March 23 & 24th, 2012 6:00 p.m. Friday March 23rd through Saturday March 24th at 5:00 p.m. Balch Hotel Class Supply Cost $45.00 if staying overnight Class Supply Cost $60.00 if not staying overnight 25% room discount the second night using secret code words: Ultimate Card Workshop

Your instructor, Tarina Holloway, is an . . .
To read more, please click the link: → Ultimate Card Workshop – March 23-24th]]> You asked for it – so here it comes!  The Ultimate Card Workshop at the beautiful Balch Hotel.  Here are the details:

March 23 & 24th, 2012
6:00 p.m. Friday March 23rd through Saturday March 24th at 5:00 p.m.
Balch Hotel
Class Supply Cost $45.00 if staying overnight
Class Supply Cost $60.00 if not staying overnight
25% room discount the second night using secret code words: Ultimate Card Workshop

Your instructor, Tarina Holloway, is an independent consultant with Close To My Heart and will fill your weekend with the latest new products and techniques.  It’s a great time to get together with your friends and enjoy a fun-packed weekend!

Be sure to ask about the Balch Supper Club dinner night on Saturday March 24th. Jamie Snell, owner of the Lamb’s Table catering, creates a dinner menu that is always a hit!

Think about how much fun you’ll have! By Sunday morning you’ll be refreshed from an amazingly comfy bed, breakfast both mornings (if you choose the two night special pricing – remember to say the secret code words!), and a scrumptious dinner. You’ll get to learn new techniques from Tarina, play with new products, create a plethora of greeting cards to fit any occasion, and create priceless memories from a super fun weekend.

So come stay-and-play at the Ultimate Card Workshop.  Space is limited, so call the hotel today to register for the class, your room, and Supper Club! 541-467-2277.

P.S. If you have NOT attended one of Tarina’s classes you need to come to this one! You won’t believe the quality and value of product you leave with after the class concludes. She always has fun special treats too! They are a surprise of course. . . .

During your lunch Friday stop at the grocery to pick up some indoor ‘picnic’ items (I suggest wine, cheese, some cured meats, nice pita crackers, and some chocolate). Have his/her bag packed Friday after work, kid arrangements made, and meander to the Balch. Be welcomed with warm chocolate chip cookies and homemade hot chocolate. Head to your room or . . .
To read more, please click the link: → Supper Club – February 18th – Cupid’s Special Weekend!]]> Treat your Valentine to a weekend away at the Balch! We’ve got your action plan ready.

During your lunch Friday stop at the grocery to pick up some indoor ‘picnic’ items (I suggest wine, cheese, some cured meats, nice pita crackers, and some chocolate). Have his/her bag packed Friday after work, kid arrangements made, and meander to the Balch. Be welcomed with warm chocolate chip cookies and homemade hot chocolate. Head to your room or we can set a table for you to enjoy your  intimate, relaxed, indoor picnic. The evening is yours!

Wake the next morning to freshly brewed coffee from HR Coffee Company and our plated three course breakfast. Relax here at the Balch, take a drive in the sunshine, or visit that place you’ve been wanting to see (Klindt’s the oldest bookstore in Oregon? Dry Hollow Vineyards and Winery? Maryhill Winery? the Discovery Center? a hike to White River Falls?).

Saturday evening enjoy wine tasting from 5-8 with Dry Hollow vineyards. Jamie Snell, owner of the Lamb’s Table catering, has a delicious chocolate themed dinner menu for you!

True Devotion

• Arugula salad with strawberries, goat cheese and cocoa nibs. With shallot-balsamic vinaigrette.

• Beef short rib ragu braised with wine and chocolate, served over buttered fresh pasta noodles, topped with Parmesan.

• Milk chocolate panna cotta with whip cream, cocoa nibs and chocolate shards

• Bread with dinner, coffee with dessert. Substitutions available (advance notice reqd).

$29 + gratuity

Relax that evening with your love! You might even meet some other fascinating couple to chat with. Wake casually Sunday morning to that wonderful smell of freshly brewed coffee and bring a cup to your sweetie in bed. Enjoy breakfast and bask in the renewal of your time away from distractions, work, children, etc. Reconnect with your sweetheart. It’s what Valentine’s weekend at the Balch is all about! Trust me. You’ll earn brownie points for this one.

When you call to reserve your dinner and room reservations just mention the Cupid’s Special and your second night’s lodging will be shot by that Cupid bow and arrow and bleed off 25%. We want you to enjoy the whole weekend!

