Mexico Celebrates Love and Friendship

"La amistad es lluvia de flores preciosas"

"Friendship is like a shower of precious flowers" - Aztec Poem

Weekend Feature

• Karen's Mexican Wedding Soup
• Chris's Chocolate Margaritas
• John's Chocolate Kahlua Ice Cream
• Back by Popular Demand: Fajitas for Two

In Mexico it is the Día de San Valentin, or more commonly: El Día del Amor y la Amistad, the "day of love and friendship." People commonly give flowers, candies and balloons to their romantic interest, but it's also a day to show appreciation for friends in Mexico. It's a time for people to show appreciation to the people they care about.  Bring your sweetie or your pal to the Franklin Inn for great food and some good conversation, because according to a Mexican Proverb, "Conversation is food for the soul." 

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Valentine's Fajitas for Two: You enjoyed this special so much New Year's Eve that we promised to bring it back Valentine's Weekend. Bring your sweetie to the Inn for great conversation and a Sizzling 3-Course Fajitas for two Thursday  through Saturday. John and I enjoyed a chicken and shrimp fajita together on our date night yesterday.  Just 26.95 per couple from 11am until the kitchen closes. Here's what's included.

Appetizer (choose one): Black Bean Appetizer, Cheese Cilantro, or Chile Con Queso. And of course, a basket of warm chips and salsa.

Fajitas (choose two): Salmon, Chicken, Sirloin Steak, Chorizo, Spicy Shrimp, or Portobello. Sauteed onions, colorful bell peppers and your selections above served on a sizzling platter with warm flour tortillas, pico de gallo and sour cream. Guacamole, cheese, and lettuce available upon request at no additional charge The Salmon is very limited and will sell out fast.

Dessert: Sopaipillas with vanilla ice cream

Add a bottle of wine or a large mason jar margarita and you have a complete Valentine's Dinner for two with an appetizer and dessert for about 50 bucks.

For more about the origins of Saint Valentine's Day check out www.history.com.

Tequila of the Month: El Mayor Tequila

February's featured tequila is the multi-award winning, El Mayor.  In Spanish it means "the greatest." This 100% Agave Premium Tequila has been produced by the Gonzalez family using traditional methods for 125 years. Master Distiller, Rodolfo Gonzãlez, is the third generation to oversee the family's agave growing estate in the Highlands of Jalisco. Read more about product on the their website: http://elmayor.com/.

Gonzãlez says that El Mayor is the "smoothest ultra premium tequila known to man." What do you think? Come give a try at the Inn today.  Compare it in a flight (including the Blanco, Resposado, and Anejo). Enjoy it in a margarita, of course. Sip slowly on its own as Gonzãlez recommends. Or, check out our drink menu. Chris has come up with three speciality drinks, one for each type of tequila.

When you try El Mayor this month at the Inn, your name will be entered to win a Flight Paddle with three shot glasses (like the one in the photo below).  Ask your server for details.

 

You're Invited to a Toastmasters Open House on Monday

What does this have to do with the Franklin Inn? Not much, except I thought you might benefit from this group too. Open house details are at the end of this post.

Over the last 13 or so years, I have enjoyed our conversations via Facebook, Twitter, this blog, eInnSider email updates and our conversations at the restaurant. This is where I am comfortable.  Public speaking....that's a different story. Speaking in front of more than a small group...not what I want to do! It happens only when I have to or am forced to but I rarely volunteer. I forget what I'm going to say, use the wrong words, think of the things that "I should've said" afterwards, etc. I think this lack of confidence in my oral communication skills hinders my effectiveness in both my professional and volunteer work. Over the years, I've wanted to work on my speaking skills....one day...when I had time....until then I "delegate" public speaking to others who I feel are better at it.  

Well, a member of the Inn Group (the networking group that meets at the Franklin Inn), Michelle Hall, invited me to her newly formed Cranberry High Noon Toastmasters this past Summer.  She is the club's president, so I made the time and went to take a peek. Guess what?  I loved it and I now attend regularly.

