I am making 15 saint costumes for our religious ed program Nov. 1 (All Saints Day for you heathens) It's amazing how many saints wore long ponchos of black or brown $1-a-yard material belted at the waist. Or albs with a little draping of other material. (John the Baptist -short alb, burlap over 1 shoulder, rope belt, clamshell for baptizing. I was going to have him chewing on gummi locusts but decided it would just be distracting.) Catherine is going to be Kateri Tekakwitha if I still have Granny's Campfire Girls Indian dress. Or even if I don't, I guess. Stevo is going to be St. Philip Neri, the jokester. Don't you all wish you lived here to be drafted to be a saint?
Are you doing anything for your birthday? I am going to drink some Powers and toast you. I am also considering carving a VooDoo doll of you out of a bar of soap and feeding the doll some powers (since I don't like to drink alone). Let me know if you get drunk tomorrow.
It seems to me that the current republican government is tossing around money with such enthusiasm that it would make an old tax & spend liberal blush.
Happy Birthday Tom! Tom, With a bar in your restaurant, I think you should be gleeful (like the Dems next Tues.) when people throw money at ales! It's ur b'thday...it's ur b'thday, whatcha doin? I had TOMato soup to celebrate!
Cathy, I DO live around "here" and I did not receive a single shout out to be a saint! Hmmm, women my age don't get ANY good roles! Is my hair too blonde?
You didn't dispense any massajis did you? Sort of relive the good old days.
The other day I was watching Nicholas and Mike wrestling around. Inevitably Mike ended up on his back with Nicholas sitting on his stomach tormenting him. All was fine for a while until Nicholas decided a reminder of social hierarchy was in order. Pain and tears ensued. Within minutes they were playing again, laughing away.
It reminded me how much of my youth was spent on my back with you or Pete sitting on top of me. I can say from these experiences that you, as a torturer, would be more apt to practice a physical brand of abuse. Pete would be more psychological in his approach, think dangling loogies.
It's 22 degrees here right now. Too bad for trick or treaters. Jim, what happened with Moline?
I was given free tickets to the Guthrie Theater for tonight. THey are 4th row. I don't normally go to the theater - I prefer movies. Plus it's SO expensive. But, 4th row, that should be cool. It's Neil Simon's Lost in Yonkers. I already bought tons of halloween candy, though. Kit Kat, Whoppers, Milk Duds, Crunch, Almond Joy. We usually get over 100 kids. Last year, some had voices beginning to change and burgeoning mustaches. I was afraid not to give them candy. p
Happy Belated Birthday Tom!!! Did you go out to Sarah's for dinner? Ha ha!! Is your Halloween costume the top picture? You look like the chef on the Muppet Show- remember him? Hope you had fun.
Happy Hallow-screamin' birthday, Tom. Was that top picture taken at Aunt Ginny's?
In Des Moines they always have trick or treat night the night before to keep the kids out of the way of any would-be wicca type activities, and heavily drinking college kids. Emma had a miserable time because she was SO COLD. I think the temp. dropped 15 degrees while we were out. We got home and the kids ate apples, cream of rice and cocoa - they only ate about one piece of candy each. What planet are they from?
Remember when Tom was little and Algona's band day was always on or around his birthday? Did you think all that was for you, Tom?
Wowzer Tom! Look at you! :-<> Yes, I would've married you, even, back then...of course I was only 16 when the picture was taken! Ha, ha. Happy Birthday...we love you! :-)
asian bbq pork tenderloin, pan seared and oven roasted in an apple, ginger and hoisin bbq sause, served with a black bean glazed herb potato hash all topped with a caramelized bell pepper relish. i love Madison.
We are, also, in the process of revamping our Lunch Menu and trying to create an, "express lunch." We are not known for super speedy service and so it makes sense that the good folks of Algona may noy be inclined to pop over on their One Hour Lunch Break. This, "express lunch," is an effort to encourage more noon-time business. Any ideas of cool sandwhich or quickie (appearing) lunch items???
The Super Slam at Denny's in Topeka served by a spacey but talkative 12-stepper in his 50's (or maybe 30's - hard life) Wouldn't it be liberal of us to build more drug rehab and job training places and fewer prisons? Oh, wait, not so liberal because it would cost about the same amount of money. Never mind. Pat - we absolutely had a mattress at the bottom of the stairs for at least a year, I think. All for you. It was depth perception. I saw you once stop at the entrance to Hall's supermarket and carefully duck to go under the handrails at the entrance and come up right into one. Mary - would you like to be Edith Stein? You would have to look like a liberal academic Jew in 1930, kind of dowdy but intelligent-looking and extremely holy. (Don't tell Tom)
Believe me, I don't underestimate the power of prison. I just think it's terrible that the so-called richest nation on earth has the highest imprisonment rate in the western world. Ideology aside, something's really wrong. Enough doom and gloom! It's Halloween! I'm roasting turkeys for 200 today! Hope your birthday was happy! Gotta go get cranberry sauce on sale!
