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Almost Home to toast 25 years with celebration wine dinner
When Almost Home opened its doors on the square in Greencastle 25 years ago this Sunday, the tables were delicately adorned with doilies. Craft items were anywhere and everywhere owner Gail Smith could squeeze them in for sales display.
And there wasn't a Chicago Cubs' logo, photo, sign or pennant in sight.
Smith and Sara Bridges, her friend and business partner at the time, were opening a lunch-only tea room on Sept. 13, 1990 in just the area that is the easternmost section of the three Franklin Street buildings Smith now owns.
It was a gamble, as much as any mom-and-pop business -- especially a restaurant -- is always a big gamble.
Smith and Bridges had been partners in a successful 10-year run of Holiday Boutiques that featured Christmas crafts and culinary creations the two women enjoyed making. After starting out in Smith's Bainbridge home, moving to Bridges' house on U.S. 231 and outgrowing it all until they finally had staged it at the then-Walden Inn, the two women were ready for a bigger challenge.
Almost Home Tea Room and Gift Shop was born in space leased from Bonnie and Bob West.
Smith remembers that day like it was yesterday. A nervous yesterday.
"It was very busy," she told the Banner Graphic this week. "They were lined up at the door."
Two or three expansions later, Smith is now flying solo and ready to celebrate 25 years with Monday's signature wine dinner featuring guest chef Regina Mehallick from R Bistro on Massachusetts Avenue in Indianapolis and Smith creating four courses that will be paired with four different "higher-end" wines.
One of the top five chefs in Indianapolis, according to Smith, Mehallick will be bringing along cookbooks to autograph for purchasers. Smith said a number of recipes she has used at previous wine dinners came from that cookbook.
Lobster bisque will open the proceedings Monday evening, paired with a Brown Family sauvignon blanc. The evening's second course, a salad of arugula, beet and goat cheese topped with a maple-sherry vinaigrette, will get a Columbia Crest chardonnay pairing .
The main course, prime rib with a red wine butter sauce, will be paired with Charles Wetmore cabernet sauvignon from Wente Estate Vineyards.
For dessert, it will be chocolate seduction cake with raspberry melba sauce, paired with a Girard zinfandel.
Vintner Johnathon Sellers, who was part of the Wine and Opera event at DePauw University's Music on the Square last weekend, will be on hand to talk about the wine, while Smith and Mehallick "will share their little walk through the culinary life," Smith said.
Cost of the 6:30 p.m. 25th anniversary signature wine dinner is $40 per person. Reservations are being taken through Monday afternoon by calling 653-5788.
"It's so emotional," Smith said before her fifth annual music festival Aug. 29. "We've been here 25 years. We're throwing a party to celebrate."
During that portion of the silver anniversary celebration, Mayor Sue Murray proclaimed it "Gail Smith Day," honoring her for organizing the annual music festival, providing the motivation for First Friday and overall 25 years of success at Almost Home. Tears welled up in Smith's eyes.
After all, when Almost Home opened, it didn't even have a liquor license. That came later after Smith expanded with the Emerald Room for private dining upstairs above Almost Home, and added anther dining area to the west (and a beer and wine license) in May 2001 when she began staying open evenings for dinner.
In December 2008, the Swizzle Stick opened and has evolved not only into a welcoming neighborhood bar but a live music venue as well.
For three years in between there, Smith also operated the Final Approach Restaurant and Bar in the Dixie Chopper Business Canter at the Putnam County Airport.
"But when we opened the bar, something had to go," she said of giving up the airport eatery.
Things certainly have grown and prospered for Smith, who admits there were days along the way when she "didn't think there would be a next day."
However, things have gone so well over the years that Almost Home has won multiple awards, including the Peoples' Choice honor, at the Taste of Indiana in Indianapolis with its iconic strawberry pizza dessert and broccoli cheese soup.
Overall, Smith and Almost Home remain dedicated to providing "stylish comfort food" and "excellent service by a friendly staff."
But there's more to it than that. Smith wants to treat her customers like friends.
"Mostly it's about how you feel when you leave," she shared. "Like you've been 'Almost Home.'"