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The World as I Know it is About to Change...
| Life as I know it... I guess it a good thing I am a high energy person, because I think I'm going to need it! Life as I know it is about to change in a major way. On Monday, January 31, my husband Willy & I, along with partners Robert & Cindy Friedman (Consumer Direct Manager for Gloria Ferrer) take possession of a local restaurant! The location, currently known as Mondo will have their last night of business on Saturday, January 29th - locals be sure to stop in and say goodbye! (Press Democrat article on the new venture here). I have always worn many hats, and this one will take me back to one of my original ones, restaurant owner/operator. I opened my first restaurant in the Georgetown area of Seattle in 1987, followed by a Bellevue location a couple years later. Jumping back in after many years off is both exciting and a bit scary, but was a natural next step, as the PT catering/private chef gig I had been doing was growing bigger all the time! Having great partners to share in this exciting venture brings a lot of comfort and a great group energy, not to mention a great breadth of skills and experience. Community Cafe will be a breakfast & lunch venue, where we will be offering rustic wine country cuisine, with a menu that will change based on the season and what is available locally. Evenings the space will be available for private bookings and dinners. We look forward to featuring some of the amazing local food & wine we have here in the Northern California Wine Country. In the mean time, business at Outside the Lines, Inc., the Network and WineAndHospitalityJobs.com will carry on, with the continued help of Su Pinney and Mike Hurst. If you make it to Sonoma, be sure and stop in at the Community Cafe and say hi! I'm sure I'll be sharing some of the trials and tribulations of opening and operating, and look forward to telling you about new customer feedback technology that we hope to be utilizing! |
30 comments
Well, Margie, CONGRATULATIONS! I love the idea and wish you all much success!
Geraldine Flatt, SPHR
Gloria Ferrer
Geraldine Flatt, SPHR
Gloria Ferrer
01/28/11 @ 16:32
Good for you! Hope to be able to drop by and say hello and try the food. Wish all success in this new venture.
Best,
Ken Faux
Best,
Ken Faux
01/28/11 @ 16:34
Congratulations to you on your new adventure!!!
Cathy
Cathy Vicini
Proprietor, Office Manager
Trecini Cellars
Cathy
Cathy Vicini
Proprietor, Office Manager
Trecini Cellars
01/28/11 @ 16:35
Good Luck Margie!
We'll be over to try it in a few weeks!
Eric Hensel C.S.
Director of Retail Sales and Hospitality
Benessere Vineyards
1010 Big Tree Road
St. Helena, CA 94574
http://www.benesserevineyards.com
We'll be over to try it in a few weeks!
Eric Hensel C.S.
Director of Retail Sales and Hospitality
Benessere Vineyards
1010 Big Tree Road
St. Helena, CA 94574
http://www.benesserevineyards.com
01/28/11 @ 16:55
Margie,
Congrats on your new endeavor! I’m also an ex-restaurateur & sometimes fantasize about my own place….then I come back to reality.
Good for you guys!! Looking forward to stopping by to say hi!
Take care & see you soon,
Paula Higgins, CMP
Associate Director of Sales, Sonoma County Tourism Bureau
Congrats on your new endeavor! I’m also an ex-restaurateur & sometimes fantasize about my own place….then I come back to reality.
Good for you guys!! Looking forward to stopping by to say hi!
Take care & see you soon,
Paula Higgins, CMP
Associate Director of Sales, Sonoma County Tourism Bureau
01/28/11 @ 16:57
Margie...Congratulations on the new restaurant venture...I look forward to checking it out...best of luck,
Marc Krafft
Marc Krafft
01/28/11 @ 16:57
Congratulations Margie, that’s great news!
Are you on Twitter? I’d love to follow you if you are. Once again, congratulations and best wishes!
Warmest Greetings, Naomi L. Stark
President, Stark Service Solutions, L.L.C.
http://www.starkservicesolutions.com
Are you on Twitter? I’d love to follow you if you are. Once again, congratulations and best wishes!