Lunch: wraps, soups and sandwich deal, great. Add kisch (sp?) Add a brown bag to go?
Dinner: Randy and I used to keep a 10 favorite dinners list. Joe & Kelly's rehersal dinner was on the list because the rouladen was superb. Mmmm rouladen with spaetzel, gravy and sweet n sour red cabbage. And chicken paramesan is one of my favorite dinners. The best shrimp scampi on the planet was made at Leonarda's which is now closed. It had capers in it. I'm getting hungry. We are having left over pork loin meat and veggie pie tonight.
And by the way, Pat, I did not tell you about the mattress at the bottom of the stair, you told me! huh!
Our Express Lunch Menu already consists of: 1.) Soup and Salad Bar 2.) 1/2 Sammy and Soup
Regarding going out on Halloween and therefore, leaving your porch light, "out," and not handing out candy...is a bummer for the kids. I completely understand that, at times, it's unavoidable. However, I think one should always try and be home. It seems like every year more and more people are not home on Halloween. Or, they're home and simply, "hide!" I DO THINK that it's a COOL IDEA to turn on your porch light and leave out a bucket and hope for the best as far as thievery is concerned. :-) My girlfriend, Jackie, is doing that this year as she will be out, with her kids, trick-or-treating.
It bewilders me that people will still hand out homemade baked goods. I don't let my kids eat 'em unless we know the people. One of our neighbor's hands out toothbrushes...dumb. I was thinknin' that, maybe, along with candy...we should hand out a Sarah's Gift Certificate...small dollar amount of course. Or, maybe a, "Kids Eat Free," coupon! 'Cuz we are trying to encourage families to come out. We are in the process of trying to change our image...slightly. We don't want to be considered as the best place to go (once a year!) for an Anniversary. We'll always be that for people. We want to be perceived as more casual and family friendly. I bought kiddy placemats, kiddy cups, crayons and spruced up the Kids Menu. Whatayahthink? About handing out a coupon I mean.
I think a "Kids eat free" coupon is great as long as it comes with a good treat. I'm back. I rock. I'm feeding 200 people turkey dinner and dessert for about $300.
One of Joe K.'s favorite dinners is a Chicken with portabella mushrooms in a tomato sauce. It is super easy to make and is yummy over a bed of homemade eggnoodles. He always wants it for his birthday.
What about having a "in a hurry?" lunch special T-F. They can be comfort foods that can be made in advance like chicken pot pie. (doesn't have to be traditional; make a creamy chicken stew and place two triangles of flaky pastry on top, served in a large pasta bowl) or make a pan or two of lasagna the day before; serve with garlic bread. They can be priced a little lower to draw a crowd and if the specials run out, they run out. They did this where I used to work, a set lunch special everyday, and people would come early for their favorites and if they missed out on the special, they didn't leave.
Something to think about for Fridays in lent: pan fried walleye. IF you can get your hands on some, it sold like hotcakes. I don't know how pricey it is though.
Also, chinese chicken salads a pretty popular these days, I am sure you can come up with your own signature variation. I'll keep brainstorming. This is fun.
Another quick lunch specail: "Not your mother's meatloaf" I have a really good spinach and pinenut meatloaf recipe. You could serve it with roasted root vegetables instead of the predictable mashed pots. Although who doesn't like mashed pots?
I also have a recipe for meatloaf with brandy mushroom sauce, but I haven't tried it yet.
RE: the choc chip pancake wrapped sausages, were you tempted to buy? We were, but thank God our will power won. I just can't even walk down the frozen food aisle anymore because I want to try everything.
I think that you should play up your German heritage and offer a wurst plate with kraut, dark bread and stone-ground mustard for lunch. Pair it with Paulaner on tap. Maybe add red cabbage. For dinner, rouladen with spaetzle,red cabbage und dumplings. And of course dress up Nance in a dirndl and have her hoist six steins at a time.
YOu could have maybe 3 five for five items (like the soup and salad bar would be one of them)and the rest would be slightly more involved. I still think that brown bag to go may have a place. It's always the same thing... but it will allow businesses to send one person to pick up lunch for the office from you guys instead of from McDonalds. Basic deli sandwiches, pickle, chips and choco chip or sugar cookie.
And yes, thank you, pot pie is a great idea. As mentioned above, not only did we have it last night, we have it a few times per winter. I even use the cupcake pan to make individual ones.
We have created and currently offer a, "lunch to go." Businesses order, over the phone, and we deliver for free. I think though we could, "remind," people of that. :-) Good idea, Lisa.
I do love the mini pot pie with squares-o-pastries on top.
I'm thinkin' maybe stew...and, the like also.
Hmm.
