JP's At Cannon Beach

2011-08-23T18:02:00.000-07:00

Well, it has happened. That which we thought nothing about has happened. JP's has been sold and a new owner will take over the space in October of 2011. Their restaurant will be a wonderful new concept for Cannon Beach and JP's will cease to exist. I have to tell you that while we absolutely LOVE our guests, Bill and I are pretty happy about the changes. We have worked very hard to have the kind of restaurant we could be proud of. We have been blessed with wonderful, wonderful long time customers and life long friends have been made. It is a bittersweet time of saying goodbye and letting go. Our employees have been loyal to the end with a couple of exceptions.

The future brings a plethora of plans and options. We will not be in the restaurant business but we will be staying in the community. We will get little jobs that will allow us to explore other facets of our lives. The kids are grown and most are off on their own adventures. Bill and I are making plans for a month long vacation in Greece thanks to the generosity of our guests. We are selling raffle tickets and three lucky people will win the seafood chowder recipe. We are also selling some of our most popular recipes. We have commemorative glassware and all proceedes will be used to go to Greece and find the home and family of Bill's grandfather. What a wonderful adventure and what a wonderful end to this phase of our life. Thank you all for your love and support. We have loved being a part of your lives. This blog will end but you can find us on facebook if you would like updates. www.facebook.com/jpsatcannonbeach Hope to see you there. Just click "like" and you will receive news, pictures from Greece and updates about what we are doing. Thanks again.

Spring!!!!!

2011-05-04T11:23:00.000-07:00

So today it is glorious at the beach. This is the day we take the pictures! I love living at the beach no matter what the weather but today is exceptional. We are baking bread and cookies. We are supporting a fundraiser for our son by baking cookies. He is selling them at his school. Sad thing for school is that mom's can't bring baked goods because of safety concerns. Kids rarely get to taste homemade goodies. We are blessed with a commercial certified kitchen so we help out when necessary. We launched our gluten free menu this weekend. We still have all of our favorites but now many items are available for people with dietary needs. We make pretty much everything from scratch so it is a pretty small leap to change ingredients to fit what people need. Even though it is a wonderful sunny day I know that planting is not ready yet. I have planted starts inside in anticipation of a summer season. Fresh vegies make things better. Herbs are so much more fragrant from the garden than in little plastic packages from the store. Let's get ready for flavor....

JP's on Facebook

2011-04-21T14:40:00.000-07:00

I am making every effort to come into the 20th century. Personally I am pretty comfortable with a rocking chair at the General Store as a venue for swapping stories and socializing. I like simple things and the mass social media is not really simple for someone like me. That said, I recognize the benefits of reaching a lot of people quickly. Anyone who knows me, knows I can talk. (Understatement) I love people and I love to hear their stories. If I did nothing else visiting could be my profession. I joined Facebook as a way to keep up with my many children. I could peek at their lives and not intrude. I love seeing what they do and who they are friends with. I have been able to do the same with friends and old schoolmates. You know how it works and how much fun it can be. Now the restaurant gets to participate. Look for us on facebook and "like" us. We will keep you updated on what we are doing and tempt you with new specials. If you have been here...tell us about it. I you have not been here yet...Come on down!!! Soups on!

Award winning blogger

2011-04-08T11:47:00.000-07:00

I would like to thank the academy for my award as world's least prolific blogger. I have not worked hard to win this award. I was speaking with a dear guest at the restaurant the other night and she mentioned my blog. I cringed as I thought how little I had posted. She helped me see that the first step was just to write something. So here I am. Today is the perfect day at the beach!! Sun, surf, birds and balmy skies. Wonderful!!! This is the day I gloat because I live here. I had to purchase seeds today. It was just too beautiful to not think about gardening. Peas and lettuce. Yummmm! I was on the radio station KMUN this morning to talk about the formation of the new Cannon Beach Culinary Arts Association. I am VP of this new Association. We want to bring the world news about the culinary arts in Cannon Beach and make us a world culinary destination. Doesn't that sound like fun? Food is such a wonderful addition to this world and we get to be a part of that. I will try to blog much more often and let you know what is going on. Stay Tuned.

Food Glorious Food

2010-05-18T11:48:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, food is our livelyhood. That said, I have some very controversial opinions about food. I believe that we need to be connected with our food and know where it comes from and what is in it. Ingredients are more important that any thing else. Fresh, whole food nourishes our bodies and feeds our souls. Mass produced, manufactured dead food will make us sick and contribute to the sickness of society. Taste, texture, appearance are very important but content is primary. If you haven't watched the movie Food Inc rent it now. You will be smarter when it is over. There is a new movie called FRESH that is an answer to the despair felt after watching Food Inc. When you see what has been done that you didn't know about, you feel - what can I eat? what do I do about it? FRESH shows you how to connect with your food and how to nourish your body. We will be showing the movie on June 21st at 7:00 p.m. in the Vineyard at JP's. The cost is $5.00. What a great opportunity to get connected and be smart in your choices. I am not talking about dieting and eating boring food. I am talking about the luxury of good food and giving your body what it deserves and needs. I love the quote "Most people know the cost of everything and the value of nothing" This is so true about food. We at JP's work hard to give our customers valuable food and a value filled dining experience. Not cheap or expensive...valuable. We invite you to come join us!

