Newspapers / Morrisville and Preston Progress … / Jan. 29, 1998, edition 1 / Page 8
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8 - Morrisville and Preston Progress, Thursday, Jan. 29,1998 New Prestonwood chef brings ‘New Ahlens’ zest to town Prestonwood members might have noticed considerable changes in the clubs’ dining rooms in recent months but aren’t sure what or whom to attribute them to. Perhaps the new executive chef and operations manager Michael Chuong is the source. Hailed in from New Orleans, Chuong has executed the following changes: Starting with a new “Members First!” mission statement, Prestonwood staff members are doing everything they can to leave members feeling like royalty. One of the amenities members wanted was the creativity of the for mal dining room menu without pomp and circumstance. They want ed to be able to eat there without having to wear formal attire. Chuong responded by changing the name from “Formal Dining Room” to “Member Dining” where the dress code for the rest of the club applies too. I was glad to see that “Member Dining” also seems to mean “more Available” and “More Predictable.” I was beginning to think I should Prestonwood Gourmet By Roxanne Powers carry the club calendar with me everywhere I went. I tend to have a foggy memory and it seemed that that every time there was a “special -event,” the “Formal Dining Room” was temporarily snatched away from its members. For instance, in the past, if mem bers’ taste buds happened to be in the mood for creative cuisine on the evening of a wedding reception or other scheduled event, they would just have to appease them elsewhere Oyster Tequila Sunrise (Serves two) 1 doz. Oysters (in the shell) 1 tsp. sour cream Beluga caviar Mix following ingredients in small bowl. This will be the salsa. Tequila (optional) 1 large tomato finely diced Va finely diced onion 1 fresh lime (the juice) 1 jalapeno 1 tsp. chopped fresh cilantro 1 tsp. sweet and sour mix tsp. olive oil Salt to taste To serve: Place shucked oysters on the half shell on ice; top them with tomato salsa followed by sour cream, and finally generous amount of Beluga caviar. until the wedding was over! Now, come wedding or wake, “Member Dining” is available every Friday and Saturday night from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Reservations are preferred, but not required. Of course, wherever you see changes in attitudes and schedules, you will also see changes in staff. Two new staffers came with Chef Chuong from the City Energy Club of New Orleans, which is a member of Club Corporation of America. They are Jill Stamps and Ed Daily, who will coordinate services in the Prestonwood dining rooms. You will probably be hearing more about them in my column at a later date. When it comes to dining, if the food is not superb, all the services and amenities in the world will not help. Well, you can relax. The food is superb. Many restau rants in the area have laid claim to an intimate relationship with New Orleans cuisine but alas-they lie. {Not all the culinary schools in the world, nor considerable knowledge of the terms lagniappe, roux, and Mardi Gras qualifies one as a pre parer of “New Ah’lens” cuisine. You have to live it.) The food presented under the direction of Chef Chuong has a delightful honesty. So much so, that it seems to have an attitude of acceptable arrogance that could only come from New Orleans. And for good reason. Chuong trained for his roles as junior chef de partie and junior sous chef under acclaimed chefs Patrick Nitto and Andre Billon Tirraud of the inter continental gourmet restaurant Les Continents. Later, Chuong served under execu tive chefs Helmut Sussenbach and Willy Coin, who some claim to be the most respected chef in the New Orleans culinary field. In 1979, when he was 16 years old, Chuong’s father put him on a boat leaving Vietnam to come to America. Says Chef Chuong, “Like most teenagers, I wanted my freedom, and I got it in large doses. To be free from my parents’ rule and to be coming to a country of so many choices was exciting.” Fortunately, fate served him well, for upon his arrival in America, it was arranged for him to stay in an orphanage while he adjusted to the new customs and language. He later went to college at Louisiana State University and after graduating, he joined the four star Hotel Inter Continental New Orleans staff that trained him in the true classical tra dition. Chuong, who says he was influ enced by a mother who is almost always cooking, is married to Lan and has four daughters: Vi Chuong, an eighth grader at Davis Drive Elementary School, Christina, a three-year-old who attends preschool at St, Michael’s, and two daughters who are students at Weatherstone Elementary-Van, a fifth grader, and Victoria, a second grader. The family, who is building a home on Davis Drive, didn’t waste any time in establishing roots in the area. Says Chuong; “I wanted Prestonwood members and staff to know that I am committed to my position here.” Chuong offers the following sim ple, but elegant recipe for those men desiring to please and impress the special woman in their lives for Valentine’s Day. (It’s only about two weeks away guys.) Good Hope Church ministering with program for preschoolers