Another idea I am thinkin' of is making the bar more bar-like. We have a beautiful space and an amazing bar. Our highest profit margin comes from the sale of booze. However, we do not have the bar businees we would like. I think it's bc the bar doesn't feel, "bar-like," because of all the short tables. I think we need to put those tables up at bar level and invest in bar stools. I think we would casual down, a bit, in there and encourage more bar business if people didn't have to stand around the small space where the bar is located. I think they would feel more comfortable hanging around and milling about if the tables surrrounding the bar were higher. This being said, I do not think it would detract people from ordering dinners (in the bar) 'cuz people eat at high-tops all the time (Applebee's, Champps, Grandma's). It would be fairly easy and low cost to make the tables higher. The biggest investment would be in bar stools. However, maybe money could be saved if we ordered onsies and twosies and had all the bar stools be mis-matched. I think it would be appealing to the eye as well as cost effective.
Who are your lunchtime regulars? Are you trying to attract people form downtown or factory workers? Go Garrigan! The Xavier Saints are also in the playoffs tonight as well as my alma mater Dyersville Beckman. Both Garrigan and Dyersville have 7-2 records and are going against 9-0 teams. Xavier is 9-0 and is playing a 6-3 team that they beat earlier in the year.
Mmmm. Fried ravioli is really good, especially with marinara sauce on side. Also, boneless buff wings, for those like me who don't like to get thier fingers yucky and hate the sight of chicken tendons.
I can't stop eating candy. I am on a 1600 calorie a day diet and I have been really good, but yesterday killed me. I am a candy fiend, and we had no trick or treaters, so I'm left with this huge bucket of candy and I can't stop eating whoppers and reeses cups. Really - I CANNOT STOP!!! Help!
Mmm...love Reese's cups! My #1! :-<> Oh and Butterfingers soaked in hot chocolate until the chocolate melts off and then yah gotta lick it clean until yah get to the what ever it is center and it's crunchy...makes me happy.
You have to buy candy that you don't like or else you eat it all. I had candy for breakfast. I took Tom and Peter out last night in the little cul de sac behind our house- maybe 8 houses- they completely filled their buckets. We have the only little kids in the whole area.
Why do teacher give out extra credit such as making homemade Day of the Dead bread. Do they not realize the the parents do 90% of the work and then stay up while the bread bakes? What a stupid extra credit. Especially when the high school is in playoff game the night before.
Monica...you are so right! In an attempt to avoid additional caloric intake...I did not buy Halloween candy until the day before and I DID NOT buy Reese's nor Butterfinger...my favorites. :-<>
You know what stinks? A Halloween candy bowl with nothing left in it but Charleston Chews (part of a variety pack). I just threw them away. Stevo rescued himself some Snickers but I don't know where they are. And we have a whole unopened bag of M&M's that we forgot to put out, but I have no justification for opening them now. It's different when they're just left in the bowl.
Season thighs with s and p. Sear in olive oil. Remove from pan and add onion and mushrooms to pan. Cook until brown then add tomatoes. Put chicken back in and cook another 10 minutes or so. Serve with homemade type egg noodles.
In an effort to not have the last posting (mine) be something, "off color," I will say this... "Happy Birthday Tom...you are the best husband, friend and father! Thank you for all you do!" :-)
Took a poll while in Chicago...everyone was "thumbs down" on the high tables. Both Phelan and Mom said they were "exclusionary", also trendy, but almost "out" of style, were some of the comments. Also, you don't want to look like applebees (YUCK). How bout new chairs for your current tables? Emily, you have some great ideas!
Nance...I really think that if you "cut" a few 30 second commercials with YOU TALKING REALLY FAST...about your fast specials of the day. Every day you would come on at a certain time talking fast. Just do 5 spots and run them every week, with your friendly manner, laughing, talking fast about the fast lunch, it might work!
Nance, when I was in Australia we would go out for "pub lunches" and have a glass of beer with a steak or oysters. I love pub lunches. It's even fun to say. We also went to a place that served "kebabs" which is a wrap with beef or chicken inside - kind of like a gyro, but no greek spices, they tasted like italian beef in a warm fluffy wrap. YUM! And when we worked on the port a lunch truck would come by with hot meat pies full of beef and gravy with a flaky crust like a pot roast to go. So good. Shaped like a big hot-pocket. Mmmmm, meat pie...
What about a boot? Have people drink out of a boot, and then drinking games and serve hot pretzels, and have waitresses walking around with free snuff...
Nance and Tom, I love my idea of Nance doing the radio spots (if I do say so myself!)...I think they would really work... "Hi this is Nance Straub from Sister Sarah's, today our fast lunch specials are____________ fast, fun and friendly for $5.95...,Sister Sarah's, friendly lunch..FAST!" you can pay me later!
I agree with all the short-legged Straub women about the tall barstools. Also, look at your clientele...everyone over 60 will HATE them! They look cool, but I think they might be a mistake. You know, a lot of those older folks can drink us young whippersnappers under the table and never show it. You could lose more business than you gain, I don't know.
