I just returned from a visit to Chicago. Although having grown up may make me a bit biased, I must say that Chicago is the most wonderful city. It has a pulse all its own which easily compares with that of NYC but has the added benefit of the lake and the midwest hospitality and values which make it special.

If you have never attended a concert at Ravinia north of the city, you may want to get online  (www.ravinia.org) and visit the website of this beautiful venue. It has been a tradition of Chicagoans since 1904 and over the years has provided access to some of the greatest performers of our culture. From the city, you can take the metro directly from Ogilvie station to Ravinia’s gate (literally). We did so and it was inexpensive, uncrowded, clean and on time- clearly the best way to arrive rather than the traffic and parking.

We saw Diana Krall and had dinner beforehand at Mirabel Restaurant on the grounds. It was a wonderful and seasonal chef’s table buffet that had unique offerings and deliciously prepared entrees. There are two main restaurants there-both with outstanding reputations.

We also had a flavorful lunch at a place called 1492- a Tapas Bar and Restaurant. In addition to many tapas selections they offer a nice variety of Paellas and Salads. The wine list offers a wide selection and the ambiance of lunch out on the sidewalk, a chilled glass of wine and a unique selection of warm and cold tapas all on a sunny Chicago afternoon was unbeatable.

I have decided to add a “Tapas menu” to my Private Dinner menus list in addition to the Thai, French, Italian and Southwest menus. I hope you will try it and learn the many flavors of this cuisine and have fun with your own Tapas Dinner.

I hope all of you have a wonderful Fourth of July and that it is filled with the tastes and traditions of summer. If you are attending the fireworks and festivities at Lions Park here in Zionsville, stop by and see us at To The Last Drop. we will be open until 7 p.m. that evening so you may grab a meal to go and some last minute spreads or desserts on your way to the park. We are located just up the hill-

Happy Summer, happy Fourth of July, and I hope….happy travels to Chicago sometime soon!

P.S. I now carry some of my favorite “Pops” in their original glass bottles from Chicago- chilled, refreshing and filled with happy childhood memories! Stop in a try some-

Claudia

Happy Fourth of July Week!! For this week’s menu, please see listed Special Fourth of July menu. You may place an order by Wednesday or stop by the shop. Limited items will be available on the day of the 4th- it is best to place an order to assure availability!

Have a wonderful Fourth!!

Claudia

I thought I would pass along some reminders for you this week as it is a busy summer with lots of special events and offerings….

Farmer’s Market: Each Saturday we have a booth at the Zionsville Farmer’s Market on Hawthorne. The Market runs from 8 a.m.- 11 a.m. and is a wonderful place to stock up on fresh produce, homemade baked goods, delicious soups, spreads and salads and flowers/perennials. we will be there each Saturday EXCEPT for this Saturday, June 27th. However, our shop will be open as usual from 11-5.

Brick Street Gallery Walk this Friday, June 26 from 6-10 p.m. I will be hosting an artist- Julie Houck- who will be doing some painting at the event as well as selling her work. She is a very special artist with many gifts- I hope you will stop by, meet her, have some wine and hors d’oeuvres and relax on our front porch.

Fourth of July- we will have extended hours for the Fourth from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. In addition to our ususal menu to go, we will also have boxed lunches and dinners to go for your picnic or fireworks snacks. Just up the hill from Lions Park, we are a great location to get your special menu items for the holiday. Check back this Friday for our menu online and at the shop and pre-order your items or plan on stopping by on the Fourth for delicious spreads, salads, wraps, entrees and baked goods.

A special note- I will now be carrying some special bottled sodas and drinks that hold memories for me from childhood. Stop in and get a bottle of Bubble Up, Green River….. we will have it cold and reafy to quench your thirst. And, if you are from the Chicago area…..bring back some happy memories I am sure!

Bon Appetit!

Claudia

Soups:

Roasted Red pepper and Tomato

Corn and Summer Squash Chowder

Cream of Asparagus

Thai Peanut Noodles and Roasted Chicken

Baby Back Ribs with To The Last Drop BBQue sauce (after Wednesday)

Beef Empanadas with Bleu Cheese and Carmelized Onion

Lemon Chicken (after Wednesday)

Signature Chicken Salad

Curried Chicken Salad

Asparagus Salad

Cucumber Salad

Tabouleh

Sweet potato Salad

Caprese Salad

I would like to thank everyone who stopped by for the Open House at the shop this past Friday. It was a beautiful night and so nice to see many familiar faces as well as new visitors. I always feel like I am about five whenever I give a party- that butterfly feeling of waiting for your guests and bursting to “start the party”. I loved seeing people flow through the door over the nights hours and be able to share what To The Last Drop is all about. It was especially nice to have my daughters there (my son is in Montana looking for snakes and having a post graduation trip with his three buddies) and to share the night with them.

To The Last Drop is like home for me in many ways. It is an extension of me, my family and the things that are special to us- families, friends and enjoying time together. It is a business, but it is more. Each day it grows, changes and as more new faces appear, it takes on a new family and sense of rootedness. I know I use that word a lot but it is to me- what life is all about.

