April 2008

Around the House

Our new evening wine service area/library has been completed.  For those of you who haven’t stayed with us in a while, we have moved our office from the room overlooking the east garden with its fish pond and converted it for guest use. 


Between 5 PM and 8 PM, our guests may choose either a glass of chardonnay or merlot while they catch up on the day’s happenings or finalize dinner plans. Naturally, enjoying the wine in the parlor by the fire, in the library/wine service area seating area, or outside in the garden are available options. The green and blue color scheme was taken to highlight the upholstery on the four chairs and to link to the gardens just outside the French doors.

On the Web site

Changes are coming to the William Miller House Bed and Breakfast website, www.ourfanhomes.com.  Local professional photographer, Tony Giammarino, and stylist, Mona Dworkin, have taken new photos of many of our rooms.  The new, improved photos have been uploaded by webmaster, Mike.  The new photos include the parlor, the Regency Room, the Touch of France Room, the dining room, and, even, Mike preparing breakfast. The guest room photos are designed to highlight many of the amenities we offer: Wi-Fi, en suite renovated bathrooms, separate showers and tubs, desk and sitting space, individual thermostats, fluffy oversized towels, premium high thread count linens, irons and ironing boards, and robes. Mona and Tony will be back to finish when the trees leaf out and the gardens are in their late spring glory. 

Local Happenings

The spring season of the River District Canal Cruises started April 4 with narrated tours of the James River and Kanawha Canal. They will continue through September on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. www.venturerichmond.com

Fan Women’s Club Kitchen and Garden Tour takes place on Sunday, May 4, 2008 from 1 to 6 PM.  The tour provides an eclectic collection of elegant homes in the historic Fan District featuring their kitchens and gardens.

Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden’s A Million Blooms features the garden’s spring bounty through June 1.  Don’t forget to visit the conservatory and its fabulous orchids!  www.lewisginter.org

Want more gardens? Don’t forget Historic Garden Week in Virginia April 19 through 26. www.vagardenweek.com for details.

The Valentine Richmond History Center is featuring a special exhibit “Battle for the City: The Politics of Race 1950’s-1970s” through January 9, 2009. Photographs, posters and artifacts tell the story of Richmond’s struggle with segregation, civil rights, school integration, gender equality and urban planning.  www.richmondhistorycenter.com

Beginning April 25, 2008, see “Poe in Comics” at the Edgar Allan Poe Museum.  “Poe in Comics” will last until October 7. www.poemuseum.org

April 26th Fifth Annual Chocolate Festival  Sample chocolates from more than a dozen vendors and get tips from several chefs at the chef’s demo stage 10 AM to 4 PM.  Tickets $4 available at Carytown’s For The Love of Chocolate and University of Richmond’s Robins Center. (804) 289-8133

“Landscapes form the Age of Impressionism” ends May 11, 2008 at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. French and American paintings from the Brooklyn Museum.  www.vmfa.state.va.us

Sunday, May 18 Noon to 5 PM. Broad Appetit, where food and art intersect. When you come to the spork in the road, take a bite!  1st Annual “to Die For” dish competition between 25 top Richmond chefs; a Locavore’s Market place with local growers, food related artisans, Virginia’s Finest and other specialty food producers; WHODUNNIT? Art exhibition.  www.broadappetit.com

Recipe of the Month

This Vegan recipe is provided by Suzie Blanchard from The Inn at Meander Plantation and can easily be changes to be a non-vegan recipe by substituting a sausage patty for the tofu and topping with some cheese.For the vegan entree try adding some pesto prior to the final warming.

Polenta
2 cups water
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil1/4 cup chopped fresh basil

2 large Japanese eggplants, each cut into six 1/2-inch-thick rounds
Extra virgin olive oil
4 large plum tomatoes, cut into 1/2-inch-thick rounds
2 small zucchini cut diagonally in to 1/2-ich slices
Balsamic vinegar
Chives, chopped
1 block firm tofu (or 9-sausage pattys)
9 fresh basil leaves

Extra:
Basil or Arugula pesto

For Polenta:
Bring 2-cups water and salt to a boil in heavy small saucepan. Gradually whisk in cornmeal. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer until polenta is very thick, whisking frequently, about 10-minutes. Season generously with salt and pepper. Spread in 9x9x2-inch metal baking pan. Chill until cold, about 1-hour (Can be made 1-day ahead. Cover, keep chilled.)

For Tofu:
Slice tofu and sprinkle with extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper. Saute in pan until slightly browned.

For Stacks:
Preheat grill pan. Place eggplant, and zucchini slices on baking sheet and brush with oil on both sides; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill until brown grill marks are distinct, about 4-minutes per side.

Preheat oven to 375°F. Oil a baking sheet. Cut polenta into 9-squares. Place a square on baking sheet. Arrange 1 or 2 tomato slices on each piece of polenta. Drizzle each tomato with a few drops of balsamic vinegar. Top each with zucchini slice followed by eggplant round. Top each with another tomato slice. Place tofu on top.

Bake polenta stacks until just heated through, about 5 minutes. Top each stack with a fresh basil leaf

From the Gift Shop:

We are happy to announce that we have added high quality, William Miller House logo items to our gift shop.  Purchase a memento when you stay with us to take to that special someone back home or call us on (804) 254-2928 and we’ll be happy to ship your order to you!

• William Miller House White Ceramic Coffee Mug (white with blue logo)   $4.95
  
• William Miller House Stainless Steel Travel Mug (stainless steel with black logo) $5.35
  
• William Miller House Champagne Flutes (glass with etched logo) $5.99
  
  


• William Miller House Light Blue Infant Baseball Cap embroidered in Dark Blue $10.00
  
• William Miller House Light Pink Infant Bucket Cap embroidered in White $10.00
  
• William Miller House Infant One Piece Suit (24-month) bordered in Green and embroidered in Light Green  $10.95
  
  


• William Miller House Port Authority Stonewash Blue T-Shirts embroidered in Dark Blue (sizes L and XL) $9.85
  
  


• William Miller House Bathrobes embroidered in Dark Blue (one size fits most) $79.00