Re: High tops and bar stools in the Bar. I am thinkin' that our 60+ Guests, who don't like them, will sit in the dining room (lots of room) and our 30+ guests will start FILLING UP our bar. Dontchoo think?
I like the, "fast talking," ad idea...except that Kim (Diamond's) does them and I find them really annoying and kinda, "cheap." "Cheap," meaning...pay for an extra minute or two and slow the heck down. Hmm. Furthermore, would it appear that I am copying her ad idea? I'm not saying I wouldn't do it and that it isn't a good idea...I just don't know.
Gotta fly and meet with a computer techy about my...computer. Keep the ideas coming...we'll read more of them later. Thank you!
Another thing about the bar stools- if you want more families eating there- most parents don't like their kids on those stools. Ideally they would be in the dinig areas not the bar but it does happen sometimes.
Many of your guests who like to eat in the bar would not like the high stools! Purses with cell phones are way down on the floor...hard to get on and off,etc, plus an entire room full of them would look kinda weird...maybe a few around the perimeter? I just don't think they're classy...sorry! I didn't post the anon. blog earlier, but the fastest way to fill up a bar is with a hot babe who walks talks and looks like Nance!
I think a few, not many but just a few perhaps in the far corner by the video games would be excellent. i am a fan of them. But, I like standing at a bar and in lieu of a bar i like high stools. p
116 comments:
Nance, did you see that picture before you agreed to marry?
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOM!!!!!
p
Happy birthday to Tom, the sensative conservative, co-inventor or the masagie. See? Republicans are for torture.
Happy Birthday, Tom! As long as you don't wake up with an unexplained tattoo or jailhouse ink on your fingertips...
massagee? massagy? massaggi?
I am making 15 saint costumes for our religious ed program Nov. 1 (All Saints Day for you heathens) It's amazing how many saints wore long ponchos of black or brown $1-a-yard material belted at the waist. Or albs with a little draping of other material. (John the Baptist -short alb, burlap over 1 shoulder, rope belt, clamshell for baptizing. I was going to have him chewing on gummi locusts but decided it would just be distracting.) Catherine is going to be Kateri Tekakwitha if I still have Granny's Campfire Girls Indian dress. Or even if I don't, I guess. Stevo is going to be St. Philip Neri, the jokester. Don't you all wish you lived here to be drafted to be a saint?
well, if you change your mind about the locusts, Cathy, here's an idea:
www.stupid.com/stat/CRCK.html
Shouldn't John the Baptist be headless?
Maybe you can put a fake plate aroudn the neck of the person going as John the B.
Are you doing anything for your birthday? I am going to drink some Powers and toast you. I am also considering carving a VooDoo doll of you out of a bar of soap and feeding the doll some powers (since I don't like to drink alone). Let me know if you get drunk tomorrow.
It seems to me that the current republican government is tossing around money with such enthusiasm that it would make an old tax & spend liberal blush.
besides, i'm not a liberal, i'm a nihilist. i believe in nothing.
Mark it 8 dude.
Hi TOm!
Happy Birthday! I'm glad it fell on your day off. Did you do anything fun or receive and fun gifts?
Happy Birthday Tom!
Tom, With a bar in your restaurant, I think you should be gleeful (like the Dems next Tues.) when people throw money at ales!
It's ur b'thday...it's ur b'thday, whatcha doin?
I had TOMato soup to celebrate!
Cathy, I DO live around "here" and I did not receive a single shout out to be a saint! Hmmm, women my age don't get ANY good roles!
Is my hair too blonde?
Tom -
Massajis are the reason I spontaneously pee my pants as an adult. Revenge will be severe and swift. Until then, Happy Birthday.
Des
Tom,
You didn't dispense any massajis did you? Sort of relive the good old days.
The other day I was watching Nicholas and Mike wrestling around. Inevitably Mike ended up on his back with Nicholas sitting on his stomach tormenting him. All was fine for a while until Nicholas decided a reminder of social hierarchy was in order. Pain and tears ensued. Within minutes they were playing again, laughing away.
It reminded me how much of my youth was spent on my back with you or Pete sitting on top of me. I can say from these experiences that you, as a torturer, would be more apt to practice a physical brand of abuse. Pete would be more psychological in his approach, think dangling loogies.
Anyway, hope you had a great birthday.
It's 22 degrees here right now. Too bad for trick or treaters. Jim, what happened with Moline?
I was given free tickets to the Guthrie Theater for tonight. THey are 4th row. I don't normally go to the theater - I prefer movies. Plus it's SO expensive. But, 4th row, that should be cool. It's Neil Simon's Lost in Yonkers.