New Menu for Spring

2010-04-21T20:31:00.000-07:00

The best thing about life is how many things change and yet remain the same. I have always heard that the only thing constant is change. I believe this is true.
Our daughter Casey is home from college. Our daughter Jaeda just returned to college. Each of them feel so good when they come home and have mentioned how funny it is that nothing is different. They feel comfortable right away. That is very funny since the house is in uproar most of the time when they are home. It feels very changed to me just having that many hair care products in my bathroom. I love having the girls home. When they are gone, I am the only girl in a house full of men. Not bad, just different. When the girls are home toenails get painted and I am not the only one who likes a clean bathroom.
Now we get to talk about the changes at the restaurant. April 30, May 1-2 is Spring Unveiling. We love this event! I love art and all that encompasses. Artist come to Cannon Beach to show off their new work. Visitors flood the town to see what is new and find what speaks to them. I believe that the food Bill creates is every bit as much art and a painting or sculpture. This is a good time to let him spread his menus out and create some new tastes. We don't do this often since our customers often want what they loved last time. This is the year to learn to love something new. Thai influence, Vegan dishes, lighter dining and always lots of flavor. We have to say good bye to a few fish that have priced themselves out of our market. We get to try the lovely Orzo infused monkfish. I have a newer organic, gluten free, no refined sugar, dairy free dessert that has met with rave reviews. Our gluten free cooking has expanded to include four desserts and chowder....yes chowder. You have to let us know in advance but it is delicious. I love change!!! I hope you will too. See you soon!

Almost Spring

2010-03-07T18:56:00.000-08:00

I have been told that I am one of the world's worst bloggers. I think that, while I am a slacker, world's worst is a touch ambitious. I am a better talker than I am a writer. That said...life is great. We have passed through the worst of the winter and are quite looking forward to
Spring. This weekend kicks off the festivities with Savor Cannon Beach. This should be a fun event and one that many people will look forward to in the future.
The annual Cannon Beach Children's Center Wine Walk is Saturday March 13th. We are kicking off our weekend with a Winemaker's Dinner on Friday the 12th at 7:30. We will have Warren Gilstrap of Gilstrap Brothers Winery. Bill has matched seven food courses with six of their wonderful wines. He has had a great time mixing and matching. Fresh wild salmon, succulent lamb, Italian meats and delights from his Greek heritage. We will finish with a refreshing Mango Tequila Lime Cheesecake. Purchase your ticket now. $95.00 Saturday Wine Walk will also feature Gilstrap Brothers wines.
The following week begins Spring Break for many parts of the Northwest. I love it when our guests return "en masse". Winter is a nice time to take it a bit slower but popularity is nice too. I hope our weather is as nice as the winter has been. We have had a lions share of beautiful days. Breathe... it is good for the soul.

Winter Musings

2010-01-09T14:48:00.001-08:00

Well I may never become a famous blogger since I forget to blog. We had a wonderful holiday with so many of our long time regular customers and wonderful new people coming by and sharing good times. Now we are full into January. January is probably the slowest month of the year. We get busy updating wine and dessert menus and thinking about the coming year. Some nights are busy and some are very slow. You never know what might happen. We are featuring our Monday night Greek night and our Wednesday night pasta night. These are such nice middle of the winter treats. Greek night is so much fun. We have Greeks that come in and love the flavors of their childhood and folks who have never tasted Greek food that fall in love. "There are two kinds of people in this world. Those that are Greek and those that want to be Greek". I think this is true. Come on in on Mondays through February and find out which you are. Pasta night is on Wednesday. We feature five different pasta dishes. You may have one or a combination of up to all five. What is better than pasta. My favorite was the Lemon Ravioli served a couple of weeks ago. I love lemon!

