Summer was crazy: bake, market, bake some more, week in, week out. In between baking and marketing there was nursing, mothering, and housekeeping. Once in a while, there was sleep. I loved it all, but it was busy.
One Saturday morning in Rockford, after I had set up my pies, I left Madelyn in charge and headed away from the market scene to check out a little cafe called, The Twisted Vine. I first learned of it from a leaflet that had been tucked into my windshield wiper, a few weeks prior.
The warm sun felt wonderful on my back as I crossed the street toward the little shop. Flowers filled the window box beneath the awning- clad window. A little iron table and chairs beckoned guests to sit a while. A free-standing chalkboard, listing the day’s specials, welcomed me inside.
Once inside, I met Laura, the Twisted Vine’s owner and chef. She helped me select my entree from her brunch menu, and then, while she prepared my food, I sat quietly in the dining area, sipping coffee and nibbling freshly made coffee cake. I paged through the August issue of “Food for Thought” and listened to the morning news. The little wooden table and chairs compliment the freshly painted walls nicely. The cafe has a bit of a European flare. It’s really quite lovely. I kept thinking about how wonderful it felt to be able to just relax and be served.
Before I knew it, Laura brought out my bacon and feta frittata on a piece of earth-tone pottery, made by a local artist. Portobello mushrooms and American Spoon salsa topped the masterpiece. It was scrumptious!
Basically, Laura is more than willing to create these delightful dishes,made with fresh ingredients and local produce, or you can stop in to the Twisted Vine and pick up any of the American Spoon jams, jellies, sauces, or salsas that Laura uses in her recipes. They are beautifully displayed on the shelves that line the wall of her cafe! Inspiring- isn’t it?!
The Twisted Vine also serves lunch- an awesome selection of salads and sandwiches- I know because one busy market day I didn’t to break away until the market closed at 1pm. Lunch was great too!
Grab a friend and stop in at the Twisted Vine- you’ll love it! Let me know what you think! Oh! One teeny tiny little detail: The Twisted Vine is located at 51 East Bridge in downtown Rockford. Enjoy!