I already bought tons of halloween candy, though. Kit Kat, Whoppers, Milk Duds, Crunch, Almond Joy. We usually get over 100 kids. Last year, some had voices beginning to change and burgeoning mustaches. I was afraid not to give them candy.
p
Just yesterday I was asked to come back to Moline for a second interview. It is down to me and one other candidate. I will interview in about 3 weeks.
I know who the other candidate is. Maybe a massaji over a Mississippi river bridge would convince him that he should consider other career options.
Is it a promotion or the same job in a new location?
Happy Belated Birthday Tom!!!
Did you go out to Sarah's for dinner? Ha ha!! Is your Halloween costume the top picture? You look like the chef on the Muppet Show- remember him? Hope you had fun.
Monica
Happy Hallow-screamin' birthday, Tom. Was that top picture taken at Aunt Ginny's?
In Des Moines they always have trick or treat night the night before to keep the kids out of the way of any would-be wicca type activities, and heavily drinking college kids. Emma had a miserable time because she was SO COLD. I think the temp. dropped 15 degrees while we were out. We got home and the kids ate apples, cream of rice and cocoa - they only ate about one piece of candy each. What planet are they from?
Remember when Tom was little and Algona's band day was always on or around his birthday? Did you think all that was for you, Tom?
IS it true, when I was very small, that there was a mattress at the bottom of the basement steps, bc I kept falling?
I believe Lisa told me this.
Wowzer Tom! Look at you! :-<> Yes, I would've married you, even, back then...of course I was only 16 when the picture was taken! Ha, ha. Happy Birthday...we love you! :-)
asian bbq pork tenderloin, pan seared and oven roasted in an apple, ginger and hoisin bbq sause, served with a black bean glazed herb potato hash all topped with a caramelized bell pepper relish. i love Madison.
We are, also, in the process of revamping our Lunch Menu and trying to create an, "express lunch." We are not known for super speedy service and so it makes sense that the good folks of Algona may noy be inclined to pop over on their One Hour Lunch Break. This, "express lunch," is an effort to encourage more noon-time business. Any ideas of cool sandwhich or quickie (appearing) lunch items???
The Super Slam at Denny's in Topeka served by a spacey but talkative 12-stepper in his 50's (or maybe 30's - hard life) Wouldn't it be liberal of us to build more drug rehab and job training places and fewer prisons? Oh, wait, not so liberal because it would cost about the same amount of money. Never mind.
Pat - we absolutely had a mattress at the bottom of the stairs for at least a year, I think. All for you. It was depth perception. I saw you once stop at the entrance to Hall's supermarket and carefully duck to go under the handrails at the entrance and come up right into one.
Mary - would you like to be Edith Stein? You would have to look like a liberal academic Jew in 1930, kind of dowdy but intelligent-looking and extremely holy. (Don't tell Tom)
Oh, Pat - go to the theater and just put your treats out in a bowl marked "Help yourself - just one, please!" I'm sure it'll be OK.
Kabobs are delicious, and can be made ahead, also saved. How bout one of those big greek meat things...gyros are FAST and VERY popular.
Believe me, I don't underestimate the power of prison. I just think it's terrible that the so-called richest nation on earth has the highest imprisonment rate in the western world. Ideology aside, something's really wrong.
Enough doom and gloom! It's Halloween! I'm roasting turkeys for 200 today! Hope your birthday was happy! Gotta go get cranberry sauce on sale!
Little fancy pizzas?
Soup and 1/2 sandwich deal?
Mmmmmm...kabobs.
Wraps. Veggie wraps and all kinds of ethnic wraps.
stir-fry.
I just had a Whitefish Picata. Was really good. I will tell you what I had for lunch when I get back.
Lunch: wraps, soups and sandwich deal, great. Add kisch (sp?) Add a brown bag to go?
Dinner: Randy and I used to keep a 10 favorite dinners list. Joe & Kelly's rehersal dinner was on the list because the rouladen was superb. Mmmm rouladen with spaetzel, gravy and sweet n sour red cabbage. And chicken paramesan is one of my favorite dinners. The best shrimp scampi on the planet was made at Leonarda's which is now closed. It had capers in it. I'm getting hungry. We are having left over pork loin meat and veggie pie tonight.
And by the way, Pat, I did not tell you about the mattress at the bottom of the stair, you told me! huh!
Our Express Lunch Menu already consists of:
1.) Soup and Salad Bar
2.) 1/2 Sammy and Soup
Regarding going out on Halloween and therefore, leaving your porch light, "out," and not handing out candy...is a bummer for the kids. I completely understand that, at times, it's unavoidable. However, I think one should always try and be home. It seems like every year more and more people are not home on Halloween. Or, they're home and simply, "hide!"
I DO THINK that it's a COOL IDEA to turn on your porch light and leave out a bucket and hope for the best as far as thievery is concerned. :-) My girlfriend, Jackie, is doing that this year as she will be out, with her kids, trick-or-treating.
