Seasonings Greetings.

Our Flavors of Holiday Cooking Class is upon us. Mark your calendar, our next class is Sunday, December 5th from 2-5pm. Popular for all levels, nothing matches the personal learning experience from a professional Chef.

Be up front and in the mix as Chef Bill Erlenbach and Proprietor Karen Baker demonstrate a simple and elegant meal to impress your guests without breaking your back or your budget.

Participants will learn hands-on culinary skills, from basic knife skills, food preparation made simple, table setting to food presentation techniques. Get in there and stir it up, or simply enjoy the show, enticing aromas, and taste. You are welcome to bring your own wine while you enjoy your meal!

MENU
Chicken Fricassee with pears, sweet potatoes and thyme
Salmon en papiotte with thai basil and julienne vegetables
Cream Puffs with Nutella Pastry Cream

We look forward to seeing you! — Karen Baker, Proprietor  Register now >

Give thanks to À la Carte
Really relax and pamper as few as four to as many as 1,000 of your closest friends and family this year. A la Carte is cooking your Thanksgiving dinner, right down to the homemade pumpkin pie. Your meal comes complete with step-by-step instructions.

Orders should be placed by Monday, November 22nd. Your meal can be picked up on Wednesday, November 24th at our location, conveniently located at 6100 Antioch Road, in Haymarket, on the grounds of Camp Snyder. We also offer at-home delivery.

If tradition states you cook your own turkey—let us lend a hand and provide the trimmings. This year's menu has an à la carte page too. Overnight guests? We have easy to heat breakfast casseroles and sides.

Read the menu> Download the hi-res version> Requires Adobe Acrobat.

Ordering is easy via Email or simply call 703-754-2714.      top^

And of course our own professional kitchen, on the grounds of Camp Snyder, complete with room for 600 inside and even more for summertime events. View a complete listing of Venues>    top^

À la Carte is pleased to be offering holiday gift baskets. We will deliver nationwide to friends and family, co-workers. We also prepare baskets for corporate gift giving.

The baskets can be tailored to your specific requests, packed with delectable goodies.
Click here for deluxe line-up >      top^

Dinner clubs have been popping up all over the country as food and wine lovers flock to the newest trend in dining out. What began as an underground movement, dinner clubs bring together an exclusive list of invitees for an adventurous dining experience with individuals that share the same appetite for the best the culinary world has to offer.

The our dinner club is a gathering of those in search of a unique dining & social experience. The dinners will be hosted at various locations throughout the area but all are uniquely designed to provide an evening of intimate dining and discussion with our chefs, wine experts and fellow foodies.

We offer exceptionally fresh "Farm to Fork" Menus served right here in our Haymarket Kitchen! Click here for our November 20th seating, complete menu and to reserve your space >     top^

Seasonal Bites from
Chef Bill Erlenbach
Make merry with our wonderful recipes for Apple Braised Beef Short Ribs and Virginia Spoon Bread.
Click the image for the recipe.

Wireless lighting makes creating a magical environment easier than ever.
There are many new options in battery operated LEDs and mini lights. These lights can go underwater, in a balloon, the colors can change, twinkle, blink, or simply shine on. LED tea lights keep dining safer when food is being passed family style. Your options expand since you can light displays that are not near an outlet. Adorn the center of a table; add glow to a ceiling, or some sparkle to a mantle,or brilliance to a centerpiece. Fill glass hurricanes with ornaments and light, or fill a beautiful glass vase with water, your favorite flowers and dunk a light amongst clear pebbles. Let your imagination take light!    top^

An Affair to Remember. We love to throw parties for all kinds of reasons: to celebrate life's happy transitions, show off the remodeled house, a reason to de-clutter and donate, enjoy a few guilty pleasures after counting calories for months, or even to dust off the music collection and add some new tunes. Whatever the reason, a party should be fun for the host and hostess too. Just a little planning goes a long way. Use our handy Planning Guide> and enjoy the event along with your guests.    top^