I have met wonderful people, learned so much from listening to the other speakers (who are at various levels of speaking ability), and even worked up the nerve to give three speeches of my own. These speeches were met with encouragement and great tips to build upon. Since the meeting is only an hour long, its easy to fit in my schedule too.

There are a lot of "I"s in my writing above because I personally am gaining from my Toastmasters experience. Toastmasters might be a great opportunity for you to also equip yourself with tools to become a better communicator, speaker, and leader. Why don't you come to the Cranberry High Noon Toastmasters OPEN HOUSE meeting and take your own peek? And, then you can come to the Franklin Inn for lunch or a margarita afterwards. Bring a friend (to both places!).

Here are the details:


You are Invited to Experience a Toastmasters Meeting!
Visit the Cranberry High Noon Toastmasters Club
OPEN HOUSE Meeting!

 Monday, February 3rd
12-1pm
Check In at 11:45am

Cranberry Municipal Building, Council Chambers
2525 Rochester Road, Cranberry Twp, PA 16066

RSVP: Click here!
All guests are welcome - it is FREE to attend!

For more information, visit the club website at: www.cranberryhighnoon.toastmastersclubs.org.

A Victory for Your Taste: Beer Dinner at the Inn

Are you a lover of hops and great food?  Then this event is for you. 

We are excited to be hosting our first beer dinner at the Franklin Inn Mexican Restaurant on Sunday, February 16th at 4pm.  Seats are only $45 for a delicious homemade four course meal with beer pairings.

A special four course menu is being created in-house that will pair perfectly with selections from Victory Brewing Company. The meal will, of course, have a Mexican influence and use the fresh homemade ingredients that Franklin Inn customers love but there will be an additional inspiration: Victory Beer.  Chris shared our menu proposal with the representative from Victory who then told Chris that the menu he is creating is "spot on."  Here's an advanced peek: The fourth course includes John's homemade ice cream which features a Victory beer. Stay tuned for more information on the meal.  Yesterday I was able to sample (I know....I know...life is tough for me) some of the menu items that Chris is working on perfecting for you. They were delicious. I can't wait for you to taste them too.

Along with the food comes the beer! There will be a free reception beer before we get started and then you'll have the opportunity to taste four more 8 oz. beers from Victory Brewing Company. A representative from Victory, Bob Gera, will be at this dinner to walk us through the food and beer pairings. Bob will also answer your brew questions. You'll even get to take home a free Victory Pint Glass as a souvenir.

This is going to be a fun and tasty event. We hope you can join us and bring a few friends. Seats are selling fast. We were half sold out a week ago. Please reserve your spot asap.

Hint! Hint! This also makes a great Valentine's Day Gift for the hop-lover in your life.

Please share this information with your friends. To learn more and reserve your seats visit: http://www.franklininn.net/specialevents.htm

Happy New Year!

We are closed today so that our staff can spend time with family and friends. Best wishes for a blessed and happy new year. Thank you for being such a pleasure to serve in 2013! Franklin Inn Patrons Rock.

 

 

New Year's Eve Specials

New Year's Eve Special Features

It's $2 Tuesday
Hornitos Lime Shots or Labatt Drafts just $2 all day today.

Send 2013 Out with a Sizzle & a Friend
New Year's Eve Special: Fajitas for Two Meal


This colorful New Year's Eve Special is just $25.95 and includes your choice of

Appetizer (choose one)
Black Bean Appetizer, Cheese Cilantro, or Chile Con Queso

Fajitas (choose two)
Chicken, Steak, Chorizo, Spicy Shrimp, or Portobello
Sauteed onions, colorful bell peppers and your selections above served on a
sizzling platter with warm flour tortillas, pico de gallo and sour cream.
Guacamole, cheese, and lettuce available upon request at no additional charge 

Dessert: Sopaipillas with vanilla ice cream

No substitutions please. You are welcome to order any additional items al cart from our dinner menu.

While you are in the sharing mood, add a bottle of wine for just $24
or a large house mason jar margarita for $18.

