Kaffeinated Konfusion

It was my birthday the other day.
I hate to go out on my birthday with the St Pat’s revelers.  I much prefer to work in the kitchen piling corned beef on slabs of braised cabbage and then enjoy a beer at home. It stopped being fun after about 23 or 24. I don’t think a green beer has ever passed my lips, at least not that I remember anyway.

For the past three years we have offered a free Irish meal to those who would bring me a six pack of Irish beer. We don’t serve alcohol and it’s kind of a twist around plus its a fun promotion.

Over the weekend we served up a couple hundred pounds of some rather tasty and tender Grobbel’s corned beef. Simply the best from the nation’s oldest corned beef producer. Brined over in the Detroit area since 1883.

Bling and Beer

We sold a bunch of lamb shanks slowly braised with lots of rosemary, thyme and garlic. We also offered up few gallon of a nice variation on Irish stew.  Lamb, parsnips, turnips, carrots and peas slow cooked for about 5 hours. (I forgot the potatoes this year and there wasn’t room in the pots when I realized it) The lamb was tender and the parsnips added a gentle sweetness to the dish, the potatoes were not missed.  I am positively sure it was far better than the school lunch carrots, canned peas, and beef base version they were serving down at the London Grill pictured here in a column from William R. Wood at the Kalamazoo Gazette.  

All in all, not too bad for a place that doesn’t serve any beer.

I did manage to garner a few six packs beer. Smithwicks was the beer of choice this year.  Thanks so much to all! A right tasty brew indeed.

My favorite gifts this year didn’t involve any beer or me giving a free meal in return.
One of my servers, Nayoma, brought me some “bling.” I haven’t hit the half century mark yet but proudly wore the stuff anyway. As someone told once if you ain’t gettin’ older you’re getting deader.

Jeannie and Oggie have been guests for many, many  years.  Every Thursday after volunteering to deliver Meals on Wheels they treat themselves to lunch in our humble cafe.

They brought me a small book called Happy Birthday (you old wreck). A collection of thoughts about getting old written by children. I shared this little book with many folks over the past few days. I was a big hit with all who read excerpts from it. I had forgotten the wonder, natural curiousity and unabashed naivete small children have about life and getting old(er). Completely hilarious and brought a big smile to my face. Thanks Jeannie and Oggie!!