Brenda Hill

The Cuisine Scene

News Mirror
Yucaipa/Calimesa
4/17/08
Special Feature
Brenda Hill

Anna's 'Oak Glen After Dark'
Anna's Restaurant & Bakery
Oak Glen/Yucaipa, CA


The first ‘Oak Glen After Dark’ live jazz and dinner event at Anna’s Restaurant & Bakery in Oak Glen, Saturday evening the 19th, was a smashing success. All 100 tickets sold out.




Held in the banquet facility of the newly remodeled restaurant, the evening began around 5:30 when Anna's mother, Delia, greeted the arriving guest, and the wait-staff led them to their candlelit tables. Each linen-covered round table, decorated with live flowers, seated six.



Next to the entrance, Anna added something special, a table holding glass jars of assorted hard candies and chocolates, including little carry-out boxes, for her guests to take home as mementoes of the evening.

 

Vaughn Fahie and his S4G jazz ensemble set up in the corner of the main room, and Sera Walde, the talented young vocalist, had a table with her family next to the band. A public relations and marketing graduate, Sera loves to perform and felt honored to sing with Vaughn. Arriving guests were treated to early entertainment as they rehearsed different arrangements.



It had been quite a while since I’d heard live jazz, and while listening that evening, I was grateful I'd been fortunate enough to attend. Vaughn’s music is truly from his heart, and his soul-inspiring sax was so beautiful that I found myself wiping tears. Several times his cheering audience rose to their feet in appreciation.

Vaughn began his musical career at age 8, and he still plays the sax his father bought him in high school. Through the years he played the organ for his church, then marched in the drum line for the Riverside Marching Tigers. After earning a BA degree in music from Cal Poly Pomona University, he founded his own musical production company, S4G Productions Unlimited, and produced his first CD. He also finds time to serve as a youth pastor of his local church. Now he and his ensemble of four excellent musicians perform throughout the Inland Empire.


Aaron Harper—keyboard, Gary ‘Big Dog’ Stanionis—drums/percussion, Vaughn, Michael James—bass guitar, Mychal Henry—keyboard.

Not only was the entertainment far beyond my expectations, but Anna’s dinner was excellent. First, the attentive wait-staff served a salad of mixed greens followed by chilled yellow tomato gazpacho with avocado salsa. My entrée was slices of tender roast beef, mashed red potatoes and a vegetable mixture including baby carrots, onions and zucchini. Instead of roast beef, the vegetarians were served a pasta dish with marinara sauce.



For dessert, each quest was served a platter holding a chocolate espresso mousse, a raspberry lemon torte, and a dish of Crème Brule.



Later in the evening Vaughn played a little reggae, referred to as Jamaican music, and several couples rose to dance. Everyone seemed to have such a good time that I think the evening could have continued on to the morning, but after about five hours I needed to head home.

Anna and Aaron Burgess thanked everyone for an evening that exceeded their dreams, and assured us that this was just the first of their once-a-month entertainment plans. I know I’ll be first in line, or pretty darn close, for their next event.




How fortunate we are that they moved to the old Cider Barrel restaurant location. What a wonderful thing for our community. 

Anna's Restaurant & Bakery
38490 Oak Glen Road
909-797-2629
UPDATE: now closed
Tuesday-Thursday: 11am-7pm
Friday: 11am-8pm
Saturday: 8am-8pm
Sunday: 8am-3pm
Closed Monday
Open year around