sale pending...YIPPIE

well, got word back from an inquiry of my artwork for sale and they are interested in purchasing FIFA and TECHNICOLOR TORNADO both. have to figure out shiping fees, etc fo IReland but I am more than willing to do that. I am so glad that my work is being recignized all over the world. workinn on a new painting as well, should have something of WIP to show this weekend. looks like the cafe I am working on is not going with a new menu, but they are still paying me fairly well and let me offer input to the recipies, etc. not a bad place to be for now. the brother that came down to get it running is still looking into starting a high end place up north and interested in my either going up there to start it with him or else at least consulting to create the menu, etc on it.

Kevin

finished menu

here is the finished (other than spellchecking) menu. let me know what you think. afraid I will have to remove the asparagus in parmesan though as it is very seasonal (and not this season).



Let’s Talk Café
Distinctive cuisine showcasing fresh local ingredients


Starters

Florida Orange and fennel salad ~ lemon Dijon dressing with fresh mint, on a bed of radicchio
$7.50

Spinach salad ~ with pomegranate vinaigrette, apple chips, sun-dried cranberries, and blue cheese crumbles.
$6.95

Chicken and Artichoke Panzanilla ~ roasted chicken, croutons, and artichoke hearts with Champagne Vinaigrette.
$7.95

Florida Seafood Salad ~ locally caught lump crab and shrimp with tarragon white wine vinaigrette on a bed of baby greens.
$8.50

Cucumber Dill Salad ~ fresh cucumber and sweet onion topped with fresh dill vinaigrette.
$6.50

*inquire for today’s feature Soups and Salads*


Appetizers

Seviche Platter ~ cured butterfly shrimp and fresh yellow-fin tuna served with lemon dill aioli and fresh Florida citrus compote.
$13.50

Florida Crab Cakes ~ lump local crab meat breaded garnished with remoulade and served with roasted corn relish.
$11.95

Stuffed Roma Tomatoes ~ roma tomatoes filled with Florida lobster salad.
$9.50

Spinach and Feta Soufflé ~ garnished with red bell pepper infused olive oil.
$7.50

Roasted Onion Tart ~ served on puff pastry, topped with gruyere cheese.
$6.95

Asparagus Parma Fritti ~ blanched asparagus spears, wrapped in prosciutto and breaded in parmesan cheese breading.
$8.50

Portabella Gratin ~ grilled portabella mushroom caps topped with fresh goat cheese and garnished with aged balsamic vinegar and ex virgin olive oil.
$6.95


Entrée

Blackened Catfish ~ Florida Catfish fillet with New Orleans style blackening topped with tomato Lime salsa, served with roasted sweet peppers.
$13.50

Salt Crusted Rib eye ~ Tender juicy rib eye, coated with a crust made of salt, pepper, garlic, and olive oil cooked to perfection, served with orange balsamic glazed scallions.
$25.95

Walnut encrusted grouper ~ fresh Florida grouper fillet breaded in walnut breading and served with remoulade or lemon-dill aioli and a side of sautéed spinach.
$15.95

Scallops ~ wrapped in bacon, sauté in burr blank sauce with mushroom medley
$21.95

Chicken Tuaca ~ leg quarter of chicken glazed with tuaca (vanilla orange brandy), served with sour apple mint relish.
$12.95

Pork Chops ~ chili rubbed, with balsamic reduction demi-glaze, served with roasted fennel salad.
$14.95

Veal Rolls ~ veal scaloppini rolled with spinach and parmesan, baked wrapped in filo pastry, served with a leek micro-green salad.
$15.95

Shrimp Creole ~ Creole tomato sauce with fresh Florida gulf shrimp served over a bed of Basmati rice.
$14.95

*inquire for today’s featured menu options*

Sides

Sweet Potato Nest ~
$2.95

Hushpuppies ~
$2.95

Vermont White Cheddar mashed potatoes ~
$2.50

Minnesota Wild Rice Pilaf ~
$3.50

New Orleans Jambalaya ~
$2.95

Let’s Talk Café

~ Inquire to book your private party or wine dinner ~

Kevin

menu finished, and art collectors inquiring.

