Can this be? Are we actually posting something? The answer is yes. The answer is also yes to, “Do you have that new menu yet?”

As you probably have figured out, putting the new menu together involved a lot more time and work than we expected. And we’ve learned something …Never say something will be ready around a certain date unless you’re 100% sure it will be. (Mind you, we did say we were “aiming at …”) So, we resolve that in the future we’ll say we’re working on something but not specify a date for readiness.

A couple of things contributed to the delay. The biggest one was getting it right. We kept tweaking until the taste was what we thought it should be and it seemed quite often the feeling was, “… it could be better.” So we kept tweaking.

We also mentioned we wanted to include gluten free items in the menu, which we have (bread, ribs, chowder, pasta and sauces etc.) though we want to do much more. We’ll be working with the Saint John chapter of the Canadian Celiac Association going through the entire menu to see what is necessary to broaden what we can offer. Of course, it can’t just be gluten free. It also has to taste good and we want to ensure that what we offer does.

You’ll be happy to know we have a second menu now, one that outlines our beverages and desserts. Yes, we have a dessert menu now. (A number of people have asked about that.) We’ve been working on that one for quite a while now.

While we’ve been on a kind of working hiatus, we’ve had a great number of compliments and other kind words and want to thank all of you for them.

Live music

We’ll also be introducing live music at the Deli starting Saturday, October 24th from 8-10 pm. Mike Biggar will be joining us. You may know Mike from the open mike night at the VintagE Bistro and Lounge in Hampton, which he hosts.

Our goal is to bring in some local talent (guitar/acoustic) between now and Christmas and then set a schedule for the new year for it to be a regular thing.

And finally

Just a reminder (since we just referred to Christmas) … if you’re planning a group Christmas thing, like a company Christmas get-together and want to have it at the Urban Deli, or if you’re interested in having us do some catering for your Christmas thing, just give us a call at 506.652.3354 (that’s 506.652.DELI). We can probably arrange something!

We’ve had all sorts of kind words and great conversations with customers and others since we’ve opened. And since we’ve opened, one phrase keeps popping up: “gluten-free.”

They say you can’t be all things to all people and, while that may be true, you can certainly try. So we’ve started the Urban Deli on a journey to educate ourselves and implement gluten-free menu items for persons with celiac disease and for those who simply want gluten-free menu options.

We will offer gluten-free menu items very soon. We’re aiming at September 21 for an updated menu. The gluten-free items will include (but won’t be limited to):

• Seafood Chowder
• Ribs
• Salads & Dressings
• Mac’n Cheese (both the noodles and cheese sauce)
• Noodles with a light tomato sauce and meatballs
• Gluten-free bread – making many of our sandwich choices gluten-free

We’ve spoken to a number of persons with celiac disease and other people who simply want gluten-free options. With the subject coming up so frequently, we quickly saw that it was an important aspect of a menu and that we needed to incorporate gluten-free choices.

We’re not exactly the best informed people on this subject but our research (and education) has begun. We’ll be contacting the local chapter of the Canadian Celiac Association here in Saint John so we can meet with them and they can take us into their world – allow us to learn what life is like for people with celiac disease.  And we’re look forward to it!

Thanks to everyone who has spoken to us and helped point us in the right direction. Changes like these only come about through your input, so please remember any menu suggestions or favourite recipes are welcome through our web site or by dropping into the Deli and saying, “Hi!”