For The Love Of Chocolate Milk

Organic. Pasture raised. Bovine growth hormone free. Sounds delicious, doesn't it? Well, truthfully, it isn't all delicious. It isn't all organic or pasture raised or hormone free. In the dairy industry, there are various certifications and specifications and available loop holes to being labeled organic. Horizon brand hit a snafu when some people questioned whether they were stretching the loop holes a bit, awhile back. I've had their milk, it's fine. But it isn't delicious in my opinion. It's thin and weak as milk goes. Tastes like I'm drinking the old style grocery store skim milk that always had a blueish hue to it, back in the 70's and 80's.

When our restaurant wanted to start using organic dairy products in our cooking, we tested several options in the local and nationally available market. Quality was the highest priority, followed by cost, delivery options, and shelf life. None satisfied us on every count. Plus, I really wanted to support a local farm here in NC. So we kept looking and came upon Bowman Dairy in Julian, NC. Their milk is sold under the brand name Homeland Creamery. They couldn't have chosen a more perfect product name. Their farm reminds me of America's homeland, thru and thru. An idealic setting, with cows feeding in the pasture, tractors, milking facilities, silos, and a few goats, dogs, and other farm animals roaming around. And talk about creamy. Their product arrives daily with a thick head at the top of each bottle, just like when Irvin Weaver used to deliver to the milk box on my grandfather's back porch in Pennsylvania. They deliver butter, cream, half and half, buttermilk, whole milk, skim, eggnog, and ice cream. They also carry other products like free range chicken eggs, Tennessee cheeses, local sausage, and soap to clean up with afterwards.

But it's their chocolate milk that is to die for. Literally. Go make yourself a milkshake with thick creamy ice cream, milk, and chocolate sauce. Go ahead. I'll wait. ....... Okay, now that's what Homeland Creamery's chocolate milk tastes like naturally. It is the thickest, richest chocolate milk I have ever tasted. And tasted. And tasted. We don't serve chocolate milk in our restaurant. However, the good folks at Homeland Creamery know how much my staff enjoys their chocolate milk, and occassionally, a quart or so will show up in our service cooler. The first staff member to find it, gleefully breaks out cups and pours for everyone else. Aaaaaaaaah!

If you're ever passing thru North Carolina, it would be worth the side trip to Julian. The dairy offers tours an hour and a half tour at 10 am for $6 per person, Monday thru Saturday, March thru mid-November. The tour consists of a hay ride, visits thru the pastures, to the bottle fed baby calves, to the milking parlor, and ending at the creamery for samples of some ice cream. The tour is geared toward children with an emphasis on the fact that 'food is a product of a farm, and is not just a product of a local grocery store.' A corn maze is added in the fall. Phone ahead for tour reservations. http://www.homelandcreamery.com/dairy-farm-tours.html

Directions from Greensboro:(From I-40 E) - Take 421 South exit (Sanford), also called Martin Luther King Hwy -Go about 14 miles on Hwy 421 South-Take Hwy 62 N. Exit (High Point/ Burlington)-Turn left at end of exit ramp onto 62 North-Go 1/2 mile to stop sign-Turn right (which is still Hwy 62 N. ( which merges with Liberty Rd for 1/2 mile)-Go only 1/2 mile and turn left onto Hwy 62 again (follow signs)(people have missed this turn before)- Go about 4-5 miles and Bowman Dairy Rd. is on the left-Turn left (Homeland Creamery sign) onto Bowman Dairy Rd.

Directions from Winston Salem:(From I –40 West)- Take I-40 E towards Greensboro- Take 421 South exit (Sanford) also called Martin Luther King Hwy (turn right at end of ramp away from downtown)-Go about 14 miles on Hwy 421 South-Take Hwy 62 Exit (High Point/ Burlington)-Turn left at end of exit ramp (62 North)-Go 1/2 mile to stop sign-Turn right (which is still Hwy 62 North which merges with Liberty Rd for 1/2 mile)-Go only 1/2 mile and turn left onto Hwy 62 again (follow signs)(people have missed this turn before)- Go about 4 miles and Bowman Dairy Rd. is on the left-Turn left at Homeland Creamery sign onto Bowman Dairy Rd

Does This Count As Two Degrees Of Separation?

Death Sentence

Three years ago, I enter for the first time, what was to become one of my favorite local hang outs. A very friendly and courteous server named Juan Carlos approaches my table. Based on his excellent service, friendly personality, and handsome smile, this restaurant & bar quickly becomes a favorite.


Juan Carlos always waits on my friends and I. If he isn't there, I may not stay. The other wait staff just aren't as good as him. And I admit, I'm very judgemental of servers, being as I'm in the business. So if you can't meet JC's standards of service, you won't be getting my regular business.