Call us at 541-467-2277

He begins with a photo (most are taken by him), then creates a grid map on the canvas and . . .
To read more, please click the link: → Artist Chris Steinken]]> Chris Steinken just showed his work here a the hotel and is slated to show again this summer. He and his wife are delightful! I met Chris when touring the Portland Artists Open Studio Tour. I loved the bold expressive colors he uses and also the meticulous way in which he sets up his paintings.

He begins with a photo (most are taken by him), then creates a grid map on the canvas and the photo. He replicates the photo practically to a T! In his studio he put together a tutorial for the Studio Tour to give visitors an idea of his process. We had the sample tutorial painting here and SO many people loved it! I liked it because it spoke to my inner type A personality. Four stages to create a finished painting, a representation of each of those stages, and then descriptions of each stage to boot! Great fun.

Chris took a photo of a much beloved bus used for many a bridal photo session. I think it would be perfect for a couple to have Chris paint their wedding date at the top of the bus where there is a ‘plate’. What do you think, should we buy it for a future bride and groom to fall in love with??

 ”Out Where the Buses Don’t Run.”

It can be seen in person (starting this weekend January 7th) at the cooperative:
Six Days Art Co-op
2724 NE Alberta Street
Portland, OR 97211  
www.sixdaysart.com

Chris’s next show is at:
Cafe Eleven
435 NE Rosa Parks Way, Portland, OR 97211
Jan. 15 – Feb. 19 
7:30am-3:30pm M-F
8am – 3:30pm Sat-Sun

The bus painting will be at the Six Days gallery and not at the Cafe so be sure to drop by and reminisce about one of your favorite sunny places in the Columbia River Gorge - Dufur!

Appetizers 6:00-7:00 Corn cakes with Habanero Jelly and Queso Fresco   Cumin-Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Red Pepper-Almond Sauce

. . .
To read more, please click the link: → NYE at the Balch!]]> We had such fun we’re doing it again this New Years Eve! Last year we had a dinner and storytelling event (fashioned off the Moth on NPR – not familiar? Click here to read about it on the official site). It was a BLAST!

December 31st, New Years!

New Years Party with Mayan-inspired menu

Appetizers 6:00-7:00
Corn cakes with Habanero Jelly and Queso Fresco
 
Cumin-Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Red Pepper-Almond Sauce

Flank Steak Skewers with Tomato-Papaya Salsa

Four Course Dinner 7:00-9ish
Chicken Mole Skewers with Cabbage and Jicama Slaw.

Toasted Chile, Tomato and Cod Soup with Avocado and Black Beans.

Papadzules: Corn Tortillas Stuffed with Hard-Boiled Eggs and Pumpkin Seed Paste Smothered in Mole Verde, Jack Cheese, and Pickled Onion. Served with Chop Salad.

Black-Bottom Banana Cream Pie: Chocolate Cookie Crust, Cinnamon-Chocolate Ganache, Bananas, Vanilla Bean Custard, Whipped Cream, and Chocolate Rum Sauce.

Storytelling 9:30-midnight
This year’s theme for your story is “The Final Countdown”. Stories may be up to 5 minutes in length. No notes. No do-overs! We’ll record your great story so be sure to practice, practice, PRACTICE! We’ll have 36 Guests and we can have about 10 story tellers in the bunch. The rest of us will be rapt listeners. There will be a prize for the best story told!

Midnight
Complimentary Champagne Toast with Homemade Tacos!

45- p.p. + grat.

Guest seating is limited to 36 so call to get your reservations today! 541-467-2277

• Smoked Trout and Clam Chowder

• Pippin Apple Pie with Caramel Sauce  served with a slice of Quicke’s Oak Smoked Cheddar from England (Jamie’s current favorite cheese!)

• Sourdough Bread and Butter Flake Rolls with dinner.

• Iced tea and coffee with dessert!

Sorry, but no substitutions on this one

. . .
To read more, please click the link: → December 10th Supper Club!]]>  The Balch Family

• Steak and Arugula Salad with Stilton Cheese and Apple Tarragon Vinaigrette

• Smoked Trout and Clam Chowder

• Pippin Apple Pie with Caramel Sauce  served with a slice of Quicke’s Oak Smoked Cheddar from England (Jamie’s current favorite cheese!)

• Sourdough Bread and Butter Flake Rolls with dinner.

• Iced tea and coffee with dessert!

Sorry, but no substitutions on this one

Call for reservations 541-467-2277

$31.00 p.p. and B.Y.O.B!