By Mary Beth Phillips Good Hope Baptist Church in Carpenter is hosting a Mother's Morning Out program run by the Cary Family YMCA in a mutually- beneficial arrangement that may be expanded. Dr. Paul Alverson, pastor at Good Hope, said this is the first church he's ever been associated with that didn't have some sort of preschool program, "It's a marvelous ministry," he said. "You get to meet some neat folk, and obviously we have an eye out for the future. These folk com ing into our community and bring ing their children to this church will learn about us. The children will want to go to church on Sunday, we hope. We needed to let the commu nity know this is a church out here, viable, living, working, and doing good stuff." Betsy Peters, director of children's programs for the Y, said the church is about five and a half miles from the Y and convenient to Apex, Morrisville and Cary. "We think it's a great location, a wonderful church, a wonderful play ground area, it's perfect," she said. The program started the first week in January, with two three-hour ses sions each on Monday-Wednesday and Tuesday-Thursday mornings. There are 30 children in each ses sion-15 two-and-a-half-year-olds, and 15 three-year-olds, for 60 total. The two-year-old classes have three teachers each; the three-year-old classes have two teachers, Ms. Peters said. The program is not full yet. There are about 10 openings for three- year-olds over both sessions, and two openings remain for two-and-a- half-year-olds in the Tuesday- Thursday class. So far, it's going "just great,” Alverson said. "They are real pro fessionals, We didn't have the headache and heartache of trying to start up. Betsy just came in with all of her smarts and said we'll do this and this, you do this that and this." Some of the children are members of the Y. Others are members of the church. But most are newcomers to the area who couldn't get into anoth er preschool program. "Our goal was just to have the community involved,” Alverson said. "This little church has been sit ting over here in this little oasis for a long time. People go up and down the road saying what a neat little place. Now we have Brook Arbor, Carpenter Village and all those com munities on (N.C.) 55, We've just got to minister to these folks. A lot of them are young couples, and young couples have children,”, he said. Alverson has been permanent pas tor at the church for less than a year, We Appraise, Repair, or Buy Your Fine Jewelry One piece or a colieciion, estates, private parties, \ attorneys, or brokers. All will be handled in strictest confidence. Appraisals in our store by our Gemologist. I DIAMOND I CENTER 201 S. Main Street • Downtown Fuquay-Varina • 552-3548 Turf Car Services, Inc. Authorized E-Z-Go Golf Cart Deafer for Sales. Parts, and Services Good inventory of used Golf Carts available $700“ to $2200” Pick up & Delivery Service 1205 W. Academy SI. CC7,.4CTE NC 42 West Fuquay-Varina 55/~1^08 If your clriltl cloesnl get matli, get Irelp. 8 out of 10 Sylvan students improve their math skills-by one academic year in 5 months. Two Locations: CARY 467-8097 GARNER 779-2229 Sylvan Learning Center’ Success IS learnedr Reading Writing Math SAT^ACT Study Skills Courses For Credit but he has been serving as interim pastor since long-time pastor Bobby Weatherspoon left in September of 1996. This is the second church that the Y has made an agreement with. Good Shepherd United Church of Christ on Maynard Road has housed a program that is exactly the same with a total of 60 children. They have been operating since fall. Space in churches is needed because the YMCA is bursting at the seams, Ms. Peters said. There are already 60 preschool children a day in the "Sneaker Club," plus an addi tional 100 a day in the nursery. Also in the YMCA facility daily are 160 tracking-out children from year- round schools. A contract has been signed through May but both sides are enthusiastic about continuing. "We want to have a summer pro gram out there for 2- and 3-year- olds and a program from fall of 98 until May of 99," Ms. Peters said. "We're excited to be at the church, and looking forward to its growing.” "With the way it's going right now, I can see absolutely no reason not to continue," Alverson said. Valentine’s Day Is Almost Here! Remember that special someone with a gift of chocolates from CHOCOLATE SMILES fn the V of Downtown Cary Hand Dipped Chocolates Including Truffles, Nut Clusters and Pecan Snappers. H) Open the week of Valentines Day until 6 p.m. II5-BW. ChathamSt. 469-5282 /Mf WESHIPUPS M-F 10-6 • Sat. 10-5 ’•k Area's Finest Selection of Unique Area Rugs, Border Rugs, Complete Custom Rugs, Also Wall to Wall Broadlooms and Berbers! 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Chances are you already know us and our local reputation for quality Mercedes-Benz vehicles and personal service. So why not call Wayne or Craig Madsen or come by and reacquaint yourself with classic convertibles and that wind in the hair feeling? (ID MADSEN MOTOR COMPANY Your Mercedes-Benz is Waiting Madsen Motor Company - 902 East Chatham Street - Cary, NC 27511 Telephone 919-481-0600
Morrisville and Preston Progress (Morrisville, N.C.)
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