It bewilders me that people will still hand out homemade baked goods. I don't let my kids eat 'em unless we know the people. One of our neighbor's hands out toothbrushes...dumb. I was thinknin' that, maybe, along with candy...we should hand out a Sarah's Gift Certificate...small dollar amount of course. Or, maybe a, "Kids Eat Free," coupon! 'Cuz we are trying to encourage families to come out. We are in the process of trying to change our image...slightly. We don't want to be considered as the best place to go (once a year!) for an Anniversary. We'll always be that for people. We want to be perceived as more casual and family friendly. I bought kiddy placemats, kiddy cups, crayons and spruced up the Kids Menu.
Whatayahthink? About handing out a coupon I mean.
I think a "Kids eat free" coupon is great as long as it comes with a good treat.
I'm back. I rock. I'm feeding 200 people turkey dinner and dessert for about $300.
Oh yah...we have good treats. I think I might do that...I'll ask Tom. :-)
One of Joe K.'s favorite dinners is a Chicken with portabella mushrooms in a tomato sauce. It is super easy to make and is yummy over a bed of homemade eggnoodles. He always wants it for his birthday.
Monica
Ok - I had pizza with two kinds (sweet and spicy) of sausage for lunch. Nothing exciting.
A friend of mine has 6-8 ISU tickets for this saturday to give away. Has to know pretty soon. Anyone interested? I can't go.
Spaghetti Puttanesca was a great recent meal out.
Really good squash soup with toasted pumpkin seeds on top.
p
Squash soup? Gross!
What about having a "in a hurry?" lunch special T-F. They can be comfort foods that can be made in advance like chicken pot pie. (doesn't have to be traditional; make a creamy chicken stew and place two triangles of flaky pastry on top, served in a large pasta bowl) or make a pan or two of lasagna the day before; serve with garlic bread. They can be priced a little lower to draw a crowd and if the specials run out, they run out. They did this where I used to work, a set lunch special everyday, and people would come early for their favorites and if they missed out on the special, they didn't leave.
Something to think about for Fridays in lent: pan fried walleye. IF you can get your hands on some, it sold like hotcakes. I don't know how pricey it is though.
Also, chinese chicken salads a pretty popular these days, I am sure you can come up with your own signature variation.
I'll keep brainstorming. This is fun.
Mmmmmm....pot pie! Brilliant!
I saw Jimmy Dean was selling chocolate chip pancakes wrapped around a breakfast sausage on a stick.
I wonder why we are the fattest country in the world.
Another quick lunch specail: "Not your mother's meatloaf" I have a really good spinach and pinenut meatloaf recipe. You could serve it with roasted root vegetables instead of the predictable mashed pots. Although who doesn't like mashed pots?
I also have a recipe for meatloaf with brandy mushroom sauce, but I haven't tried it yet.
RE: the choc chip pancake wrapped sausages, were you tempted to buy? We were, but thank God our will power won. I just can't even walk down the frozen food aisle anymore because I want to try everything.
you could put an easy bake oven at each table and charge people to make their own deserts!
that was a joke, by the way.
with winter here you could do some comfort food dinners... shepards pie, stuff like that.
I think that you should play up your German heritage and offer a wurst plate with kraut, dark bread and stone-ground mustard for lunch. Pair it with Paulaner on tap. Maybe add red cabbage. For dinner, rouladen with spaetzle,red cabbage und dumplings. And of course dress up Nance in a dirndl and have her hoist six steins at a time.
Or how about having a global cuisine night once a month and feature a menu item from a different part of the world each time?
Thank you to all for your awesome ideas. Keep 'em coming! :-)
What should we call this lunch program we are creating?
1.) Express lunch.
2.) In a hurry?
Ideas???
Munch and Roll
Minute Lunch
1/2 Hour Power Hour
Good Food Fast
Fast Fest
Eatie Speedie
But NOT:
Dine and Dash
Squat 'n Gobble
I'm thinkin' like 5...5 minute lunch items...for 5 dollars. Don't know if we can charge only 5 dollars...would have to ask Tom. Tom??? You out there?
YOu could have maybe 3 five for five items (like the soup and salad bar would be one of them)and the rest would be slightly more involved.
I still think that brown bag to go may have a place. It's always the same thing... but it will allow businesses to send one person to pick up lunch for the office from you guys instead of from McDonalds. Basic deli sandwiches, pickle, chips and choco chip or sugar cookie.
And yes, thank you, pot pie is a great idea. As mentioned above, not only did we have it last night, we have it a few times per winter. I even use the cupcake pan to make individual ones.
We have created and currently offer a, "lunch to go." Businesses order, over the phone, and we deliver for free. I think though we could, "remind," people of that. :-) Good idea, Lisa.
I do love the mini pot pie with squares-o-pastries on top.
I'm thinkin' maybe stew...and, the like also.
Hmm.