well, the menu is finished (other than spellchecking, finalizing prices, etc). will offer a couple of the items as features on this weekends menu to start to see the response and let the public know about it. on other notes, I hot an inquiry from someone in ireland asking if it could be arranged to sell my artwork overseas. so I replied (absolutely) and am awaiting more details. so looks very favorable for selling some artwork in the near future. so anyone interested overseas. yes, I would love to sell my work to those anywhere that are inspired by it. I would love to have my works viewed all over the world. the future is looking very promising and I have much work ahead of me (but all things I enjoy) working now on my next painting. whould have a photo of it tomorow as it developes more.

Kevin

menu (not finished, so far)

here is what I have so far for my menu I am integrating at the cafe i am now working as head chef. let me know what you think.


Starters:

Florida Orange and fennel salad ~ with honey ginger sauce, topped with sesame seeds.
($3.95)

Spinach salad ~ with pomegranate vinaigrette, apple chips, sun-dried cranberries, and blue cheese crumbles.
($3.95)

Chicken and Artichoke Panzanilla ~ roasted chicken, croutons, and artichoke hearts with Champaign Vinaigrette.
($4.50)

Florida Seafood Salad ~ locally caught lump crab and shrimp with tarragon white wine vinaigrette on a bed of baby greens.
($5.95)

Cucumber Dill Salad ~ fresh cucumber and sweet onion topped with fresh dill vinaigrette.
($3.95)

*inquire for today’s feature Soups and Salads*

Appetizers:

Civeche Platter ~ cured butterfly shrimp and fresh tuna served with lemon dill aioli and fresh Florida citrus compote.
($7.50)

Florida Crab Cakes ~ lump local crab meat, garnished with remoulade and served with roasted corn relish.
($6.95)

Stuffed Roma Tomatoes ~ roma tomatoes, hollowed out and filled with lobster salad.
($5.95)

Spinach and Feta Soufflé ~ garnished with red bell pepper infused olive oil.
($5.50)

Roasted Onion Tart ~ served on puff pastry, topped with gruyere cheese.
($4.95)

Asparagus Parma Fritti ~ blanched asparagus spears, wrapped in prosciutto and breaded in parmesan cheese breading.
($6.50)

Portabella Gratin ~ portabella mushroom caps topped with fresh goat cheese and garnished with aged balsamic vinegar and ex virgin olive oil.
($5.95)



Kevin

new job, new opertunities, new problems.

well, overall in my personal life things seem to be falling into place. am now working as the head chef in the cafe on orange ave. just outside the downtown area. and am given total freedom to develope a fine dining menu to whatever direction I wish. so overall that is exactly what I want and have always dreamed of. but as is always in life, there is a system ov checks and balances. my roommate is having serious financial problems (has been living beyond his means for a long time, and is finally catching up to him). so I am trying to see if I can find a place I can get into of my own or else with a more financially stable roommate. now that I have a good job previous limitations that made me chose to move in here are not relevent. so I can see about getting into a better postiion. on the plus side, I am working full time enough that I am usually not here when he is.

Kevin

FIFA...finished?

well, here it is. the finished (?) FIFA painting. 16x20. still have to sign it when it dries, but think it is done otherwise.

Kevin

latest WIP,

here is my latest work in progress. has to dry for a day or so then add in the drybrush layering for highlights. canvas is 16x20. sort of looks like a foot/leg kicking a soccor ball, so think I will call it FIFA. since the world cup just ended (VIVA ITALIA....world football champions)

Kevin

new job, opertunities, etc.

well, started the new job tonight and it went very well. working evenings there for now and soon as days pick up work the afternoon as well. untill then work days at my pervious (dead end) job. my investor that has been saying he will back my restaurant is still saying it will happen aug 1, but only time will tell. work tomorow eve at the new job and off sunday (far as I know) so should have tomorow morning and sunday to work on my painting.

technicolor tornado...completed?

here is the last painting I was woirking on. decided it needed a bit more depth to balance out the grey area on it. so left the grey as an undertone and added a bit more color and texture. so here it is, finished?

