Putting down roots

Starting a restaurant is a huge challenge. There are walls to be ripped down, equipment to be installed, and lots and lots cleaning. But there's also a lot of fun stuff to do. We get to put in those personal touches that make a restaurant special and our own work of art.

If you're familiar with the location at 90 Main, you'll remember the outside bar. I love outside bars. There's nothing better than sitting in the sun, soaking up the rays and having a cold one with some friends. And New Hope is an outside bar kind of town! You have the breezes off the river and the best people watching around. In New Hope its fun to guess if the folks strolling the sidewalks are genuine hippies, NY investment bankers experiencing "country life", tourists from all around the world, or tourists from New Jersey. Its a great time if you have the perfect spot to kick back and take it all in. 

But right now, we don't have a perfect spot. It will be great after its all cleaned out, the slate in the patio is fixed, and some nice furniture is brought in. Baby steps. The first thing on the list is to clear out all the overgrown brush around the patio and put in some nice planters. That's right! We're putting down roots in New Hope!

I believe in the power of rituals. This is a new beginning so there is a lot riding on these little plants. We are hoping that they will grow, bloom, and be beautiful- just like the restaurant. We want them to last and become a part of Main St. New Hope, just like us. Obviously, only the perfect plants will do.

So we headed to Rices. 

Oh my! A garden oasis in a sea of knock off purses and infinity scarves! 

I love Rices. Truly, I've never met a flea market or farmer's market I didn't love, and it all started with early morning Saturdays spent at Rices. Sure I have the occasional need for a cheap handbag, a bundle of 15 pairs of socks for $5, or my 57th pair of sunglasses of the summer- but really Rices is all about what you find when you're not looking for anything in particular. 

My beautiful Mom, wondering if we need some wooden stick ducks at Mojito.

And that's why its so much fun.

This is my beautiful Mom deciding we DEFINITELY need hats at Mojito

You never know what you're going to come across.

Like colorful hot air balloons for ants.

Does anyone need a turtle riding a multicolored bike? I know know where you can get one!
(Don't get the cat. The cat is not wearing his helmet. Support safe cycling!)

AMERICA! Land of the free and home of the Privateers!
(Did you know that river pirates used to cause considerable problems for fur traders navigating the Delaware?
And that infamous pirate Blackbeard used to hang out in South Philadelphia? True story.) 

Hi there lil fella! I think you would freak people out after a few Mojitos.

There's so much to see and take in. There's nothing like cooking with fresh ingredients, so we picked up some yummy produce. If you talk to the vendors you'll be able to find some local growers with sustainable farming techniques. Feel good food!

Everything looks so good! We stocked up on cucumbers to put in salads and water, on sandwiches, and for crunchy snacks!

Grilled corn is a summer staple.

These tomatoes were beautiful, but alas- were grown in hot houses. Its still too early for real New Jersey tomatoes.

Beautiful colors!

And then we found my very favorite vendor at Rices. Who doesn't love fresh baked bread?

Gorgeous, crusty, carby bread

Please excuse Moms disembodied arm. I was very focused on the delicious loaves.

And fresh mozzarella, and roasted red peppers in olive oil, and sun dried tomatoes. ::Sigh::

The smell of the bread was incredible. And speaking of smells... "Mom, do you smell cigars?"

We met this friendly gentleman, another Cuban with the hook-up for Cubans. Doesn't he look like the Dos Equis Most Interesting Man in the World?

Right? But don't tell my Dad I said so. He thinks he has cornered the market on the Most Interesting Man  look-a-likes.

"No less than 25 Mexican folk songs have been written about his beard"

Confession time: I don't really like cigars. In college my friends and I would get together to play poker, the guys would smoke cigars on the warm nights. Sometimes I'd try it out. (I don't have a great poker face so my strategy was all about changing the subject.) But I don't only mean that I wouldn't smoke a cigar on my own. I don't really like how they smell at all. Or how they look. I just don't get the cigar appeal.

It's shocking I know.

 It's practically sacrilege for a Cuban to say such things, so we are just not going to mention this confession to my father.

On the other hand, I think cigar boxes are the COOLEST. I love the bright colors, the old world designs and the feel of the wood. Cigar boxes look like the place where your grandfather kept love letters he was sent during a war, or where posh Cuban ladies would hide their smutty paperback novel in the sitting room. Cigar boxes exude mystery and intrigue. Refinement and class. They are awesome. And definitely something we can use to decorate at Mojito.

"Don't open that box! My copy of "Lady Chatterly's Lover" is in that one."

Even the new ones look old and exotic

Eventually we got around to what we actually came for. The flowers are teeming with life and beautiful in bloom. They will be the perfect first addition in our restaurant restoration. It's all about the ritual of planting things when they're small, tending them with care, watching them grow and sharing them with the world.

We made some great selections. I can't wait to share this special project you all. Stay in touch as we go through the entire journey and bring our dreams to life. Happy weekend!!

P.S.

I need to give a shout out to all the precious pooches out in the heat at Rices. So cute. These pups rock.

Maybe one day my Dog will behave well enough to go shopping.....but probably not.

This is Bentley. He took a selfie.

Ahhhh the Dog Days of Summer! Enjoy!