Another idea I am thinkin' of is making the bar more bar-like. We have a beautiful space and an amazing bar. Our highest profit margin comes from the sale of booze. However, we do not have the bar businees we would like. I think it's bc the bar doesn't feel, "bar-like," because of all the short tables. I think we need to put those tables up at bar level and invest in bar stools. I think we would casual down, a bit, in there and encourage more bar business if people didn't have to stand around the small space where the bar is located. I think they would feel more comfortable hanging around and milling about if the tables surrrounding the bar were higher. This being said, I do not think it would detract people from ordering dinners (in the bar) 'cuz people eat at high-tops all the time (Applebee's, Champps, Grandma's). It would be fairly easy and low cost to make the tables higher. The biggest investment would be in bar stools. However, maybe money could be saved if we ordered onsies and twosies and had all the bar stools be mis-matched. I think it would be appealing to the eye as well as cost effective.
Whatayahthinkahdat?
Yes, I know...I have TWO big ideas and a need for change danglin' out there.
Lunch Express is first on the agenda.
Revamping the Bar is a close second.
I think you should combine the lunch and bar ideas and bring back the 2 martini lunch.
How 'bout, "The Everclear Express?"
Sister Sarah's Super Spectacular Succulent Lunchtime Specials.
Super Frantastic Supra Runch Hower at The Srara Sristers
Pot Pie Pastry in the shape of breasts?
Meat loaf in the shape of buttocks?
Speaking as a short person- I HATE those tall tables and chairs.
Sorry,
Monica
Our bar stools will have foot rests. :-)
you could dress your wait staff like hooters girls during lunch.
There is an Irish Bar here in Naperville that dresses the wait staff in Catholic Schoolgirl outfits. That might work.
We'd have to do some, "re-hiring," for those ideas! Ha, ha.
We'd have to do some, "re-hiring," for those ideas! Ha, ha.
Who are your lunchtime regulars? Are you trying to attract people form downtown or factory workers?
Go Garrigan! The Xavier Saints are also in the playoffs tonight as well as my alma mater Dyersville Beckman. Both Garrigan and Dyersville have 7-2 records and are going against 9-0 teams. Xavier is 9-0 and is playing a 6-3 team that they beat earlier in the year.
have you thought of offering a ladies tea? Some fancy places up here have those.
How about wings with your choice of like 10 different sauces ala Buffalo Wild Wings?
Or how about a "sausage of the day" where the lunch special is a different sausage in a bun.
Or how about offering fried ravioli as an appetizer/meal? Or chicken fried steak and chicken fried chicken?
Anyway - these are items that I think would help bring in more crowds.
Mmmm. Fried ravioli is really good, especially with marinara sauce on side. Also, boneless buff wings, for those like me who don't like to get thier fingers yucky and hate the sight of chicken tendons.
I can't stop eating candy. I am on a 1600 calorie a day diet and I have been really good, but yesterday killed me. I am a candy fiend, and we had no trick or treaters, so I'm left with this huge bucket of candy and I can't stop eating whoppers and reeses cups. Really - I CANNOT STOP!!!
Help!
Mmm...love Reese's cups! My #1! :-<>
Oh and Butterfingers soaked in hot chocolate until the chocolate melts off and then yah gotta lick it clean until yah get to the what ever it is center and it's crunchy...makes me happy.
Tom, 3 words for ya:
Deep Fried Cheesecurds.
There is no better bar snack.
You have to buy candy that you don't like or else you eat it all.
I had candy for breakfast. I took Tom and Peter out last night in the little cul de sac behind our house- maybe 8 houses- they completely filled their buckets.
We have the only little kids in the whole area.
Monica
Why do teacher give out extra credit such as making homemade Day of the Dead bread. Do they not realize the the parents do 90% of the work and then stay up while the bread bakes? What a stupid extra credit. Especially when the high school is in playoff game the night before.
Monica
Monica...you are so right! In an attempt to avoid additional caloric intake...I did not buy Halloween candy until the day before and I DID NOT buy Reese's nor Butterfinger...my favorites. :-<>
You know what stinks? A Halloween candy bowl with nothing left in it but Charleston Chews (part of a variety pack). I just threw them away. Stevo rescued himself some Snickers but I don't know where they are. And we have a whole unopened bag of M&M's that we forgot to put out, but I have no justification for opening them now. It's different when they're just left in the bowl.
Easy Cheap Chicken
6 chicken thighs (I ues boneless and skinnless)
olive oil
salt and pepper
1 diced onion
8oz portobella mushrooms,chopped
1 can italian seasoned tomatoes
Season thighs with s and p.
Sear in olive oil.
Remove from pan and add onion and mushrooms to pan. Cook until brown then add tomatoes. Put chicken back in and cook another 10 minutes or so. Serve with homemade type egg noodles.
Yummy-good for winter.
Monica
I think, while the boys are at school, I will destroy all of their Reese's and Butterfingers.
