We made it!

Hi Beautiful Friends,

We're here.  We’ve landed in Leavenworth, WA.  Our first few days in our new home town were the most beautiful, soft, and graceful we could imagine.  

Then, BOOM!  Initiation time.  

We found ourselves inside a situation we were not at all prepared for, with lots of emotions, wild mental activity, and confusion arising.  We had our own personal wildfire burning through some of the places that we couldn’t see what we needed to see.  It was a challenging start. 
Then, the smoke cleared a bit.  Possible solutions revealed themselves.  And wouldn’t you know it, the most beautiful solution was deep beneath the brush and smoke.  The one we never would have considered if the wildfire hadn’t come blazing our way.

Over the past 9 months, we’ve been letting go of so much we’ve grown, tended to, deeply loved and adored through our 8 years with Sutra Restaurant, Yoga Studio, & Farm. 
At times the letting go has been emotionally exhausting, disorienting, and also incredibly freeing.  In taking a step back we’ve had a clearer view to witness the ways all the beautiful branches of the Sutra Community are growing.  It feels bright and wonderful and exciting to see the projects members of the Sutra Crew are creating!

Now that we’ve cleaned out our closets (literally and figuratively) and thrown ourselves into the spin cycle (for months!), our eyes are finally fresh enough to really look at what serves and what does not.  We’ve hung ourselves out to dry!  Not abandoning our true essence, but releasing the attachments to a place and rhythm that was such a uniquely incredible gift, it was challenging to turn away from.  

But along the way, there was a call to be still and listen.  Each time we did so, we heard the call to first go in and nourish the Source with silence.  What arose was a strong pulse to trust that the beautiful community connections would continue to flourish and next, was the call to create something new, something so fresh that feeds our creative source (and will hopefully do the same for you at some point) and something that could be an offering to the elements and sacred energies that support us on the path.

So, here it is!!! 
We’re in the early-ish stages of creating Mana Restaurant!  

Mana will host a super elegant, earthy dining experience of 7-10 courses, paired with sustainable wines or wild-crafted non-alcoholic elixirs and tonics. We’ve taken what we’ve learned in our time at Sutra and 45 years combined restaurant experience and spiritual practice and elevated it to our most refined culinary creation to offer a journey honoring the beauty and wildness of the elements-earth, ocean, fire, air, space, and vision.

Right now, we’re amidst buying a beautiful little space in town with a gorgeous outdoor area.  Starting late October, if all goes as planned, we’ll begin the remodel process and be set to open in Leavenworth spring, 2016.  

In the meantime, we’re hosting 4 Mana Pre-Funk Pop-Up Dinners in Seattle in a gorgeous kitchen showroom (Seimatic) in Belltown.  These dinners will be small, intimate events (reservation only) in the styling of our new restaurant.

Our deepest gratitude for supporting us all the way to Sutra Restaurant's closing this weekend!  We shared a wonderful closing with our incredible crew for a Sunday boat float celebrating and clearing the way with cool quiet waters below and rushing winds above.
Very much hoping to see you in Seattle or in Leavenworth!

Amber & Colin 

Posted
AuthorAmber Tande