5.22.2012

Here we grow

We've got big news that we can't wait to share with all of our friends, fans and fellow foodies. The SIMB gang is so excited to announce that we are the proud new parents of a liquor license!
We'll be starting off small, featuring hand picked bottles of wine from Crane Creek Vineyards, a small, family-owned winery tucked away in the foothills of Blue Ridge. We've been visiting Crane Creek for over a year now, and David and Eric have cultivated our love for great wines, so we knew this would be the right fit. What could be better than enjoying some of our most scrumptious menu items with a savory glass of wine to wash it all down? We're thinking, not much...
Our selective wine menu will feature two whites, one rosé, and two reds; all available by the glass and bottle. The Seyval Blanc, a crisp, dry French Hybrid with a polished finished and beautifully expressive stone fruit and citrus flavors, would be amazing with our miso glazed salmon. While our wild mushroom ravioli would pair well with the Enotah White, a rich Chardonel vintage with aromas of apple and vanilla, and flavors of tropical fruit, toast, smoke and butter--- yum! We'll also be featuring Crane Creek's Villard Noir, a light and tasty rosé, with notes of caramel and toasty nut flavors, the perfect way to start a Saturday or Sunday brunch with us, and the perfect partner for our fried chicken with spicy mojo collards. The Hellbender Red, Crane Creek's coolest kid in the class, is great with just about everything, with alluring fruit flavors and spice that follows its perfume of dark fruit, zesty spice and toasty vanilla. And the easy to drink Mountain Harvest Red is a beautiful, aromatic red, ideal with our sweet tea brined pork chop or with our decadent chocolate bomb.
As if our brand new wine menu isn't alluring enough to get you in our door, we've joined forces again with our old friends at Scoutmob to launch a new wine and dinner deal that will blow you away.  It's an amazing opportunity that you won't want to miss. Go here now! You can also email us to find out more information about SIMB's Wineclub (Supperclub's new sibling) to get a steal of a deal on our favorite wines. Check back here with us here to learn more about our weekly wine specials, and stay tuned for SIMB's future love child-- our full-service bar-- coming soon! 





5.15.2012

Love is Sweet-- Christina + Mitch

If we had to choose one word to describe Christina + Mitch's phenomenal wedding it would be sweet. They are an incredible couple, so full of love for each other that it spread through the fields of Vinewood and crept into all of our hearts. Christina's vision and attention to detail made every piece of this wedding come together in the most amazing way. We loved so many elements of this beautifully rustic wedding- the vintage mantel that served as an alter for their intimate ceremony, the natural linens and burlap runners on the farmhouse tables, the hanging floral and candle installation, her shoes-- we could go on and on, but why don't you just see for yourself.



Guests enjoyed cocktails and hors d'oeuvres before and after the ceremony, nibbling on crab cakes with ancho chile aioli, and mini corn muffins with barbeque pulled pork and purple coleslaw. Afterwards, they were invited into the stables for an intimate sit down dinner, featuring our hermes salad with roasted pears and bleu cheese, a dual protein plate with bourbon pecan chicken and zinfandel + rosemary beef tenderloin and some good 'ole southern grits. When the floor opened up for toasts, the room was flooded with laughter and tears, and the sweetness was overwhelming. Finally, the second half of the stables was opened for desserts, including cakes Mitch's grandmother made, and the cutest cupcakes we've seen in a while, made by Blooming Flour Bakery.Seriously... can it get much better than this... Everything about Christina + Mitch's wedding celebration was so smooth and natural and the vendors we got to work with were a complete pleasure. Jamie from Vinewood Events coordinated the whole day flawlessly, and with the help of the lovely Maria, the stables were transformed into an elegant dining room, dessert and lounge area. Jennifer at Virtu Floral + Event Design made the most beautiful arrangements and bouquets that were the perfect touch, and Anna + Philip of Three Pennies blew us away with the stunning images that took us right back to Christina + Mitch's memorable day. We just can't say enough about this breathtaking venue and amazing vendors and look forward to many more weddings with this crew in the future. 
Such inspiring love, Christina + Mitch we wish you the very best and a life full of sweetness.
Cheers,
SIMB


5.10.2012

Michelle + Shahar

As one of the most inspirational weddings we've had the pleasure to have a hand in, Michelle + Shahar's wedding was truly amazing. With bright hues, a rustic whimsy, yet a refined elegance, this wedding set at Serenbe just makes us weak in the knees. Beautifully designed and decorated by the talented team at Amy Osaba Events, Michelle + Shahar's wedding oozed with character and love. Smilebooth was a big hit for guests throughout the evening, and Heidi's stunning photos captured each moment with perfection; Our Labor of Love does it again! But enough with the words, these pictures tell a pretty good story too.

During cocktail hour, a blackberry + ginger specialty cocktail cooled guests off while they enjoyed moroccan lamb meatballs, sweet potato croquettes and fried green tomatoes with a horseradish sauce. For dinner, guests were treated to a kosher menu which included a southern food station and  a middle eastern station and a "whole foods" station with grilled corn couscous and smoked eggplant with a tahini dipping sauce. For dessert, we served mini doughnuts-- what a treat!
 
We are still in awe of this beautiful wedding and terrific couple and wish them a lifetime of happiness.
Cheers,
SIMB

5.02.2012

Creating • Art • Meaning • Purpose = CAMP

The wedding and event industry has a special place in our hearts; we love being a part of such a significant day in a couples' life, we're proud to provide a meal for you and your closest friends at a cocktail party, and we are always thrilled to be the backdrop for a romantic dinner or brunch with a crew at the cafe. While our clients are amazing, there are a few other people that make our jobs that much better: amazing vendors that we get to work with, and even call our friends. Fostering and nurturing these relationships is vital to us, and we really enjoy bouncing ideas off one another to get our creative juices flowing. Then we thought, Hey, wouldn't it be out-of-this-world to form a group with this goal in mind?? Um, yes. It would.  So we started brainstorming with the creative souls and minds at Amy Osaba Events, Erica Loesing and Ginny Branch, and CAMP was born. CAMP, creating art, meaning and purpose, is a community of professionals aimed at building great relationships, inspiring original and artistic ideas, and learning from each other in so many ways. Here are some pictures, shot by the brilliant Amber of Our Labor of Love from our first cocktail party at our neighborhood cafe.
Inspired by tepees, forest foliage and campfires, we ran with the camp theme, embracing all things nature. Our menu featured deviled eggs, chicken sausage and green apple skewers, lamb sliders, chorizo and cheddar hand-pies and a strawberry Koolaid cocktail, that was as sweet as bug juice. Our happy campers, including the lovely ladies of Simply Charming Socials, Four Inch Fold and Gertie Mae's Floral, to name a few, left with homemade granola, girl scout cookies and a full belly.

We are, as always, so thankful for Amy, Erica, Maria and Ginny for letting us pick their brains and helping us develop creative concepts and products that we are proud to stand behind, and we know CAMP would be nothing but an idea without you geniuses. We can't wait for our next CAMP session.
Cheers,
SIMB