Things to be thankful for

2009-11-26T07:01:00.001-08:00

It is early in the morning and I have just finished baking pies, stuffing and custard. It is quiet and clean and I am contemplating the things I am thankful for. I love our customers. We are booked to the max and I am sure with the frenetic pace of the day I may reach a point that I am not conveying all the love I feel. Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday. It is about the food and we are about the food so it is a match made in heaven. It is also about gratitude and we have more than a fair share of things to be grateful for. I am grateful for this country and all that it entails. I am extremely grateful to live in the best place on the planet. I am grateful to get to work with my lovely family. I am grateful for a heart to feel, a voice to speak, a place to be and people to be with. I am looking forward to the people today that choose to spend their holiday with us. There are many reasons to go out to eat on this day. We as a culture have moved away from the huge family gatherings that were a part of my childhood. Turkeys come in a bag or from the big marketplace stores. Pies are frozen and potatoes come in a box. I am not criticizing anyone for what they do but here at JP's we do it the old fashioned way. Potatoes are peeled, Pies are made from scratch, cranberry sauce is made from fresh berries and lots of fresh, natural turkey. I think it was best said by three gentlemen who have been coming for years. They said Grandmothers all over are feeling sad and threatened because a guy that looks like Bill can outcook them. I am grateful for Bill. Happy Thanksgiving Diana

Stormy Weather and Thanksgiving

2009-11-07T15:14:00.000-08:00

Oh my goodness!! I can't believe it has been over a month since I have been here. I have no excuse. Tonight is the Stormy Weather Arts Festival. Creative energy is flowing and tons of people are in town. Our good friend Cathy Speer and two of our daughters are performing in our private dining room. We are getting ready for Thanksgiving. We will be serving dinner from 2 p.m. until 8p.m. Bill makes everything from scratch right down to the cranberry sauce. I bake custard and pumpkin pies and my version of my mom's stuffing. Many of the same people come every year and we look so forward to it. I can smell the sage as I write. Some of the things I am thankful for are my family, the wonderful guests we have in the restaurant and my good husband. I love living at the coast. I have to admit that we work harder than I like but I like the work so it all balances out. Take a walk today and think of the things you are grateful for. Chances are... I am thinking of you.

Fall is here!

2009-10-01T09:52:00.000-07:00

It is official....fall is here. The leaves are starting to turn, the air is crisp and we still love the Oregon coast. Wind, rain, sun, clouds...it mattereth not. Not to breeze past October but we are getting ready for November.
November 6th and 7th brings Stormy Weather Arts Festival. We will have live music in the Vineyard. Cathy Speer, Danita and Jaeda (our lovely daughters) will be performing between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. It is always fun to listen and watch. We look forward to it every year. There is so much going on in town. Check out the Cannon Beach Chamber website for a list of the artists.
November also brings back our specialty nights. On Mondays we serve Greek combination plates in addition to our regular menu. On Wednesday we have pasta specials. It shakes thing up a bit and gives us something to look forward to as the weather cools and darkness falls. Nothing takes the chill out of a dark night like rich Kota Kapalma or Soudzukakia. Marinated chicken skewers served with meat filled Dolmathes and flaky Spanakopita. My mouth is watering as I write. Come back soon. Diana

The very best people in the world

2009-09-23T18:17:00.000-07:00

I would be very remiss if I didn't say something about the firestorm that has been surrounding us the last couple of weeks. We had a reviewer write an article about us. He is new to the reviewing business and apparently has some personal problems. He was supposed to do a food review for our local paper. What he did was a sarcastic, angry, untrue rant that seemed to be a personal vendetta against Bill (our chef). We have not read the review at the insistence of our kids and employees. That really does not matter. He said more about himself than he did about us.
What is important is the outpouring of love, encouragement and support from our community and our customers. There have been letters to the editor, phone calls to the publisher, personal visits and notes from other restaurants, hotels, locals and many many others. Everyone wanted to tell us how much they love and support us. We have felt so upheld and appreciated. I admit, I cried the first day but not one sad tear since then. There have, however, been many many tears of joy. Thank you all. You are the best!!!

Another Saturday Night

2009-08-29T22:28:00.001-07:00

I have come to the end of another Saturday night. I have to say that I love the weekends.Everyone seems to be having fun and are stopping and smelling the roses (or hydrangeas). Even when it rains in August the Oregon Coast is a wonderful place to be. We had lots of happy, happy people. We had a wedding in the banquet room with the cutest couple and a very nice family. We had one family in the restaurant that seemed to be having a problem. I have no idea what was going on but we all tried to get them to let us know. They quit talking anytime we went near them. They ate everything and seemed to enjoy it. They were here for the normal time for dinner so I have no idea what was up. This blog is to let you talk to me and let me talk to you.... Helpful diner tip ---If you are out for dinner and your server asks you how your dinner is...that is the time to correct anything that is not right. Don't go home and write about it on trip advisor (ewww). Let us do our job with help and feedback from you. We all work very hard to try and please our wonderful customers. It is our intention to have everyone enjoy this place so much that they come back over and over for years. Talk to us! I am not good at reading minds...shhhhh don't tell my kids....they think I can. Come back soon. Diana

New Blog

2009-08-27T16:35:00.001-07:00

Hey Everyone, here is the new blog for JP's At Cannon Beach! look here for updates!