We choose each day that which we let into our lives and that which we keep out. We are “gatekeepers” in a sense. I find myself continuously emptying out so that I can fill-up, letting out so I can welcome in. And I was happy to let the gate be wide open on Friday night, happy to welcome you and many new faces into my life and my shop. My gate opens wide and I hope you will walk through it often- I thank you for your business, your conversations and stories, and for allowing me to do what I love-

Claudia

Soups:

Corn and Summer squash chowder

Cream of asparagus

Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato

Chicken with Wild rice and Mushrooms

Beef Tenderloin and Boursin Baguette

Black bean and Corn Quesadilla

Empanada with Beef, Bleu Cheese and Carmelized onion

Thai Spicy Peanut Noodles with Roasted Chicken

Yogurt Chicken with Mango Salsa and Basmati herb Rice

Signature Chicken Salad

Caprese Salweet Potato Salad

Tabbouleh

Cucumber Salad

Parmesan Wafers

Italian Breadsticks

Signature Chocolate Chip Cookies

Brownies

Soups:

Tuscan Tomato

Italian Tortellini

Potato Corn Chowder

Chicken Wild Rice mushroom

Chicken Salad

Sweet Potato Salad

Asparagus Salad

Caprese salad

Pasta Salad

Lemon Chicken

Crab Cakes

Cappelini with fresh Toatoes, black olives, artichokes and

Saturday marked the start of the Zionsville Farmers Market season. I was there at my booth as I will be every week, and it felt great to be a part of the day. There was a flurry of activity: people, pets, vendors all reconnecting and sharing in the day. It was especially nice to see many of the same faces from last year as for many we hadn’t seen one another all winter. There were also new faces and a chance to meet, have them experience what we are all about and take home some of our specialties.

I get a bit jealous at the market though- I know, jealously is a bad thing. However, when I see people with their dogs I smile all the while thinking I wish it were that easy for me. I would love to take my dog or dogs to the market or even for a walk; however, that is all but impossible with any except perhaps one…Duke. They are all used to running free and wild on our property as we have an invisible fence and some acreage so the leash is a foreign thing for them. Put one on their neck and it is an invitation for pulling, yanking and general unruliness. So, I see all these pet owners with their dogs walking by their sides and not so much as even trying to sneak food off of all the tables they walk past. Fat chance that would happen with any of my dogs!! Just recently Maddie ate an entire sandwich off the kitchen counter that I had made for my daughter.

Duke would probably behave well enough at the market. However, he has another challenge that he presents in public. He is so cute but also very overweight so we both have t endure the endless jokes and questions as to “what kind of dog is that?” and “that is the chubbiest chihuahua I have ever seen!” So, probably best that Duke stays home so as to avoid a complex.

Guess I will just enjoy everyone else’s dogs and love mine when I get home-and I do love them….all six unruly and chubby one of them.

I do hope to see a good deal of you at the market. It is a great event with wonderful fresh produce, delicious baked goods and strong healthy perrenials, herbs and potted arrangements. There is also some really good soup, spreads, salsas and pasta….hint hint!

Hope to cross paths this summer at the Market!

Claudia

Soups:

Chicken with wild rice and mushrooms

Tuscan Tomato

Potato corn chowder

Pasta Salads

Asparagus summer salad

Signature Chicken Salad

Curried chicken salad

Lemon Chicken

Mediterranean Chicken Kabobs with couscous

Bolognese Sauce and fresh pasta

Flank Steak Salad

Grilled shrimp, coconut rice and mango salsa

Breadsticks

Fresh baguettes

Parmesan wafers

Croissants

Assorted muffins

It has been a busy month of May for To The Last Drop and June is shaping up to be filled with many great events and many new opportunities. I thought I would highlight and touch upon many things coming up at the shop for you and hope that you will be able to share in them as well as pass them along to your friends and family!

**The Zionsville Farmer’s Market begins this Saturday, June 6th. There are wonderful vendors there with fresh produce, baked goods, flowers and specialty items. I will be there this year again but in a new spot- make sure you look for me and see what we have brought for the day. I will be there each Saturday with a variety of soups, spreads and dips, marinades and dressings, salads and baked goods. In addition, you will also be able to see what is at the shop and stop by there as well to pick up some great entertaining items, picnic cuisine and lunch or dinner for your families. Hope to see you on Saturday!

**To The Last Drop will be having an Open House on Friday, June 12 from 5-11 p.m. We will have great food from our summer menus, a drawing for cookbooks, classes and a private dinner at the shop. The new class lists for the summer through December will be available as well as our newest menus with many new and delicious additions. Come and stop by for some lively conversation, jazz and great food- It will be rain or shine and we will be looking forward to seeing you!

** To the Last Drop will be participating in the Brick Street Gallery Walk this year on Friday, June 26. Follow the music and great aroma down the street to see us and an incredible artist, Julie Houck. She will be painting on the front porch and I encourage you to come and see her work as well as all the other artists at the many locations in the village that night. It is a fun and festive summer night of art, music, food and festivities. I hope to see you there! You can visit Julie’s website at Juliem.houck.com

** On the 4th of July we will have extended hours and will be offering special boxed lunches, dinners and drinks for your Lions Park fireworks event. Stop by and pick-up a special snack to enjoy while watching the beautiful fireworks. In addition, we will have many spreads, dips, marinades, appetizers for your needs that you can pick up that day. We will be taking special orders for the boxed meals at the shop or by phone. The menu for the weekend will be posted online and at the shop by June 26.

Our newest menus will be available at the Open house and at the shop after that. Please take a look at the special seasonal items as well as old favorites. The newest class listings will also be online and at the shop by this Friday, June 5. It has taken a bit longer but I hope you will like the choices and opportunities for you to join in on and make a plan to take a class. Some classes have repeated as they were so popular and there are also new ones that are unique. Hope you will take a look!

**We are currently carrying the same great pies from “My Sugar Pie” but the size is new! Kelly has created her same delicious pie in an individual size (I told her my individual size is actually the regular size pie!- and I wasn’t kidding!) Come in and try these delicious little pies, just perfect for a luncheon, and small gift or for a nice quiet evening on the porch with your own special pie. Truly the best pie I have ever tasted.

That’s it for now- we will be here all summer and the newsletter will be sharing even more events and news with you. Don’t foget to sign-up for the newsletter online!!

Until next week….