BEANS

Coffee Shop Gallery

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We did it!

What a weekend.  We had our own version of Thanksgiving on Saturday night – and in true Thanksgiving tradition, it took a week to get ready.  There were sweet potatoes to cook, pies to make, vegetables to chop and a turkey to buy…. but, somehow, it all came together in the end. 19 people sat down to Thanksgiving dinner a la BEANS and 19 people were actually fed and everything.  Sort of a mini miracle – although, if you’d seen how hard the staff worked, you wouldn’t say it was a miracle at all.  Just the accumulation of everyone’s hard work.  Thank you all!!

And we didn’t stop there.  On Sunday, it was the Stained Glass Christmas course.  There were angels, stars and Christmas trees springing up all over the place.  Cynthia (our specialist stained glass tutor) sure does know how to get production going!

For more pictures, go to our Facebook page, but here are a couple to get you started:

 

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Thanksgiving Dinner

It’s official….  we’re taking the leap and offering our first ever evening meal event at BEANS….  Thanksgiving Dinner.  Thought I’d pick something I’ve had some practice with.  Since moving to England…  30 odd years ago….. Thanksgiving has been a tradition shared between 4 families.  The beauty is that you only have to clean your house once every 4 years.  We all help to bring some food, but the host has the added responsibility of finding seats for everyone.  Now that the kids have partners and kids of their own…  well, let’s just say that the plan is to start hiring a hall from next year.

Our 4 family Thanksgiving Dinner is going to be a bit late this year, as someone is traveling around America as we speak (details chronicled in the BEANS restroom).  The real Thanksgiving is the 4th Thursday of November.  And then, as you would expect, the holiday goes on through Friday and the weekend.  Well, you can’t just go back to work after a meal like that.  Recovery time needs to be factored in.  The BEANS version of Thanksgiving will be on Saturday, 26th November, starting at 7pm.  It is a ticket only event.

The story goes that Thanksgiving is about the Pilgrims (you know, the ones from Scrooby, England) sharing their first harvest with the Native Americans who supplied the seeds and the know-how for growing food in American soil.  The pilgrims arrived ready to plant and grow vegetables in their new homeland, but they had seeds better suited to the English climate.  Out with brussel sprouts and cabbage.  In with corn, pumpkins and sweet potatoes (or something like that).  Parades (with Santa bringing up the rear) and American football matches now help to round out the day.  We won’t be able to offer you those at BEANS, but we should be able to manage to give you that too full feeling that is a key part of the day.

If you’re interested in joining us, details are below.  You can get your tickets from BEANS.

 

Thanksgiving Dinner

Saturday, 26th November 2011.  7pm start.

Starter

Pumpkin soup

Main

Turkey or Mushroom and Lentil Loaf (V)

Sage and Marjoram Stuffing

Roast and Mashed Potatoes

Sweet Potatoes with Apple and Brown Sugar

Orange, Walnut, Date and Cream Cheese ‘Jello’ Salad (V option available)

Vegetables

Pudding

Sweet Potato Pie served with Whipped Cream

This event is ticket only.  Price: £15 per person.  

Tickets may be purchased from BEANS coffee shop gallery. 

BEANS is not licensed to sell alcohol, but feel free to bring along a bottle of your own. 

Fruit juices, soft drinks, bottled water, coffee and tea will be available to purchase.

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Bread Making Course

The first bread making course ran on Sunday.  Maybe not what you’d consider a traditional art – but definitely an art.  The bread was beautiful and there seemed to be no limits as to what could be created with a little imagination.  For those of you who missed it, we are planning another beginners bread making course early next year, followed by an advanced bread course later in the year.

 Bread Making at BEANS

There’s just something about homemade bread.

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Stained Glass with Cynthia Else

The Stained Glass Course with Cynthia Else actually became two courses.  There was a lot of interest and so we offered the event twice!  The first group came together on the 27th March and some fantastic work was produced.  We had everything from abstract shapes made up of squares to a flower and even an eye!  Where was my camera?????   I was more prepared for the second class on the 3rd.  Again, the group came up with some beautiful designs – one based on a piece by Eduardo Poalozzi which can apparently be found in a subway station in Barcelona (don’t ask).  And lunch – vegetable lasagne, salad, warm bread and CAKE!