There will be one seating only at 6:00 so call right away! Be sure to check out all the fun happening in town December 10th for Home Town Christmas. Click here to see the schedule!

Pork Chops and Applesauce 1/2 rack of pork baby back ribs with apple cider sauce, served with smashed red potatoes, sour cream and green onions.

Ding Dong Homemade chocolate buttermilk cake with marshmallow filling, iced with bittersweet chocolate ganache.

Sourdough baguette and butter served with dinner.

Here are the numbers…

Saturday, October 22nd 1-4p.m.

Get intimate with chocolate on Saturday, October 22nd, 2011 from 1-4pm.  Demonstrations, hands-on chocolate making and chocolate tasting will put you in touch with the “food of the gods.” You will learn how to make the basic chocolates: truffles, mendicants, and dipped fruits and nuts.  Then, practice your new skills by making your own.  . . .
To read more, please click the link: → Chocolate Retreat Oct 22-23rd]]> I’ve been waiting for this!! It’s going to be a blast!

Saturday, October 22nd 1-4p.m.

Basic Chocolate with Pete Lockhart

Get intimate with chocolate on Saturday, October 22nd, 2011 from 1-4pm.  Demonstrations, hands-on chocolate making and chocolate tasting will put you in touch with the “food of the gods.” You will learn how to make the basic chocolates: truffles, mendicants, and dipped fruits and nuts.  Then, practice your new skills by making your own.  Next you will learn a method for tasting chocolate and then apply it to several flights of chocolates, chosen based on class preference.  Finally, you’ll assemble your own boxes of chocolates from the candies produced by the whole class.  Note: dress for a mess or bring an apron

Sunday, October 23rd 11a.m.-2p.m.

Advanced Chocolate with Pete Lockhart

Uplevel your chocolate game in this three-hour intense experience on Sunday, October 23rd, 2011 from 11am-2pm.  Demonstrations and hands-on (and hands-in) chocolate-making will build on the fundamentals you learned in Basic Chocolate.  You will learn to make filled chocolates: soft truffles, caramels, cremes and cordials.  Then, practice your new skills by making your own, using professional chocolate-making equipment. Next, we’ll trace the origins of the cacao plant and make chocolate from scratch, starting with the magical cocoa bean!  No chocolate experience would be complete without a “taste of heaven” where we’ll introduce your palate to several flights of exotic chocolates.  Finally, you’ll assemble your own boxes of chocolates from the candies produced by the whole class.  Note: dress for a mess or bring an apron

Saturday and Sunday class, breakfast Sunday and room Saturday night just $160.00! If you’d like to extend your stay and have a leisurely Saturday morning (which I highly advocate), mention Chocolate retreat and we’ll discount Friday’s room 25% for you. That’s a great deal!!

Call today as space is very limited. (12 guests) 541-467-2277

If you can only make the Saturday class you can a la carte it. Call for pricing. Look how happy chocolate makes people!

This . . .
To read more, please click the link: → October 23rd Haitian Dinner]]> Frank (you read about his Haiti trip in a prior blog) has teamed with Jamie Snell, owner of the Lamb’s Table catering for a fun afternoon filled with food, photos, fun, and a raffle with great prizes! One of the prizes is two tickets to Theatro ZinZanni’s in Seattle. . . You have to attend the dinner to be eligible to purchase raffle tickets (unless you’re volunteer labor. Frank made an exception for the grunts).

This fundraiser dinner will top of your weekend of chocolate amazingness just perfectly. Jamie is donating her skills and the food; the Balch is donating the space and accouterments; many great places are donating items for the raffle. Dufur businesses are donating loads of fun items for a prize that will be titled “A Day in Dufur!”  I’m saving my pennies!

Haitian Fundraiser Dinner
Sunday, October 23rd

Haitian Griot with Pikliz
This is pork shoulder cubes that are marinated in bitter orange and shallot sauce then braised and fried. It will be served with a homemade spicy cabbage slaw.

Soup Joumou with Epis
You’ll love this hearty butternut squash and beef soup topped with herb sauce.  It’s served with rice, a baguette, and butter. This dish is eaten every New Year’s day in Haiti; it’s very traditional!

Dessert
Jamie’s homemade Coconut Cream Pie served with coffee. The perfect ending!

Tickets are limited so call right away to purchase yours! 541-467-2277
We have space for 36 and Frank has already sold 5. We haven’t even promoted yet! Tickets $30.00 each