It's become a custom for many families to celebrate Mother's Day by giving mother a day off from the kitchen and taking her out to eat. But what if mother is a chef, or manager or owner of a restaurant herself ? How does she celebrate Mother's Day?
Joan "Corkie" Kirkham, owner of Corkie's Restaurant & Lemmedoit Catering in McLean pondered the question. She has been serving breakfast and dinner on Mother's Day for the past seven years at her present site on Old Dominion Drive and for eight years before that when her restaurant was located on Old Dominion Drive and Beverly.
"In the past we closed at 5 p.m. and celebrated later," she said "but not this year.
"I have a daughter and some grandchildren. Maybe we'll celebrate another day, maybe they'll come. That's what I'll do — have them come when there is a lull."
As usual, Corkie's will serve a breakfast special from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and dinner from 11 a.m. on. Breakfast specials include orange-cranberry bread French toast with sausages for $5.99, Crabcake eggs benedict for $8.99 or a fresh asparagus, brie and bacon three-egg omelet with toast or biscuit for $6.99.
Dinner offers a choice of roast leg of lamb with mint sauce, crab-stuffed jumbo shrimp, chicken breast cordon bleu or grilled salmon fillet. Desserts include chocolate desire, strawberry shortcake or Bavarian ice cream ball.
JULIA AMATO, ONE OF THE OWNERS of Villa Bella in Burke and Paradiso in Franconia, laughs. "We don't get to celebrate like normal people," she said. She explained that she and her family have been doing Mother's Day for 11 years and will be offering holiday service in both their restaurants.
At Paradiso, a restaurant known for its elegant atmosphere and separate children's dining room, a Mother's Day mimosa brunch will be served from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. for $19.95.
Dinner from their regular menu will be served from 4 p.m.
Amato's newer restaurant Villa Bella on Burke's Common Road in Burke will be serving its regular Italian menu from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Amato, of course, will be working as will her two daughters Julia and Joanna. They will probably work at Paradiso during brunch and then go to the Burke Restaurant.
Despite the bustle, the Amatos including husband Tony will celebrate.
"Usually we sit down together when things quiet down and have our own dinner. The children bring me my gifts. It's a big day," Amato said.
SHERRY WORSHAM, SUPERVISING MANAGER at Heart in Hand Restaurant in Clifton doesn't get to celebrate Mother's Day on the usual date with her mother, owner Suzie Worsham, her two sisters and her own two children. She is helping to present Heart in Hand's Mother's Day celebration from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The restaurant will offer a seated first course, a buffet and desserts for $28.95 per person.
As for her own Mother's Day the family usually chooses another day to get together with all the children and her mother and father.
The first course at Heart in Hand will be a choice of soup or the house salad. The buffet will include southern style baked ham, rosemary roast beef, raspberry chicken, chicken Suzanne, poached salmon and tri-colored tortelini as well as a variety of accompaniments including corn soufflé pudding, ginger glazed carrots, rice pilaf and roasted new potatoes.