Cosmo's Food for Thought

    Well it's almost time for the 'Fair'.  This is the 12 days that brings fear to all of us other businesses that are not @ the Fair.  It can be a very slow time for food sales, etc. Than the hammer falls again because shopping for school cloths & supplies also begins in earnest!  We have to be realistic as money can only go so far when it's being pulled in so many directions.  Hopefully though we will hold our own & actually gain a little from last year.     We do have a catered event coming up in mid September for the Army.  Lunch bags for 50 on Saturday & a hot lunch for 50 on Sunday.  Very thankful for the opportunity to serve those who serve.  On October 5 we are catering a bagged lunch for between 80 - 100 for a Mennonite conference.     As always thanks for allowing me to share & for all your prayers & support.....

Well another week is complete @ the Cafe.....We had a pretty good day Friday so maybe we are through these last days of summer 'melt down'......We are down to me & Julie, so at least the payroll is reduced & that may be the boost needed to turn a profit.......The main problem I see is our location..... Being inside & not having a visible store front it is making it very difficult for 'folks' driving by to see us....The  outside of the building is receiving a face lift & maybe that will help to brighten up the view.....The love I have for this business has not wavered, but I would be less than honest if I did not say I am also very discouraged @ times.....I still will do all I can to provide good food @ reasonable prices......I am constantly trying to come up with new ideas for menu & marketing....... It's not over until the fat lady sings" or should I say "the fat man".....Still waiting on hearing from the Air Base for an upcomin...

 It's Sunday night & the eve of a new week @ the Cafe....I am hopeful of a good week & up for the challenge....We do have 2 small catered affairs......Thursday a breakfast & lunch for 17 'folks' & on Saturday a baby shower for 22 ladies.....This will help with sales but also it is a great opportunity to get our name out.......We have been operating with a 2 person staff & I'm one of the 2!.....This does help with the bottom line & it keeps me 'hopping' which is great,  plus I am back to cooking all day & this is what I love......I will begin making more soups as the weather is beginning to get cooler....Tomorrow is Chicken Vegetable....mmmm....We have also added a third 'Lunch Box' that offers a cup of soup as another option....We will also be introducing our new menu.....The main change is the format & that it is now a three fold.....Julie has designed it & I am very thankful for her input & talents.......

A hectic but fun week @ the Cafe.....With only two of us it can get a little crazy, but it was crazy in a good way....We did have 2 catered events & both were well received....This could be the jump start that will help with further events & help with the bottom line....I am so thankful for the chance to provide food for these 'parties',  it gives me a feeling of great accomplishment..... Sales @ the Cafe were also good for the week & that is certainly encouraging...This upcoming week we will do some more 'home comfort cooking' with Ziti & Meatballs & Beef Stew served over Biscuits....I have to give a shout out to Julie.....She finished our new menus & made some cool signs for both of the catered meals....It is so great to have someone 'on board' who has these extra talents & is willing to go the extra mile for me & the Cafe..... We will also begin a $2.99 Breakfast Special which consists of Eggs-Home Fries & Toast....! As ...

 This past week we received some good news....We had been waiting to see if we would get a lunch order from the Army & we did!....A total of 395 boxed lunches served over 3 days in mid November....This is a great boost for us & a chance for us provide some good food for the 'Troops'.... We offer a 15% military discount & we were more than happy to apply it here as well..... Sandwich (ham-turkey-roast beef-chicken salad) - Chips - Sliced Apples - Chocolate Chip Cookie & Beverage all in a Lunch Box Carton ..... As always thanks for your support & prayers......& for allowing me to share.....

 Happy Columbus Day.....It was a little quiet @ the Cafe today, but pretty much expected since many 'folks' were off....Tomorrow will hopefully bring back the 'regulars' & we will get back to some kind of normal....This Cafe is still a 'work in progress' for sure....We still are not hitting our sales goals, but I haven't given up just yet!....I keep trying to scale down my expectations but I also need to not let my heart get ahead of my brain & keep emotion out of this.....I keep thinking that its location-location-location & sure with us being inside & not a stand alone it is.....However if you were to take a short drive around us you would be astonished at the amount of businesses that offer all the potential workers thus customers......I am still having a hard time understanding why we have not been able to break through to them yet.....There is no consistency from day to day or week to week & it makes for a very stressful time tr...

It's Friday morning @ the 'Cafe'.....I actually had a customer come in @ 6:45!..... Might be a sign of a good day.... Pete, who I alluded to in a previous post is now a proud Grandpa to a beautiful baby girl, Zoe..... Congratulations to Pete & his wife Yvonne!..... This all got me thinking today about my own Grandchildren, I/we ( Ella Mae) have 4..... Addison-Aden-Daniele&CJ & now 3 new additions ( by unanimous vote) Kenson-Kensey&Kenley! They are the adopted boys of Paul & Julie (yes, the Julie who works here @ the Cafe) all brothers from Haiti!....What an honor to now get to know them better & maybe share some of their experiences....That is why I do what I do.....To continue to stay healthy, get this 'Cafe' to where we need to be to make enough to meet the all the bills, personal & business & have just a little left over to share with all these Grandkids.....How blessed I am to have this network of family & friends......