Little by little, getting to know JC, I find out he has a passion for acting, not unusual for aspiring actors to work as servers until their big break in NYC or LA, but here in North Carolina, its not very often the case. He is soon getting small parts in local theatre. He's an extra in this movie. He's an extra in that movie. He's in a tv pilot that doesn't make it to air. And finally, he's now promoted to bartender at my local hang out. Ok. Move from the tables, now I find myself and friends at the bar most nights. No problem.


Then slowly, last summer, my favorite bartender is not at work as much anymore. He's there occassionally, and when he is, he never really mentions what's up, just busy working he says.

TONIGHT, we find out what he was up to last summer. Thru his invitation to a movie premier for Death Sentence, starring Kevin Bacon. In this movie, Kevin Bacon plays Nick Hume, "a mild-mannered executive with a perfect life, until one gruesome night he witnesses something that changes him forever. Transformed by grief, Hume eventually comes to the disturbing conclusion that no length is too great when protecting his family." Directed by James Wan. Release Date: August 31st, 2007. In the movie, Juan Carlos plays Sammy, the bartender at the Four Roses bar (okay, not much of a stretch, I admit, but hey, how many movies have you been in??). Four Roses is the hang out for all the thugs, gang members, killers and any other vile criminals in town. When Kevin Bacon's son is killed as part of an initiation rite for a new gang member, he decides to follow their lead, and it takes him into the criminal mind set and gang underworld.


In my favorite scene from the movie, (because Juan Carlos is in it), Kevin Bacon has had enough and is about to lay out everything and anything that stands in his path at the Four Roses, including poor Sammy's face! YIKES!


This isn't a romantic date movie, it's not science fiction, it's a thriller with shooting, chases, body parts, car crashes, etc. But if you like action movies, and you've ever wondered HOW FAR YOU WOULD GO TO PROTECT YOUR FAMILY, this is the movie to see.

Plus, isn't it nice to see good restaurant people succeed in life? And trust me, Juan Carlos is good people. See you at the movies!

To view the trailer, go to http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=20203429. For some reason, it wouldn't let me save the video here.

This Is What Sucks

Do you know what sucks?

When an infant or child is crying. Not a normal crying, that a bit of attention from a Mom or Dad won't fix.

More like a distressed cry.

But the parent is too busy chatting with their dining companion to pay attention to the child. Or so used to the crying, that the parent barely pays it any mind. Not that the rest of the dining room can't hear it. Unfortunately, all eyes are on that table. Not that the child is the problem. The kid is innocent. The problem is the so called responsible adult who is oblivious to the commotion. Or to other guests' concerns for the baby and the wailing and what possibly could be causing it, and hey, how about pick the baby up and find out? There's a thought. Or just continue to ignore the situation like you're already doing.

Until the child becomes so distressed, that they throw up on the table in the dining room.

At which point, the responsible adult certainly notices, because hey, place a plate here, spread out a napkin there, no one will notice until you creep out the door without a word or apology to the server who now has to clean up the vomit they will find when they bus your table.

That sucks.

Push Button To Hear A Pre-Recorded Message From The Staff

The Greeter

Fournier: What if we could turn me into a holograph?

With a pre-recorded message? When customers don't listen, they could push a button to hear it again. And again. And again. I'd like a holograph of you with your 'Ode to HairSpray' movie hair. It was very cool!

Fournier: I hate answering the questions that would have been answered had they listened to the greeter at the front entrance...

Listen? Who listens anymore? It's so yesterday!

Fournier: For example. "What's your specials?"

Oh, they were supposed to listen when they were recited the first time? Huh, no crap.

Fournier: "What's your soup du jour?"

Well, seriously, at the rate Jen changes the soup schedule with new recipes, who can keep up?

Fournier: "Is it spicy?"

Consider your clientele. Cream of corn could be spicy to some people.

Fournier: "How is it made?"

With a hand held burr mixer.

Fournier: "Do you have any fat-free dressing?"

WAIT JUST A MINUTE! They want fat free dressing??? On the salad with blue cheese, fresh fruit, dried fruit, candied nuts, and other sugar laden goodies? They might as well be eating dessert. Amazing. That's like when I order a skim milk grande latte, extra caramel sauce, white chocolate chips, and whipped cream. I feel good knowing I ordered skim milk. Next!

Fournier: Most of the time they don't use proper grammar or they have it accompanied with the ever so present attitude.

Someone gave you attitude? hmmm. Was it Jimmi? LOL.

Fournier: And what is it about them putting their greasy fingers all over my freshly cleaned display area.

Nothing attracts fingerprints like freshly windexed glass.

Fournier: Or asking if the desserts on display are real or if they are plastic? "Can I touch it?"

Like the woman who stuck her finger in the Brulee last week and then licked it?

Fournier: I want to ask them sometimes, "Are you 5 years old? Do you still have to touch things?" I think not!

Good thing we have the electric outlets covered or they'd be sticking their fingers in there too apparently! LOL.

Nice.