Well Covid-19 sure put a damper on our fun, didn't it? No more Chef's Table Dinners for who knows how long. It was supposed to be for just a couple of weeks, but now that has stretched on to months with no real promise of an end in sight. But life goes on, people still have to eat, but with the uncertainties of tomorrow folks are understandably guarded with their funds and their trust to eat out, even if it is "To Go"  So of course business here at Willows Bend Farm has dropped way off. We cannot have everything on hand to cook fabulous meals at the drop of the hat. Our suppliers are limited and grocery prices have increased.  So we have decided to Cook to Order to keep from wasting food and time.

What does "Cook to Order" mean?  It means that we are still happy to cook anything from a snack to a full course meal for you, but we request advance notice.  We have gone from being a little cafe type restaurant to more of a private chef service.  Don't let that name scare you, we are still as affordable as we can possibly be.  So for instance if you know you will need lunch or dinner on a particular day, you can call ahead, with as much notice as possible so that we can plan and shop. Once a dish or meal has been requested, we will offer that to my Facebook followers.  We will not be making dinners if there are no orders. You can request something you have been wanting, or peruse the past menus here for ideas.  We can cook most any cuisine, will do vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, fruit free, alpha-gal, or what ever the special need.  See a recipe you might like but don't want to do it yourself? Give it to us and we will make it for you.  We do cakes for special occasions, can make sandwiches and picnic food, or full course meals to go. You can order quarts of soup for your freezer, freezer meals for you to throw in the oven on a busy day, whatever makes your life easier.

We do still have a table for 2 and a table for 4, and weather permitting a table for 4 or 6 under a canopy on the patio.  If you are all in the same party, we can accommodate up to 12 people inside with advance notice.  For dining in, reservations are a MUST.  We take cash, checks credit cards and offer gift certificates as well.

Ok so here are some menu ideas.  Some from the past, some we had planned but have not yet made.  We will be adding to this list as we go through past weeks' recipes.

Overstuffed Twice Baked Potato- bacon, sour cream and plenty of cheese make these potatoes a full meal. Served with a Caesar Salad. $10. Add 6 grilled shrimp for $4 more.

Ratatouille- French vegetable stew served hot or cold. Served with French Bread Crispy Garlic Toast. $10
Cheesy Chicken & Pasta Gratin- Like macaroni and cheese, but with Gruyere and Swiss cheese, poached chicken and a crispy Parmesan crust. Served with Baby Salad Greens with Roasted Pears and Honey Shallot Dressing $14

Fried Chicken Tenders- Buttermilk marinated for tenderness and pan fried in Panko for crunch. Served with Yellow Squash Casserole and Slow Cooked Greens. $12

Shrimp and Feta Salad- perfect late summer salad served with Olive Foccacia and Watermelon with Mint $12

Pork Loin with Rosemary Pan Jus, Roasted Potatoes, Slow Braised Red Cabbage with Green Apple Jam- Comfort food inspired by Emeril’s Delmonico Restaurant. $16

Chicken A La King with Herbed Biscuits- A classic rich and creamy dish made with chicken and vegetables served over tender buttermilk and herb biscuits. $12

Chicken- Sausage Gumbo with Brown Rice, Marinated Vegetables- a slow cooked roux is the secret to this Creole inspired favorite $10

Chicken Provencal- Tomatoes, basil, black olives and white wine sauce this boneless chicken breast served with Parsley Potatoes and Green Beans. $14

Spaghetti with Meat Sauce- homemade sauce made with quality ingredients. Served with a Garden Salad and Cheese Focaccia $12

Grilled Shrimp and Mushrooms served over Herbed Rice, with Dilled Carrots $14

Shrimp Remoulade- cold poached shrimp with a flavorful, slightly spicy sauce served over crisp shredded lettuce. Fried Green Tomatoes and White Cheddar Grits round out this classic southern menu. $14

Fresh Tomato Soup- local tomatoes star in this comforting soup. Served with Grown Up Grilled Cheese with Sharp Cheddar, Fontina and/or Swiss. Dilled Potato and Green Bean Salad rounds out the meal. $12

Chicken Breast with Shredded Zucchini and Lemon Cream Parmesan Risotto $12

Grandma Higbie's Macaroni & Cheese Fried Chicken Salad $10

Parmesan and Herbed Turkey Burgers with Lime Aioli, Sweet Potato Fries. $10

Beer Battered Fish Tacos Hand Cut Oven Fries Creamy Coleslaw  $12

Jambalaya with Shrimp & Rice- Spicy but not too hot Creole sausage and shrimp favorite. Served with Corn on the Cobb. $12

Pork Scalloppine- Thinly sliced pork with bacon and potatoes in a shallot, white wine and paprika sauce, Butter Braised Zucchini $12

