What’s New at the Vineyard

by Chris Mariscotti

Merry Christmas

Every year we have a Giving tree.  The Madera Christmas Basket program hangs cards with a name and the desired gift for an underprivileged child. You are welcome to come in and take a card or two with you. We ask that the gifts be returned with the card firmly attached by 9:00 PM Dec 15th. They will be distributed the morning of the 16th. Last year we collected over 200 gifts.

On Thursday December 14th the Servers and Bartenders are donating their tips to buy gifts and food for a family. Last year they raised $700 in one day and used all of it to give to our less privileged neighbors.

Music

Dr Maynard will play Thursday 11/30 starting at 5:30.  In December he will be playing the 7th, 8th and 9th and also on the 21st and 22nd. He’s a real pleasure to listen to no matter what your musical tastes are.

Holiday Parties

Now is a good time to make reservations for your Holiday parties.

Harvest Time

My farmer friends joke that December is our harvest time. To some degree that is true, we do a great deal of our annual business in December. But certainly not like some restaurants I read about in trade publications. There are restaurants that do over 20% of their yearly sales in the first 24 days of December. December is the best time to be in the restaurant business, not because of the money, but because the guests are in a festive mood, and are happy to be out celebrating, eating and drinking.

Gift Cards and Gift Certificates

For the perfect gift, buy a Vineyard Restaurant Gift Card or Gift Certificate. They are available for any amount.  If you are out of the area we will be happy to sell a certificate or card over the phone and mail it to you or the recipient of the gift.

Holiday Hours

We will be closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  New Year’s Eve we will open for dinner @ 4:30 and seat as long as our guests want to eat. On New Year’s Eve we will take reservations for only 75% of the tables. We will save room for walk-in dinners that night. I suggest you make your reservations early, but if your plans change at the last minute please come by. 

Anniversary

The Vineyard Restaurant will celebrate its’ 29th Anniversary on December 13th.  Thank you for your business and support.

Candy Cane Martini

Here’s Joel’s recipe for this delicious cocktail:

• 1.5 oz of Absolute Vanilla Vodka
• 1.5 oz of White Crème de Menthe
• .5 oz of Sweet and Sour
• Splash of grenadine syrup
• Shake and strain into chilled martini glass

Cioppino

Every December we feature Cioppino.  Our version of the California/Italian fishermen’s stew. Ours has half a Dungeness crab, shrimp, mussels, clams and chunks of fresh fish in a garlicky red wine and tomato broth. We serve it with plenty of garlic bread to soak up the broth.

Bread

We bake our bread. Order some for your Holiday dinners. If you would like loaves of our ciabatta or sourdough breads, we will take orders any time up to the 22nd. For orders over 5 loaves please give 24 hours notice.

MERRY CHRISTMAS & A HAPPY NEW YEAR

From all of us at The Vineyard Restaurant

Location

The Vineyard Restaurant is located on the northwest corner of Highway 99 and Highway 145 on the south end of Madera. Our address is 605 South I St. Madera, CA 93637 - Tel: 559-674-0923 (google earth: Lat: 36°57'14.57"N & Lon: 120° 3'28.48"W).

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