Dinner and a Movie: Provisions and Akeelah and the Bee

Dinner and a Movie Provisions by League of Chefs & Akeelah and the Bee

Gourmet Gracie and Movie Magic

Established in 2017, Provisions by League of Chefs, is a full service, gourmet catering company and café. The downtown Vallejo location provides a beautiful indoor/outdoor gathering space focusing on seasonal,sustainable menus for breakfast, lunch, Friday night dinners, specialty coffees and cocktails. Takeout available. COVID conscience catering fulfills your special event needs from lunch boxes to dinner parties.

Brunch is a delectable treat serving eggs from happy chickens at Hen Pen Farms and ACME bread. Celebrate your weekend with chilaquiles and bottomless mimosas. Chicken and waffles are a local favorite and the Smothered Breakfast Burrito is AWESOME. For lunch, try the Avocado Tacos, Teriyaki Bowl or the now famous Fried Chicken Sandwich—you’ve got to see it to believe it. Kimchi Fritters? Yaaas!!! Vegan selections include the Black Bean Walnut Burger and Vegan Samosas. The food is deliciously fresh and the beautiful flowery surroundings are spectacular. Beer, wine and kombucha on tap.

Recent specials have included an Ethiopian spread; Chicken, Sausage and Shrimp Gumbo; Cioppino; fresh Oysters and Oaxaca Pork Mole. Check Facebook for Friday dinner selections. Sometimes there’s live music, sometimes crafty vendors.

Provisions also offers take/bake frozen items--Grandma’s Mac n’ Cheese, Shepherd’s Pie, Chicken Pot Pie and Hand pies. Pick up a freshly made delectable dessert!

Gracie is enchanted with this lovely spot near the beautiful Empress Theatre in downtown Vallejo. Dog friendly, street parking, free WiFi. Great for the whole family.

Closed Monday-Tuesday. Open Wednesday through Sunday 8 am – 4 pm, Fridays until 8 pm. Enjoy this happy place where all are welcome!

Akeelah and the Bee

2006 Drama – Rated PG 1 hour, 52 minutes Streaming on Hulu, Amazon Prime, Apple TV

Akeelah, played by Keke Palmer, is a bright and tender 11 year old girl growing up in a rough section of South Los Angeles. Her single mother, played by the beautiful and talented Angela Bassett, is a nurse with her hands full raising a family—one son in the military and the other influenced by the local gang activity. Akeelah is bullied at school for being a “brainiac.” But she discovers that words take her away from herself and into another world. Her teacher recognizes her talent and encourages

Akeelah is bullied at her to compete in the spelling bee, school for being a but Akeelah initially “brainiac.” But she lacks the self esteem to call attention to herself. She meets a reclusive professor, played by Lawrence Fishburne, who gruffly encourages her and eventually coaches her to compete. Both learn from each other—how to deal with grief and loss, how to regain confidence after difficult life events, how to understand and offer compassion to others who struggle.

This inspirational movie will make you smile as Akeelah receives unexpected coaching and overwhelming support from her community, including a few local gang members. With courage and trepidation she enters the spelling competition after lots of hard work and a growing confidence. The story draws you in with the graceful performances, positive messages and the extraordinary acting through facial expression by Keke Palmer. This is a movie with heart for the entire family.

Movie Magic gives this 4 ½ out of 5 Moons.