Summer Squash Fritters, Garlic Stuffed Mushrooms, Garden Salad $10

Cheesy Garlic Butter Mushroom Stuffed Chicken, with Mashed Potatoes & Green Beans $14

Herbed Chicken, Sausage & Grilled Summer Vegetables over Rice $14

Mushroom Cheese Tart with Rosemary & Garlic Potatoes, & green salad $14

Grilled Vegetables over Brown Rice with Lemon Herb Dressing $10 add a piece of grilled chicken for $4

Santa Fe Veggie "Lasagna" with Fiesta Corn Salad $12

Mushroom Risotto, Broccoli with Garlic Crumbs $10 add a chicken breast for $4

Shrimp Fritters with Lemon Aioli and a Citrus Salad or Coleslaw. $14 (2 fritters)

Cobb Salad. Grilled boneless chicken breast, fresh corn, tomato, avocado, hard cooked egg, bacon, scallions, blue cheese or feta with Lemon Dill Dressing on a bed of baby salad greens $12

Moroccan Chicken- Chunks of boneless thigh with ginger, garlic, cumin, charred lemon and honey with Jasmine Rice served with East Indian Fruit Salad- Orange, kiwi and coconut star in this refreshing salad with exotic spices. $14

Middle Eastern Meatballs with Tzatziki & Pita Bread
Greek Salad- Salad greens topped with cucumber, tomato, onions, olives, artichokes and feta, Watermelon with Mint & Feta $14

Fresh Corn Chowder- Fresh corn, cut off the cobb stars in this creamy favorite
Ham Salad Sandwich- ground ham, dill pickle relish, grated onion, mayo $9

Sweet Potato Quiche- Light and cheesy with shredded sweet potato
Wilted Spinach & Portobello Mushrooms- chunks of mushrooms sautéed with garlic $10

Curried Zucchini Soup served hot or cold, Marrakesh Carrot Salad with Chick Peas & Dates
Curried Egg Salad Sandwich. $10

Mustard Chutney Roasted Chicken, Charred Onions & Peppers, Steamed Rice. $14

Zucchini and Roasted Poblano Frittatta, Southwestern Spiced Sweet Potatoes, Green Beans in Honey Mustard Vinaigrette. $12

Spiced Chicken Cutlets, with Apricot Shallot Chutney, Quinoa, and Raw Kale Salad  $14

Cold Cucumber Yogurt Soup- A classic Greek soup perfect for beastly hot days. Served with Fattoush a salad of tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers with chunks of flat bread to soak up the lemony dressing flavored with ground sumac. $10

Shrimp with Feta Cheese- Shrimp, feta, kalamata olives and fresh tomatoes get happy together with a hint of fennel providing plenty of savory broth to sop with Artisan bread. Honey Mustard Green Beans Vinaigrette provides an intriguing twist on fresh green beans.
$15

Broccoli Soup (vegan) Brightly flavored with lemon and dill. Pairs with Balkan Roasted Vegetable Salad (vegan) which features eggplant, peppers, onions and mushrooms sizzling together in a tangy marinade. $12

Spiced Chicken Cutlet with Apricot Shallot Chutney- fruity and savory, Moroccan inspired boneless chicken breasts. Massaged Kale Salad- Raw kale gets tenderized with a dressing of lemon and olive oil, sprinkled with pumpkin and sunflower seeds for crunch. $14

Creamy Herbed Potato Soup- Everyone loves this simple soup made with red potatoes, celery, onion and a little cream cheese. A slice of Herbed Cheddar Quick Bread and Honey Mustard Green Beans Vinaigrette rounds out the meal $12

"Fried" Chicken Salad- breaded boneless chicken breast strips sauteed and served on a bed of baby greens with fresh corn and tomatoes. Herbed Cheddar Quick Bread. $12

Cold Creamy Orange Soup reminiscent of a Creamsicle is refreshing paired with Mexican Shrimp and Spinach Salad which features plump shrimp, avocado, tomato and cucumber on a bed of baby spinach, dressed with lime, garlic and olive oil with just a hint of heat.
$14

Roasted Poblano Zucchini Quiche.- Southwestern inspired with Monterey Jack cheese, and roasted poblanos for mild heat. Served with Sweet Potato Saute' topped with pumpkin seeds and a simple salad of Baby Greens with Southwest Dressing. $12

Gingered Carrot Soup- Brightly flavored, smooth and spicy, good hot or cold. Paired with Kiwi and Orange on Baby Greens with a Citrus Dressing.  $10

Caramel Braised Chicken with Ginger and Lime- Vietnamese inspired using coconut water and sugar to caramelize chunks of boneless chicken thighs spiced with fresh ginger and lime. Served with Steamed Rice and Cucumber Salad. $14.