Monica~ Must they be, "thighs?"
I have done it with breast but it is not nearly as good. With the skin removed they aren't so fatty. It's much more flavorful with the thighs.
All this breast and thigh talk...not sure if I'm turned on or grossed out! :-<>
In an effort to not have the last posting (mine) be something, "off color," I will say this...
"Happy Birthday Tom...you are the best husband, friend and father! Thank you for all you do!" :-)
Took a poll while in Chicago...everyone was "thumbs down" on the high tables. Both Phelan and Mom said they were "exclusionary", also trendy, but almost "out" of style, were some of the comments. Also, you don't want to look like applebees (YUCK). How bout new chairs for your current tables?
Emily, you have some great ideas!
Nance...I really think that if you "cut" a few 30 second commercials with YOU TALKING REALLY FAST...about your fast specials of the day. Every day you would come on at a certain time talking fast. Just do 5 spots and run them every week, with your friendly manner, laughing, talking fast about the fast lunch, it might work!
Happy Birthday Tom!
Nance, when I was in Australia we would go out for "pub lunches" and have a glass of beer with a steak or oysters. I love pub lunches. It's even fun to say.
We also went to a place that served "kebabs" which is a wrap with beef or chicken inside - kind of like a gyro, but no greek spices, they tasted like italian beef in a warm fluffy wrap. YUM! And when we worked on the port a lunch truck would come by with hot meat pies full of beef and gravy with a flaky crust like a pot roast to go. So good. Shaped like a big hot-pocket.
Mmmmm, meat pie...
What about a boot? Have people drink out of a boot, and then drinking games and serve hot pretzels, and have waitresses walking around with free snuff...
Nance and Tom, I love my idea of Nance doing the radio spots (if I do say so myself!)...I think they would really work...
"Hi this is Nance Straub from Sister Sarah's, today our fast lunch specials are____________
fast, fun and friendly for $5.95...,Sister Sarah's, friendly lunch..FAST!"
you can pay me later!
I agree with all the short-legged Straub women about the tall barstools. Also, look at your clientele...everyone over 60 will HATE them! They look cool, but I think they might be a mistake. You know, a lot of those older folks can drink us young whippersnappers under the table and never show it. You could lose more business than you gain, I don't know.
Re: High tops and bar stools in the Bar.
I am thinkin' that our 60+ Guests, who don't like them, will sit in the dining room (lots of room) and our 30+ guests will start FILLING UP our bar. Dontchoo think?
I like the, "fast talking," ad idea...except that Kim (Diamond's) does them and I find them really annoying and kinda, "cheap." "Cheap," meaning...pay for an extra minute or two and slow the heck down. Hmm. Furthermore, would it appear that I am copying her ad idea? I'm not saying I wouldn't do it and that it isn't a good idea...I just don't know.
Gotta fly and meet with a computer techy about my...computer. Keep the ideas coming...we'll read more of them later. Thank you!
Another thing about the bar stools-
if you want more families eating there- most parents don't like their kids on those stools. Ideally they would be in the dinig areas not the bar but it does happen sometimes.
Monica
Dining-not dinig.
If I were a masochist I would send you a videotape of me trying to mount one of those things, but I'm not so I won't. It ain't pretty.
You can't get off of them gracefully either.
Many of your guests who like to eat in the bar would not like the high stools! Purses with cell phones are way down on the floor...hard to get on and off,etc, plus an entire room full of them would look kinda weird...maybe a few around the perimeter? I just don't think they're classy...sorry!
I didn't post the anon. blog earlier, but the fastest way to fill up a bar is with a hot babe who walks talks and looks like Nance!
I think a few, not many but just a few perhaps in the far corner by the video games would be excellent. i am a fan of them. But, I like standing at a bar and in lieu of a bar i like high stools.
p
I like Pat's idea - mix it up! See? We can reach a consensus, just like Nancy Pelosi.
Thank you for all of your sage advice and good ideas! :-)
happy bithday Tom
we
Love you
I was hoping for tall tables so I could look up some shirts!
Hey Tom,
Why do chefs wear those tall hats? Seems like you would be hitting pans hanging from the ceiling and light fixtures.
Monica
Each fold in a Chef's hat represents the different way you can make an egg.
It's for their big brains, as in "Look at the big brain on Brad!"
It's where the term stove-pipe hat came from...then business men were so jealoue at the size of the thing,they started wearing them, but in black!
That explains the folds but not the height.
It's all about the huevos...I told you that...well, that's what my husband...the "Chef"...told me.
Policemen carry heavy guns.
Construction workers use big tools.
And, a Chef wears a tall hat! :-<>
Wear a tall hat and carry a big spatula!
Oh, yah! :-<>
Can't he just wear a hair net?
That'll work.
Yah dude, like he should wear a hairnet and get like a low-rider with spinners.
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