Now, spending a lunch hour at Goldsmith’s-Macy’s won’t necessarily mean a shopping spree. With the addition of Cosi, a café opening November 1st in the store at the Oak Court Mall, shoppers can sit down with a sandwich and a cup of java.
Cosi, a New York-based chain with 88 locations in 11 states, joined Federated Department Stores in March to open cafés in 10 locations from Seattle to Miami. Goldsmith’s-Macy’s Oak Court is the second store location to open and the only location slated for Memphis at this time.
The café will be located on the first floor in the southeast corner of the store.
Cosi serves gourmet sandwiches on flat bread that is baked daily. The “Thai Turkey” is accompanied by apples, basil, and red-curry mayo, and the “Turkey Blue” features bacon, sliced eggs, romaine, and a mango-blue-cheese bread. In addition to sandwiches, Cosi offers coffee and tea, breakfast items, soups and salads, and a number of vegetarian choices. For dessert, try an old-fashioned s’more.
“It’s all part of the storewide improvements we’ve been making,” says Annette Askew, director of regional special events and public relations for the store. “Most of the main floor has already been renovated. It’s exciting for us. I think customers will love to sit down and take a break without leaving the store.”
The Germantown Chamber of Commerce will host Taste of the Town Thursday, October 21st, in Germantown Centre’s Great Hall from 6:30 to 9 p.m.
Chefs from about 30 area restaurants and caterers will serve some old favorites. It’s also a great opportunity to try restaurants new to the area, such as Bonefish Grill of Cordova and Sakura Japanese Restaurant of Germantown. And (start salivating now) Dinstuhl’s will offer a flowing chocolate fountain.
“The Butcher Shop always serves beef tenderloin and grilled mushrooms, and P.F. Chang’s will make their fabulous lettuce wraps,” says co-chair Robin Cook. “There’s always plenty of food.”
As a keepsake, guests will receive hand-painted plates to pile high with food and hand-painted wine or martini glasses for beverage tastings at the wine bar, martini bar, and margarita bar.
“We will have a live auction and a silent auction,” says Cook. “One item that’s really neat is a ‘Dozen Dining Delights.’ Twelve restaurants have donated $100 gift certificates, and you can enjoy a fabulous dinner each month for a year. We also have a ride in the FedEx simulator, and Mega World Travel donated two airline tickets to anywhere in the country.”
Eddie Harrison, formerly with the Short Cuts, will keep a relaxing tempo going with soft piano music and singing. While the event is a fund-raiser for the chamber, the Make-A-Wish Foundation also will receive $5,000 of the event’s proceeds to grant the wish of one child.
“This is the fourth year we’ve had the event, so it has grown,” says Cook. “We have more sponsors, more restaurants. We hope to have at least 600 people in attendance. It’s a wonderful networking opportunity to make new friends, meet people, and make new business contacts.”
Tickets cost $40 in advance or $50 at the door. Call 755-1200 for reservations.
Seasons at the White Church is hosting a four-course wine dinner. Each course, specially prepared by Chef Brian Harwell, will be paired with a selection of Mazzocco wines.
The prix-fixe menu will feature crispy Alaskan king salmon, roast duck, and Zinfandel-braised Niman Ranch short ribs. Persimmon pudding cake with orange sauce and rum-raisin ice cream will be served for dessert.
The evening, part of the restaurant’s fall wine series, begins at 6:45 p.m., and the cost is $49 per person. White Church is located in Collierville, 196 North Main at Poplar. Call 854-6433 for reservations.
Heritage Place Retirement Community, located at 2990 Hickory Hill, will serve a pancake breakfast to benefit the Red Cross Saturday, October 23rd, from 7:30 to 10 a.m.
Although breakfast is free, a $5 donation is suggested. Proceeds will benefit the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which aided nearly 417,000 people affected by recent hurricanes.
The breakfast is a nationwide effort by Heritage Place’s parent company, Holiday Retirement Corp., to raise $250,000 through its nearly 300 retirement communities.
For more information, call 794-8857.