Mojo Chicken with Rice and Beans: Chunks of boneless chicken thighs marinated in a garlic-cumin-lime mojo sauce. $12

Steak Soba Salad: Thinly sliced marinated and grilled London Broil steak with soba noodles and crunchy mixed vegetables drizzled with a miso-sesame-lemon dressing. $14

Shrimp with Herby White Beans and Tomatoes: A roasted garlic herb sauce flavors this stew. Served with artisan bread for sopping up all the flavorful goodness.  $16

Gyros with Roasted Garlic Tzatziki and Feta Fries: Marinated chicken breast, cucumber mint tzatziki, and pickled red onions tucked in a yogurt flatbread with potato fries seasoned with garlic and feta cheese. $12

Cheesy Oregano Chicken and Broccoli Melts: Chicken and broccoli are piled on a yogurt flatbread shmeared with pesto, topped with two cheeses and melted under the broiler. $10

Fish Tacos: Blackened Halibut, fresh corn, and mango salsa nestled in a grilled corn tortilla with chipotle crema and lime. $12

Fresh Summer Bolognese: Zucchini noodles and fettuccini combine to make a bed for ground beef, cherry tomatoes, fresh mozarella, black olives and sun dried tomato pesto.
$14

Pan Fried Feta, Marinated Olives, Homemade Pita for appetizer. Pork Cutlets on Lemon and Olive Oil Dressed Baby Arugula, Pepperonata, and Buttered Green Beans. Lemon Squares for dessert. $16

Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Chorizo, Mushrooms and Chipotle-Lime Creme  $10

Grain & Veggie Bowl with choice of Quinoa, Brown Rice or Farro, medley of thinly sliced crunchy vegetables, grape tomatoes, salad greens, crumbled feta or other cheese, and choice of chicken or tuna, hard cooked eggs with a vinaigrette dressing or tahini yogurt sauce. $10

Chickpea Curry with Sweet Potatoes and Greens. A bowl of garden greens with chickpeas in a coconut milk curry, topped with almonds and yogurt. $10

Shwarma Spiced Chicken Pitas with Tahini Yogurt Sauce. Homemade pitas with roasted chicken, cucumber, lettuce, tomato, onion topped with tahini yogurt sauce with fresh dill and mint. $12

Pork Cutlets with Arugula and Pepperonada. Boneless pork cutlets topped with a caramelized onion-pepper-tomato mix with lemon and oil dressed arugula. $12

Sausage Gravy and Buttermilk Biscuits- local sausage, real butter. tender biscuits $10

Turkey, Black Bean, Fresh Corn and Orzo Salad. A very colorful and delicious salad dressed with a cumin, garlic lime sauce. $11 quart.

Multi Bean Salad- Green beans, yellow wax beans, kidney beans, and chick peas marinated in red wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, olive oil, sweet onions, red onion, garlic and herbs.  $5 pint

Beans and greens with pulled pork, squash casserole, and crispy potato wedges. $12

Mideastern inspired ( think mint, garlic, cumin) Turkey Kofta over Quinoa Pilaf, served with Tzatziki, Pita Bread and a Side Salad . $12

Chicken Divine is a casserole of broccoli, mushrooms and chicken in a light cheese sauce, topped with more cheese and sunflower seeds served with Buttered Pasta and a Side Salad. $14

Swedish Meatballs, buttered Egg Noodles, Cucumber Salad $14

Poached Salmon with Shrimp, Asparagus, Pickles Red Onion and Dill Cream $16

Baked Chicken, Chicken Livers & Onions, Steamed Broccoli & Cauliflower. $14

Glazed Salmon on Parsnip Puree, Mango Salsa, Haricots Vert $16

Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Bacon and Fried Capers, Roasted Potatoes, Butter Braised Green Beans  $16

Giant Meatball with Tomato Glaze, Mashed Potatoes, Green Bean, Fennel and Shallot Salad  $12

Braised Ham, Sweet and Sour Cabbage and Shredded Sweet Potatoes  $12

Roasted Grape and Spring Mix Salad, Foccacia of your choice (Olive, tomato, cheese, mushroom, artichoke etc.) $10

Kichari, Massaged Baby Kale Salad with Macadamia Nuts, Marinated Chicken.  $12

Braised Pork with Honey, Orange and Rosemary served with Rice Pilaf. $14

Grilled Mahi Mahi with Yellow Squash and Sundried Tomato Salsa , Braised Baby Potatoes on Greens.  $16

$20 per person
Coffee, Tea or Sparkling Water included.  You may bring your own beer or wine.  No corking fee.

Dinner is served at 6:30 Reservations Required. Call (804) 892-7588 to reserve your seat at the Chef's Table!

