Nora & Elena bring deelish breakfast & nostalgia for Taste Our Goods

It was a total blast and a real treat to have Nora Feldhusen and Elena Levin, previously of Kerrytown’s Taste Our Goods back in the Selma Cafe kitchen again. These two are so darn cute, so awesomely fun, and, they bring the deelish when it comes to breakfast. How fortunate for us that they both happened to be in Ann Arbor again at the same time, and stepped up to chef for us. Thank you to you two lovlies!

Challah French Toast Sammies stuffed with roasted sweet potatoes and fresh farm cheese, served with Biercamp hillbilly sausage and hoop greens was total comfort food yummy.

Root Vegetable Hash topped with roasted beets and a sprinkle of cheese, served with a fried egg, toast, bacon and hoop greens was the second awesome special. Nothing like a couple of hearty local food specials to face the day.

Here’s a formal introduction to our latest house special: Tacos Sancho. They say necessity is the mother of invention, and this was true with our new Mexican inspired dish. A few weeks ago, on a way busy Friday, we came very close to running out of food. A quick search in the fridge reminded me that we had a pot of spicy black beans, some cheese, and a package of tortillas. We pulled a frozen package of chorizo from the deep freeze, a quick run to Arbor Farms for a few more dozen Schwartz Family Farm eggs, and, it was all peace and goodness in the kitchen again. Of course, you really can’t go wrong with all those brillant ingredients, and we got rave reviews. Presto, a  new special was born. These days we garnish the plate with some home made crema, chopped cilantro and onions, and it’s really spot on. Give it a try next time you come for breakfast.

Hey, here’s a big shout out to Appleseed Collective who came by to play us some of their lovely tunes. Did you know Selma Cafe was the very first place that Appleseed played? And now they are a full-on, super popular American gypsy jazz band with a totally groovy sound, AND, with their very own Kickstarter campaign to get their CD Baby to Beast produced. Here’s the great part of this news for us (in addition to getting to listen to a CD of their songs): Appleseed Collective is donating half the profits from their first run of CDs to Selma Cafe! SOOO please help them out and donate to their kickstarter campaign!! Please!! Take a look HERE to support them with some dollars. Good music and good for local food!

Thanks to everyone for their help and support last week. We’re on vacation this week and next, then back again on January 6th with chef Dan Vernia from The Ravens Club.

Here’s to a happy and healthy holiday season,and we hope you enjoy everything you celebrate with love and ease.

See you in the new year,

Lisa

Jose and Lindy’s Costa Rican inspired breakfast was delicioso!

Jose and Lindy Alfaro stepped up last week for the first time as Selma Cafe chefs with two delicious Costa Rican inspired specials. These two are our neighbors, friends and Selma Cafe volunteers, and we are thrilled they wanted to chef. There is something really special about folks who aren’t professional chefs, but love to share wonderful food, and Jose and Lindy really pulled it off beautifully.

This special, called Huevos a Caballo with Frijoles Despotricados (Eggs on a horse with Smashed Beans) includes a golden fried corn tortilla, and as Jose said, it “held its rider perfectly, a fried egg with reins of green pepper and onion strings”. Accompanied by a side of deliciously thick black beans & hoop house greens, there were no leftovers with this dish.

And this one, Empanadas de Queso con Frijoles Despotricados (Cheese filled empanadas with Smashed Beans)  was described by Jose as “A treasure chest” of delicious corn meal deep fried to golden brown and stuffed with melted cheese.  Served with a side of deliciously thick black beans, a side of The Brinery spicy kim-chi, and hoop house greens this special was just as popular.

Thanks to the 170 guests who came out last week, and to all the volunteers who showed up to help. You know we can’t do it without you!

Remember, we are open this week with Norah and Elena from Taste our Goods, but then we are on break for two weeks, and start back up again January 6, 2012 with chef Dan Vernia from The Ravens Club kicking off the new year!

Stay cozy, and looking forward to seeing you in our kitchen,

~Lisa

Paul & crew from Darcy’s Carts makes their Selma Cafe debut

And an awesome debut it was for chef Paul, here with his family. Paul brought his Darcy’s Cart crew, including sister May Lin Kessenich, Derek Peterson, and Tara Habeck. Along with the regular Selma Cafe team of expeditor Andrew Bozio, kitchen angel Mel Adams, and all our terrific volunteers, we served nearly 170 guests some really delish food.

Exploding Burrito  was the aptly named first special, and it captured the vibe of the dish perfectly. Take a huge flour tortilla and pack it to overflowing with crispy slices of sweet potato, roasted collard greens, slices of wonderfully fatty bacon, an egg over easy, and luscious garlicky chipotle sauce. Served with hoop house greens topped with herb vinaigrette, and you’ve got yourself a full-on super flavorful breakfast.

The second special was also savory and deep and comfortingly wonderful. Two house made buttermilk biscuits, topped with pulled pork gravy and an over easy egg, served with a side of hoop greens was perfect for the first snowy Selma Friday.

Yeah, it was cold and snowy outside…

And, warm and cozy inside. Come on by next week for some more good food and good company, all for a good cause.

Please remember, we’re on holiday soon!

~Lisa