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Daily Morsel
Chiffon of Special Powers
I am wearing my chiffon top . . . chosen for this special day that I must somehow get through. It is my task to hurdle others forward in positive fashion and ask them to go into a food battle with little knowledge of what lies ahead. I don't know what to expect either but am prepared emotionally. Today is the day of the Discovery Place opening with expected attendance of 8,000-10,000. The temperature is easily over 100 degrees. Thousands of waters and lemonades must be cold. Local Grateful Growers barbeque with blackberry sauce and organic hot dogs with carrot relish await the plate; fields of cold watermelon are carefully stacked. Our pastry chef is on standby at the Cupcake Corner, and an arsenal of smiles lay in wait for the guests at hand.
My chiffon top carries special powers, you see. It all started last September when I awoke before sunrise and donned this simple top and white yoga pants without thought. I boarded a bus with my female travel companions for a "leisurely" day of "moderate" hiking on Machu Picchu in Peru. We arrived before dawn for a reservation to join 200 others to climb Huayna Picchu: the mount overlooking the ancient ruins, the belly button of the world. I was too tired to abort our mission, and the mist covering the looming mountain above masked the perilous trek ahead. My passport was stamped. I was in for the journey of my life, led by Mary Tribble, a valued friend. We had traveled to this Peruvian Sacred Valley for self-discovery and it began at the Sacred Rock. We could see the top - which was straight up - by straining our necks and tilting our heads. There was no logical reason to ascend this mountain other than to prove I could. There was no logical path to take . . . just one step up at a time.
We climbed for hours as the sun came over the Andes Mountains. Mother Earth, known locally as Pachamama, was watching over us. One missed step could well be our last. I was in good company with this powerful group of women. We climbed and pulled ourselves toward the peak, inching sideways up tiny stairs, sometimes stopping every five steps as we gasped for air at 9,000 feet. This adventure would not be allowed in our country by any attorney worth their salt.
Fellow adventurer, Diane English and I fell behind the others but got each other up those winding stairs by singing, pulling, and coaxing one another forward. I have fed her family for over 20 years, and I wasn't going to desert her now. One step after another with loving encouragement from these amazing women got me to the top. Art diva, Dana Davis stayed behind with one of our group and dined in Dana fashion at the 5-star restaurant below. I could feel her love and support the entire way and secretly wished to be sipping wine with her. Her spirit was with us as we scaled this sacred mountain. Finally inching our way up on our stomachs and through a cave, we reached the summit. I took what seemed my first deep breath above the clouds and could clearly see all around me. My thirst for discovery was evident: I could conquer all that life brings my way . . . one step at a time . . . with the help of others. I too would be there to support their dreams in kind.
I shimmied down Huayna Piccu on my backside, the descent proving more treacherous than the ascent. My legs were shaking, my feet were brown, and those white pants carried every loose leaf, stick, and sacred dirt from the path. Exhausted and thirsty, I was happy to be on flat ground again, but I knew I would continue my quest for a life of great height and color, believing that I could conquer the unknown.
Of course, we made it through our day of thousands at Discovery Place, thousands thirsting for drink and adventure. My chiffon top? It took a trip to the cleaners. When I don my chiffon with bright colors, I'm reminded of the sacred trip to the mountaintop in Peru and my own thirst for discovery. This fall, Something Classic is setting about on a new culinary venture as well. Join us for your lunch or dinner adventure at Ohmm, located at the new Mint Museum Cultural Campus, offering pure, local flavors from our Earth. And I, I will be wearing my chiffon top.
Jill Marcus
Founder, Green Goddess Alliance
President, Something Classic Catering & Cafés
Community Café at Discovery Place
Feel free to email me directly at jill@somethingclassic.com.
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Recipe
Peel, rinse and slice thinly three pounds of your favorite jeweled potatoes: Peruvian blue, Delta gold, Ruby Crescent and yams. A mandolin will help slice the potatoes extremely thin! Generously butter the bottom of a casserole dish with two tablespoons of butter. In a saucepan, simmer three cups of heavy cream and three cloves of garlic . . . throw in a tablespoons of herbs de Provence, a sprinkle of kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Arrange the potatoes in an overlapping layer on the bottom of the casserole dish. Salt & pepper the layer of potatoes and sprinkle with 3/4 cup of Gruyere cheese. Make two more layers of potatoes and cheese and gently press the layers down with a spoon. Pour the cream mixture over the potatoes and sprinkle with 1 cup of local chevre. Cover the dish loosely with aluminum foil making sure it is not touching the cheese and bake in a 400* oven for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake another 20 minutes until the gratin is golden brown and bubbly.  |
 The Green Goddess Alliance is a mindset comprised of our customers, vendors and employees aligning with Mother Earth. This alignment shows up in Something Classic's commitment to greening their business. Learn more HERE |
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 1323 Central AvenueCharlotte | North Carolina | 28205Phone | 704.377.4202 | www.somethingclassic.com
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