(Some folks have been asking about tipping.  We work hard to bring you a delicious gourmet meal at an affordable price.  If you had a wonderful experience, we welcome your contribution to our tip jar.  Every bit of money earned goes into keeping this business in the community)

$20 per person
Coffee, Tea or Sparkling Water included.  You may bring your own beer or wine.  No corking fee.

Dinner is served at 6:30 Reservations Required. Call (804) 892-7588 to reserve your seat at the Chef's Table!

(Some folks have been asking about tipping.  We work hard to bring you a delicious gourmet meal at an affordable price.  If you had a wonderful experience, we welcome your contribution to our tip jar.  Every bit of money earned goes into keeping this business in the community)

$20 per person
Coffee, Tea or Sparkling Water included.  You may bring your own beer or wine.  No corking fee.

Dinner is served at 6:30 Reservations Required. Call (804) 892-7588 to reserve your seat at the Chef's Table!

(Some folks have been asking about tipping.  We work hard to bring you a delicious gourmet meal at an affordable price.  If you had a wonderful experience, we welcome your contribution to our tip jar.  Every bit of money earned goes into keeping this business in the community)

$20 per person
Coffee, Tea or Sparkling Water included.  You may bring your own beer or wine.  No corking fee.

Dinner is served at 6:30 Reservations Required. Call (804) 892-7588 to reserve your seat at the Chef's Table!

(Some folks have been asking about tipping.  We work hard to bring you a delicious gourmet meal at an affordable price.  If you had a wonderful experience, we welcome your contribution to our tip jar.  Every bit of money earned goes into keeping this business in the community)

Photo and recipe credit to Tuscan Food and Folklore, Jeni Wright.

$20 per person
Coffee, Tea or Sparkling Water included.  You may bring your own beer or wine.  No corking fee.

Dinner is served at 6:30 Reservations Required. Call (804) 892-7588 to reserve your seat at the Chef's Table!

(Some folks have been asking about tipping.  We work hard to bring you a delicious gourmet meal at an affordable price.  If you had a wonderful experience, we welcome your contribution to our tip jar.  Every bit of money earned goes into keeping this business in the community)

Hello!  I know I'm late getting this out.  In fact, I don't even have the entire menu planned yet, but you know I can do it. Let's just keep it simple and say Saturday's Chef Table will be an Indian inspired feast.  Curry, veggies, something yummy for dessert -- I am thinking Cardamom Rose Cake with Pistachios.. 

$20 per person
Coffee, Tea or Sparkling Water included.  You may bring your own beer or wine.  No corking fee.

Dinner is served at 6:30 Reservations Required. Call (804) 892-7588 to reserve your seat at the Chef's Table!

(Some folks have been asking about tipping.  We work hard to bring you a delicious gourmet meal at an affordable price.  If you had a wonderful experience, we welcome your contribution to our tip jar.  Every bit of money earned goes into keeping this business in the community)

$20 per person
Coffee, Tea or Sparkling Water included.  You may bring your own beer or wine.  No corking fee.

Dinner is served at 6:30 Reservations Required. Call (804) 892-7588 to reserve your seat at the Chef's Table!

(Some folks have been asking about tipping.  We work hard to bring you a delicious gourmet meal at an affordable price.  If you had a wonderful experience, we welcome your contribution to our tip jar.  Every bit of money earned goes into keeping this business in the community)

photo and recipe from King Arthur Flour www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/chocolate-cheesecake-recipe

 Kirstin Andrews is in the Kitchen! A Southern Belle, who has hosted many dinner parties using heirloom family recipes, is creating her version of her Aunt Lou’s Cabbage Rolls using cherry smoked ham, bacon from Lingerfelt Farm, tomatoes, onions and shredded carrots. She serves this over smashed Yukon Gold potatoes steamed green beans. Kirstin is starting us off with Crab Stuffed Mushrooms and a Relish Tray of crisp vegetables, pickles and Dilly Beau Monde Dip, and finishing with her often requested Sweet Potato Cake with Cinnamon Honey Frosting.  Wow!  Sounds yummy!

If you are interested in being a guest chef, please talk to Alisa (804) 892-7588

$20 per person
Coffee, Tea or Sparkling Water included.  You may bring your own beer or wine.  No corking fee.

Dinner is served at 6:30 Reservations Required. Call (804) 892-7588 to reserve your seat at the Chef's Table!

(Some folks have been asking about tipping.  We work hard to bring you a delicious gourmet meal at an affordable price.  If you had a wonderful experience, we welcome your contribution to our tip jar.  Every bit of money earned goes into keeping this business in the community)

photo and recipe from https://shewearsmanyhats.com/southern-sweet-potato-cake-recipe/