compensation starts at $9.50 per hour DOE. After training, pay increases to 10.50. Pay increases will follow with performance reviews.
Please email us with your resume/application at lisa@bellakitchen.com. No phone calls please.

Own Your Own Time Machine!

Nothing Less Than Magical...

Wild Morel Risotto: 7 minutes

Cheesecake: 12 minutes

Black Bean Soup: 20 minutes

Venison Chili: 20 minutes

"Green" Cooking at it's Finest

Free in-Store Demonstrations

Saturday, October 9th

Featuring Fagor Pressure Cooker and Induction Cooktop

Pressure Cooking Class

Tuesday, October 12th

6:30 pm

Cost $25 Sign up Today!

634-4730

Easy as Pie... my pastry brush!

Pastry: Magical, mysterious, tempermental, and oh so necessary for making pies! My first attempts resulted in doughs that were so delicate, so studied, so put together that they melted away to nothingness when baked - subsequently resulting in 15 years of pie baking fear. I was a long way from creating that flaky-kissed-by-an-angel experience.

Then Lee Baily came to the rescue. He has a bombproof pastry dough in his cook book "Cooking for Friends" that has been my go-to for many dishes over the last several years.

With an adjustment to the amount of sugar, the addition of nuts, the mixing of whole wheat flour, blending in of spices, this basic pie crust has been used for tarts, pies, quiches, smoked salmon savory pasties - really for whatever your pastry crust needs could be.

Basic Pastry Dough

Ingredients:

1 cup flour (i'm a big fan of using 1/2+ whole wheat - I like the rustic texture and nuttiness)

1 stick frozen butter

1-2 TBL Sugar

pinch of salt

1-3 TBL ice water

Method: Put your dry ingredients (flour, salt, sugar, nuts, spices) in a food processor with the plastic dough blade , then add your frozen butter (cut into pieces) and pulse. The goal here is to get the mixture to resemble course cornmeal in texture and appearance. Don't over work. When the mixture is corn meal-like in texture you are ready to pull the dough together. turn your processor on, and add ice water a table spoon at a time until it all comes together forming a ball in in your processor. Wrap your new ball of pie crust in plastic and put it in the fridge to let the butter chill. Each ball will be enough for one crust+ a little extra.

It is that easy and quick. Pro tips: 1) Keep your butter frozen 2) use the plastic dough blade 3) let your pastry chill back up before rolling it out.

Easy as pie.

Bella Kitchen Saves Brunch - America breathes a sigh of relief!

"We aren't sure how or when it happened, but, well, the waffle iron stopped working."

A seemingly innocent weekend morning should have started like so many others with the family waking up to a leisurely brunch where Dad makes waffles, Mom reads the paper over a cup of freshly brewed French Press coffee and the kids don't come to breakfast until their rooms are tidy and the laundry put away.

But NO. As this reporter understands the story, all was poised for the perfect weekend morning when all of America's best intentions went awry with the failure of the waffle iron. Scrittchhhhh!

Bella to the Rescue: Due to the recent addition of Waring Pro and Cuisinart small appliance, proprieters Lisa and John were on the scene to witness the saving of Brunch first hand.

"Brunch is near and dear to both of our hearts." John states. " We have enjoyed some of our most treasured dining experiences and lived through some of the most challenging of hells while either going out to brunch or serving them. So, to be on hand to witness the miracle of our local family (anonymity requested) walk into the shop and say 'That's the one (waring pro wmk 300A waffle maker) dear! I knew that they would have it - Brunch is saved!' well, it really made our day."

Thanks Bella! Thanks McCall! Thanks America! Until next time: Love, chaos, and dinner!

Pee-your-pants-funny

Mikwright Greeting Cards

Funny? We think so.

Plugged In!

How is Bella Kitchen like Bob Dylan?

Well, we're super cool, for one thing, but more interesting..

Bella is going from Acoustic to Electric!

We have partnered with Cuisinart to bring you the best in counter appliances.

Food Processors, Blenders, Waffle Makers, Toasters, Coffee Makers, Juicing Machines - Even a Meat Grinder!

Each has earned accolades for performance and customer satisfaction.

GET PLUGGED IN & ROCK THE KITCHEN

40% - 50% off! Spring Cleaning that's fun!

Here comes a new season (yes Virginia, there really is a spring) and in the tradition of Spring Cleaning the world over, Bella Kitchen is tidying up our shelves by selling some of the old to make room for the new and has some really great pans that are discontinued and need to find new homes.

-from Lisa: "I don't want it to sound like a used car sale - ALL PANS MUST GO, BUY NOW AND SAVE, SAVE, SAVE! YOU WILL BE AMAZED!" So, instead of the car salesman pitch, the deal is that we have a few odds and ends from a line that we will be replacing and are offering our Kitchen Aid at really good prices. 40% off. Really good prices.

Open stock on Super Special:

Two 5 ply Kitchen Aid 10" saute. This is their Gourmet Excellence top-of-the-line and has been discontinued. Truly a delightful saute pan, even heating, good weight, easy clean-up. Regularly $92 now 40% off!

Two 5 ply 5qt. big ol' covered saute - perfect for coq au vin, stews, veal marsala as well as dishes that start on the cook-top and finish in the oven. These are also from their top-of-the-line Gourmet Excellence collection and have been discontinued. Regularly $210 now 40% off!

Two Circulon non-stick 6qt Infinite Circulon covered chef's pan from the marketing office at Circulon: "The sides of a chef's pan are gently sloped, just enough to round the edges of the pan. Getting rid of the sharp corners makes stirring or whisking more efficient. " Regularly $92, now 50% off!

Sets for sale:

-Kitchen Aid 10 pc. Stainless Gourmet Essentials set - Cooks Magazine "Best Buy" $200

-Kitchen Aid 10 pc. non-stick Red $150

Bella invites you to come in and visit - take a look at the pans, lift them, spin them, smack your hubby upside the head with them - see if they are the pans for you. Happy Spring!