The 37th Annual Wine Tasting is April 18th!
A BIG THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!
Interview with Keely Coy, owner with Kevin Coy of Monks Wine Lounge and Bistro
Since Keely and Kevin Coy took ownership of Monks Wine Lounge and Bistro in 2006, this lovely venue at 128 West 2nd Street has become a force in downtown Chico and a major supporter of the League of Women Voters' annual wine tasting benefit, our 37th coming up on Sunday, April 18, 2010 at Lakeside Pavilion.
When Keely and Kevin bought the fledgling business, they greatly expanded its offerings and enhanced its appearance, including walls bedecked in art pieces that change every month and are available for purchase. Today Monks offers a fresh, organic menu with local and homegrown produce and pasta made by Kevin, who, despite his name, comes from a talented grandfather Joseph Franchesci. His signature dishes are chicken portabella lasagna in white and red sauce, beer-braised ribs, and home-made tagatelli noodles. Each dish is paired with wines that complement the food. Monks offers more wine by the glass than any other establishment in Chico, and the wines are carefully selected from boutique wineries whose wines are not available in Chico. When a particular wine is no longer available, or the vintage no longer as desirable, the menu is changed to accommodate the new selections.
Keely is the wine connoisseur, having grown up in Santa Rosa and led many wine and food trips to Europe and other wine producing countries. She works 80 hours a week, seeking out new vintages and bringing winemakers to Monks every Wednesday evening 6-8 pm for tastings and hors d'oeuvres. Keely is a woman on the move-smart, energetic, determinedly optimistic, and on task. Since age 14 she has worked non-stop at a variety of jobs, fitting school around the work schedule. Her dream job was working at a surgical center in Santa Rosa, a position she held for 15 years, even commuting from Chico when she returned here to marry her college sweetheart, Kevin. This hectic schedule had to stop when she became pregnant with her son Mason, born in 2006. But only two months later, she plunged into the new business, unable to be without her passion-and gift-for entrepreneurial work. Three and a half years later Monks is a place for great meals, a wide variety of affordable wines, take-out and party trays, fundraisers (no charge for the facility!), wedding receptions and baby showers, a good cigar on the patio in summer, cooking classes on Saturdays, Monday night all-you can-eat pasta night with salad, aioli cheese bread, and a glass of red wine, a wine club, and two $50 gift certificates at COSTCO for 79.99!
The League of Women Voters is proud to be associated with Monks, a leading innovator in Chico's downtown and a truly community-minded business. See you at Monks and at the 37th LWV wine tasting in April!
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