Warmest Greetings, Naomi L. Stark
President, Stark Service Solutions, L.L.C.
http://www.starkservicesolutions.com
01/28/11 @ 17:01
Congratulations Margie. I wish you the best of luck. Energy, yes you are going to definitely need that, but you've been there, done that too. When I think back to my ownership of a restaurant in Boulder, CO ... I think of a ton of fun, crazy hours and lots of stress. It cost me my first marriage, but what doesn't kill ya!
Take good care, : )
Roy Hersh
Take good care, : )
Roy Hersh
01/28/11 @ 17:57
Congratulations Margie-Can't wait to enjoy your new adventure!
Jane Portalupi
Portalupi Wines
http://portalupiwine.com
Jane Portalupi
Portalupi Wines
http://portalupiwine.com
01/28/11 @ 17:58
Congratulations Margie!!! I am so excited for you and can’t wait to check out your new digg’s!!!
Gytahnna Loffgren, PHR, CSP
Account Executive
Alkar Human Resources, Napa
Gytahnna Loffgren, PHR, CSP
Account Executive
Alkar Human Resources, Napa
01/28/11 @ 18:00
OMG Margie!! SO excited for you and can't wait to hear about all your new adventures. Please keep me posted, and congrats.....
Ciao
Ross Lincoff
Il Fornio, Seattle
Ciao
Ross Lincoff
Il Fornio, Seattle
01/28/11 @ 18:03
Margie..I wish you, your husband and your friends the best wishes for much success with the restaurant!
Mark Norman
Mark Norman
01/28/11 @ 18:03
Margie,
Congratulations... We'll be sure to stop in once you open.
Cheers,
Tom Silberkleit - Publisher
Wine House Press
127 E. Napa Street, Ste. F
Sonoma, CA 95476
http://www.Californiafinewineries.com
Congratulations... We'll be sure to stop in once you open.
Cheers,
Tom Silberkleit - Publisher
Wine House Press
127 E. Napa Street, Ste. F
Sonoma, CA 95476
http://www.Californiafinewineries.com
01/28/11 @ 18:07
Congrats Margie!
Holly Le Du
Holly Le Du
01/28/11 @ 19:05
Margie,
Back in the saddle again, it is demanding, relentless, lusty and wonderful all at once. Need any help?
Steve Nergord
Back in the saddle again, it is demanding, relentless, lusty and wonderful all at once. Need any help?
Steve Nergord
01/28/11 @ 19:08
Congratulations Margie! Very exciting and how wonderful to collaborate with experienced, talented and conscientious partners. Kudos to you all. New Ventures are so very inspiring!
Wishing you wonderful success and happiness!
Cheers,
Pam
Pam Bell
http://tastingroomers.com
Wishing you wonderful success and happiness!
Cheers,
Pam
Pam Bell
http://tastingroomers.com
01/28/11 @ 19:09
Best wishes and Congrats on your new venture!
God bless you!
Nina Causey
http://www.ninacausey.com
Take Me To Paradise CD available on website online store
Jazz, Blues, Contemporary Vocalist
Pianist, Recording Artist, Composer
God bless you!
Nina Causey
http://www.ninacausey.com
Take Me To Paradise CD available on website online store
Jazz, Blues, Contemporary Vocalist
Pianist, Recording Artist, Composer
01/28/11 @ 19:11
Hey, congratulations and best of luck and success on your new venture! Didn't realize you had Seattle roots until I read your email.
Shirley Abreu
Shirley Abreu
01/28/11 @ 19:13
Congrats on your new venture and I looking forward to enjoying your cuisine soon!
Best,
Catherine Bergen
Best,
Catherine Bergen
01/29/11 @ 10:48
Wow, good luck to you all!
Bill Matte
Shooting Star B & B
Bill Matte
Shooting Star B & B
01/29/11 @ 11:21
Margie,
Best of luck to you, am very excited for you and KNOW that your new venture will be as successful as your previous endeavors.....I have to say that I have saved all your newletters and find you most inspirational....to the extent that I have been compiling resources for a book.....will send you the first copy!
With warm wishes for your every success!