Kevin

good news

the latest news, I got a reply from a gallery in Hollywood FL that has an art gallery, and they want to show my paintings in a future show. have to call them tonight to sort out the details, but the work will be up for 60 days and they will take a 40% comission. also heard a reply from the new downtown arts center here in Orlando they just opened and they want me to bring in some of my work for them to see, and likely show. on another subject, I heard from a small cafe that just started here and wants me to be their head chef, go in tomorow evening and saturday to check things out and see how it goes. so looks like at long last, all is going in my direction.

working on my next painting, but nothing yet to show. should have something saturday or sunday to show, as I work tomorow all day and will not have alot of time to paint.

Kevin

new websight.

created a new websight for my artwork for sale and display. the link is http://ksmith.artistportfolio.net free from popups, so much better than my previous websight.

latest abstract, finished.

size is 16x20. not sure yet what I will name it. have the canvas for the next one, but unsure yet what I am going to do with it. all of them are stream of consciousness images and untill I pick up the brush I generally have no idea what it will start as, let alone evolve into.

Kevin

latest abstract, WIP.

still have to add some more texture and contrast, but here is what I have so far. figure to let it dry tonight and either tomorow or the day after add the final touches to it.

Kevin

progress, finally!

well, slowly but surely making progress. talked to the downtown arts center they just completed and they are organizing events once a month (third thurs) so I will finally have a monthly art event to go to. talked as well to an artist I know that has a gallery in Arizona and arranging to make a trip there next month. good possability I will be able to get my work in both galleries. also talked to a restaurant that is just opening and I start working there later this week. going to have control over the menu as well as future adding of catering out of the facility. so finally things are looking like they are coming into place.

on the artistic front, I started work on my next abstract and should have something to show tomorow.

stratosphere, completed

here is the completed painting, 12x16 in. watercolor and oils on canvas. just have to wait for the paint to dry.

stratosphere, (evolution of abstract WIP)

here is the evolution of the abstract WIP I posted earlier this morning. i figure to go back to it when it is dry to see if I add any more ot it, but think it very well could be done (other than signature) 14x20 image size on canvas. mixed media (watercolor and oils).

new abstract, WIP.

have to add some layers on top of it after it dries, but so far seems to be taking nice form. thinking I will add some organic shapes layered on top bridging the elements together and perhaps a little more green drybrush to the lower left so it brings it together.

websight up.

well, nothing formal or anything, for now just on tripod so a freeserver. but i have my websight done (initially) plan on adding more as time allows. http://kjs-arts.tripod.com/ business wise have things in the works, fairly favorable. for getting a commercial kitchen to use and restart my catering business here in Orlando.

cinque terra, today...

here it is as I have it right now. need to wait untill it dires and add in more texture for the foliage. but think it is shaping up nicely.

Kevin

cinque terra, watercolor (WIP)

well, here is what I have so far. all the basic artwork is drawn out and the partial structure for the mountain is done, as well as all the color for the houses. I chose this location because when I was in Italy it was a very majestic place, almost like stepping back in time. no cars are even able to access this city.

next painting...reference photo

have not posted in a couple days because I have been working this weekend helping a guy redo his garage (so I can make a bit of extra cash to help support the necessities and luxuries in my life). off work yesterday (because today is american independance day) and off today as well. found the image I want to use for the next painting, unfortunately am out of canvas so I guess it will be on watercolor paper and not mixed media as the last are. but that is fine with me (allows me to work more on my watercolor technique. the person I have located as my front manager in my restaurant was just laid off from his job, and my pastry chef was just told that her family she is living with are moving the end of this month, and she will not be able to stay there with them. so I guess chaos seems to be around every direction I turn. others seem to have it worse than I do in many ways (just wish the people of this world could get their sh*t together and start taking care of their fellow man/woman and the universe around them). guess myabe that is part of why I did this. to help inspire others.

Kevin