New Year's Eve Happy Hour
Monday - Friday: 4pm to 6pm
* Half Price Appetizers
* Discounted Margaritas 

* Half Price Drafts
Half price appetizers like our amazing Nachos Grande or Black Bean App. Discounted Margaritas: $4 off a full or $2 off a half Mason Jar. And, we have a few great half price drafts too.

Franklin Inn 35th Birthday Bash

Happy Birthday to us. The Franklin Inn is 35!

Help us celebrate on Wednesday, December 11th

 Stop by to share a piece of birthday cake with us.

 

 Franklin Inn 35th Birthday Bash

• Free Birthday Cake: 11am to 10pm (or as long as supplies last)
• Happy Hour! 4pm to 6pm: Discounted margaritas, a selection of half price appetizers and a selection of half price drafts.
• The Magical of Mentalist, Collin Stover: 6pm

Enter to win a "$35" Franklin Inn Gift Card while you are there. Just fill out our customer feedback survey and your name will be entered.  As always, we love your feedback, and use this information to learn ways to serve you better.  

Thank you to all of our patrons, staff, and vendors who have made 35 years possible. We love you!  
We continue to be blessed by the opportunity to be your neighborhood restaurant. We've made wonderful memories together. I "married" the restaurant over 16 years ago, but many of you, and some of our staff, have been with the Inn even longer. You may have grown up with the Inn. A lot of our area's teens landed their first job at the Inn. One of my favorite testimonials is from a child who wrote me, "I have loved the Franklin Inn all my life."We've had a lot of celebrations together: Birthdays, Marriage Proposals, Anniversaries, New Jobs, Retirement Parties, and more. We look forward to many more great times together. Hope to see you on Wednesday.

Tequila of the Month: Maestro Dobel

Search Top Ten Tequila lists and this one is always included.

Dobel™ Tequila is one of the United States’ fastest growing ultra-premium tequilas. Named after its founder (Dobel is his abbreviated name – Juan Domingo Beckmann Legoretta) the tequila is sourced from single estates and is distilled from 100% blue agave and bottled in Jalisco, Mexico. Each bottle of Dobel™ Tequila is double-distilled, matured in Hungarian White Oak barrels, and filtered for exceptional smoothness and clarity. Dobel™ Tequila is recognized for its superior smoothness and iconic packaging which includes a stopper and a modern twist on a vintage apothecary-style bottle, a heavily embossed bottle whose design is inspired by the laboratory sample bottles used by the distillery’s Maestro Tequileros (Master Distillers). 
Enjoy it in a margarita if you wish but all the reviews say that you'll enjoy sipping it even more. "Enjoy your Maestro Dobel slowly and realize that every sip has been years in the making."

Here are a couple reviews:
http://www.gayot.com/spirits/review/maestro-dobel-tequila.html

http://techcrunch.com/2008/08/19/review-maestro-dobel-tequila/

(yes...Tech Crunch! Not a source you would have expected, hey?)

http://www.raveandreview.com/2013/11/maestro-dobel-tequila-for-the-holidays-dobel-gift-pack-giveaway-signed-by-perry-farrell.html

Let us know what you think of this ultra premium tequila.

Sneak Peek at Our 12 Days of Christmas Count Down....

Our 12 Days of Christmas Countdown starts on December 10th. If this math doesn't add up to you its because we are skipping Sundays in our count down. Maybe my math still doesn't add up....but anyway, here is a sneak peek at part of what we are doing on December 11th. There may be birthday cake involved too. Check back ;  )

November's Tequila of the Month: Avion

Tequila Avión was voted “World’s Best Tasting Tequila” at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, the highest honor in the spirits industry.

According to the company, "Avión Tequila is crafted using our exceptional Avión Agave, which is grown at the highest elevations in Jalisco, Mexico. The unique Avión flavor is achieved through using only special cuts of the Avión Agave plant and then slow-roasting the agave at lower temperatures to protect the natural flavors. The final step is our proprietary ultra-slow filtration process, which creates a surprisingly smooth taste. Maybe that is why the judges at the world's most prestigious spirits competition voted, in a blind taste test, Avión to be the World's Best Tasting Tequila. "