Deb Gieseke
Deb Gieseke
secondcrushconsignment
Best of luck to you, am very excited for you and KNOW that your new venture will be as successful as your previous endeavors.....I have to say that I have saved all your newletters and find you most inspirational....to the extent that I have been compiling resources for a book.....will send you the first copy!
With warm wishes for your every success!
Deb Gieseke
Deb Gieseke
secondcrushconsignment
01/29/11 @ 11:22
Margie:
Good luck on your new venture.
Michael Gelven, CWE
Good luck on your new venture.
Michael Gelven, CWE
01/29/11 @ 16:11
All the best to you and your Husband and partners in this wonderful new project. I will make sure to stop by.
Ciao
Marco
Ciao
Marco
01/29/11 @ 16:21
Hi Margie
Wanted to thank you for your articles. I just simply enjoy them.
In a sense, I seem to live vicariously through you as you experience the wine country and its multilayered and multifaceted culture.
Keep up the good work writing about interesting places, people, and things.
All the best!
Mike Prall
Wanted to thank you for your articles. I just simply enjoy them.
In a sense, I seem to live vicariously through you as you experience the wine country and its multilayered and multifaceted culture.
Keep up the good work writing about interesting places, people, and things.
All the best!
Mike Prall
01/29/11 @ 16:23
How exciting! Best of luck!
Recreationally yours,
Kathie Pedit · Director of Lifestyle Enrichment & Activities · Colonial Country Club Ft. Myers, FL
www.colonialgolfclub.com
Managed by Troon Prive' • Clubs of Distinction •
www.troongolf.com
Recreationally yours,
Kathie Pedit · Director of Lifestyle Enrichment & Activities · Colonial Country Club Ft. Myers, FL
www.colonialgolfclub.com
Managed by Troon Prive' • Clubs of Distinction •
www.troongolf.com
01/31/11 @ 10:20
Hi Margie,
Hello from Fallbrook, CA!
Best wishes on your new venture at the Community Cafe!
Take care,
Sherri
Hello from Fallbrook, CA!
Best wishes on your new venture at the Community Cafe!
Take care,
Sherri
01/31/11 @ 10:59
Margie,
Good for you girl! Always follow your dream.
Tosh Williams
Good for you girl! Always follow your dream.
Tosh Williams
01/31/11 @ 23:35
Hi Margie,
You’ll be wildly successful, congratulations! Great name, too.
Thanks for the great job you do with communicating through your ezine.
All the best,
Judes Kingsbury
Vigneron Specialty Products
Home of the XpressFill
www.XpressFill.com
You’ll be wildly successful, congratulations! Great name, too.
Thanks for the great job you do with communicating through your ezine.
All the best,
Judes Kingsbury
Vigneron Specialty Products
Home of the XpressFill
www.XpressFill.com
01/31/11 @ 23:50
Hi Margie,
I read about your new venture in your Wine and Hospitality Ezine and wanted to offer my Congratulations! On your new venture...it sounds like a lot of fun (and work!) and I'll be sure to drop by when I'm in Sonoma.
Good Luck!
Regina M. Lutz
Source Wine Communications
1540 York Street
Napa, CA 94559
I read about your new venture in your Wine and Hospitality Ezine and wanted to offer my Congratulations! On your new venture...it sounds like a lot of fun (and work!) and I'll be sure to drop by when I'm in Sonoma.
Good Luck!
Regina M. Lutz
Source Wine Communications
1540 York Street
Napa, CA 94559
01/31/11 @ 23:53
Very exciting!
I can't wait to come and try the food - especially since the stories about your wonderful dinners are legendary!
Terrific news, Margie -
Best -
Leslie Bramwell Smith
I can't wait to come and try the food - especially since the stories about your wonderful dinners are legendary!
Terrific news, Margie -
Best -
Leslie Bramwell Smith
02/01/11 @ 00:21
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I guess it a good thing I am a high energy person, because I think I'm going to need it! Life as I know it is about to change in a major way. On Monday, January 31, my husband Willy & I, along with partners Robert & 

