Easter Sunday

And I'll start with an apology to the mom who brought friends and found the "welcome" wanting for the children with the group. (blog comment, thanks for writing - it all helps, even when it is tough to "hear"!)

On this glorious morning, with danish baking right now & a pastry case full of luscious raspberry swirl cheesecakes, carrot cakes, fruit tart & of course holiday fancy cupcakes, it is the start of our first Easter as the BR. We are learning & trying different things all the time.

I am glad to know & sorry that I caused negative comments to be in the "wind" about the BR.

The customer service arena has for over 20 yrs known that a favorable comment is shared with 3-4 people & a negative comment is shared with twice that many. The blog commenter holds up those stats.

Theory and practice -- so vastly different and I now live 7 days a week, 11 hours / day in the world of practice. When I worked in the theory world with clients, it was so much less close to the bone!

I apologize to anyone who has had a less than satisfactory experience @ the BR.

I know the staff is well trained, I know the food is good and I trust from what so many people tell me, that the ambiance is topnotch. The idea that I mess up the overall good we have going is tough, since I really love everything about the BR. I need to look to me and see how I can moderate the rough edges, ongoing!

Newark Star Ledger Review

Here's the link to our Friday print edition review.
http://www.nj.com/entertainment/ticket/index.ssf/2009/04/when_romance_is_on_your_lunch.html

We are very pleased with Pete's assessment, would like him to come back and try French Toast again -- so many variations & so many customers really do seem to find it a value & a good meal!

And the roast chicken is one of our biggest sellers in the sandwich category. Never good to find a customer who had dry chicken, I firmly believe it to be the rare exception or I would have heard more about it and sold fewer!

pics are worth

Here we are, back in the pastry & sweets business. Yeah!

Pastry case up and running -- full of great tarts today

And the customer feedback at lunch today (so far) is:
chocolate almond tart -- phenomenal!

apricot franipone tart -- exquisite!

tomorrow -- we'll be back in the cheesecake business -- s'more & raspberry swirl for starters

New and more of the same great customers

Rarely does a day go by when I don't talk with a customer who says something like this:  "Hi, I'm back and I've brought my friend(s).  It's their first time here!"

And then I thank them for helping us continue to grow and prosper.  We don't advertise, so it is our customers and friends spreading the word that brings new folks into the rooster.

We do sponsorship on NJN and this week we sponsored a challenge grant during the fundraising week.  I've also been hearing alot from folks who have heard the NJN spot.

Is this blog-worthy; probably not.  However I am curious to know what other small food businesses are doing in this economy with regard to advertising.

Great news on the college acceptance front

We are so pleased for one of our high school senior workers.  She is received an acceptance by several of her top schools and one of them is in a neighboring town -- less than 15 mins away. Great going!  

Flourless chocolate cake mini - wow!

So, trying out a few items made by the new pastry chef -- and all are really tasty and hopefully will be in the case before long.. watch this space.