Chef Tim Urbanic, co-creator of Bop & Nana’s Vegetarian Sunday Supper Series, is shown in this undated contributed photo with fresh ingredients at his farm in Chloe, Calhoun County.
Chef Tim Urbanic, co-creator of Bop & Nana’s Vegetarian Sunday Supper Series, is shown in this undated contributed photo with fresh ingredients at his farm in Chloe, Calhoun County.
What you may not know, however, is that this year’s offerings also include three different seven-course meals featuring an all-vegetarian menu of dishes made from ingredients gathered within a four-mile radius of their farm.
This is an undated contributed photo of watermelon and herbs, which is served at Bop & Nana's farm in Chloe, Calhoun County.
Courtesy photo
This is an undated contributed photo of Spanikopital with vegetables, which is served at Bop & Nana’s farm in Chloe, Calhoun County.
Courtesy photo
What will be served on those days remains to be seen — since Tim and his son, Eli, build each menu based on the freshest and best-looking produce they can find at that time — but Melody says guests are always in for a treat.
“We raise sweet corn right in the garden near the picnic shelter, as well as all of the herbs, tomatoes, zucchini, squash and more,†she told me. “The eggs are local from some chickens right down the road from us and the blueberry ice cream dessert Tim makes from the blueberry patch that overlooks the pavilion.â€
All pasta is handmade and the pesto that tops them is spiked with their own garden-grown basil.
“We also grew the green beans and garlic we’ve served in the past,†she added, “and the spanakopita from last year was made from our neighbor’s spinach.â€
Although several dinners have already sold out, limited tickets are still available for the traditional (non-vegetarian) May 11 Mother’s Day dinner for $115 per person, plus the vegetarian dinners in late July and early August. Tickets include a seven-course meal, tax, gratuity and a welcome beverage upon arrival.
Albuquerque Southwest Bar & Grill, 207 Washington St. W on ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä's West Side held a grand opening on March 14, 2025.
Courtesy photo
Restaurant openings and closings
It was a busy weekend for ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä restaurant news, with the new Albuquerque Southwest Bar & Grill opening Friday at 207 Washington St. W. on the West Side and Hagy’s Irish Pie Pub officially opening Monday (St. Patrick’s Day) on the corner of Quarrier and Dickinson streets downtown after a soft opening last weekend.
In more somber news, Appalachian Tea at 613 Ohio Ave., also on ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä’s West Side, announced in a Facebook post last week that it would be closing for good on March 30.
“It’s been a wonderful dream,†the post said, “meeting all of you and sharing the love of good company with tasty drinks and food.â€
The post said the owners do hope to keep hosting game nights and a book club at other locations in the future, so fans can email them at appalachiantea@gmail.com if they’d like to stay in the loop.
“Meanwhile, we’ve got a lot of furniture, books and dishes to send on to good homes,†the post continued. “If there’s something in particular you’d like or you’d like to browse, swing on by!â€
Steven Keith is a food writer and restaurant critic known as “The Food Guy.†Reach him at 304-380-6096 or at wvfoodguy@aol.com.
