January 24, 2024

So, here we are.  It’s January 24, 2024.  It has been so cold.  The snow and freezing temperatures have certainly been challenging.  But, this week is promising to be better!  Some have been confused about whether we are open or not because we have not opened our “back porch.”  They drive by thinking that we are closed because the back side is up. Well…as long as the temp has two digits, we will probably be open.  Check for the “OPEN” flag!  And, when the temps get above 40, I will try to get the back porch down so we look even more open.

This week we are progressing with our kitten head and cat head biscuits.  The cat head sandwich has shaved steak with Montreal seasoning and blue cheese.   And, we have our omelet tortilla wrap featuring spinach, tomato chutney, and cheddar cheese…vegetarian!  And, for fun, I added pancakes this week!

Lunch is rather eclectic.  I have smoked some chicken wings that I dry rubbed with a little salt and chili lime seasoning, then smoked with cherry wood.  As they are ordered, I drop them in the fryer for just a minute to give them a bit of crispiness.  They taste incredible and the meat certainly absorbed the smoke while remaining very juicy.  And, we are also putting a side of siracha aioli with it. Yum!

It is often said in this business that the best ideas are stolen.  I have certainly found that to be true.  I have found menu ideas that I have developed on other people’s menus and took it as a compliment.  And, I have often seen concepts that I really like and tried to figure out how I could “make it my own.”  Our soup this week is a case in point.  I found a great recipe for hamburger soup in an Amish cookbook.  How can one improve a hamburger?  Add bacon and cheese!  So, using their base (admittedly with a few tweaks) and adding bacon and topping it with cheese…oh THAT’S comfort food!

A traditional caprese salad is pretty, delicious and easy to make.  Simply take a log of mozzarella cheese and cut it into fairly thin slices.  Do the same with a fresh tomato.  Now, get a bunch of whole basil leaves.  Then, on a plate, put down one slice of cheese. Next, put a leaf of basil covering about ¾ of the cheese.  Then, put a tomato slice on the basil, again covering about ¾ of the leaf.  Guess what!  Put a slice of cheese on the tomato covering about ¾…repeating until you are out of slices and leaves.  Pretty, right?  Well, you’re not done.  Salt and pepper (kosher salt, fresh ground pepper) liberally.  Then, we drizzle.  Take some olive oil (preferably extra virgin) and make a few thin lines back and forth over your pretty salad.  Then, make a few thin lines with some balsamic glaze.  NOW, you are done. Hmmm, I wondered, how can this be made more portable and handheld, therefore easy to eat?  Why not put all that on a toasted English muffin? 

As most of you have seen, this is the menu for this week:

January 24-27

Breakfast 7:30-11:00

Kitten Head Biscuit Menu (Kitties)

¨ Plain Biscuit with butter and/or jelly                 $3

Raspberry, Blackberry or Apple Butter & Sharp Cheddar Cheese

¨ Cat Head Black and Bleu Sandwich                $8

Fried Egg, Steak, Bleu Cheese

¨ Hash Browns                                $1

¨ Omelet Tortilla Wrap                                  $8

Seasoned Egg, Spinach, Tomato Chutney, Cheddar

¨ Pancakes                                              $5

Lunch 11:00-3:00

¨ Smoked Chicken Wings                             $8

Served with Siracha Aioli

¨ Bacon Cheeseburger Soup                          $8

Warm comfort food.

¨ Fried Potato Ribbons w/ Sauce          $5

Choice of Ketchup, Mayo, Chipotle Honey Mustard or Malt Vinegar

¨ Soft Pretzels                                                  $5

With New Beer Mustard Dipping Sauce

¨ Caprese English Muffin                              $10

Tomato, Basil, Mozzarella, Oil, Balsamic on an English Muffin served with Potato Ribbons

¨ Spinach and Cheese Ravioli                        $12

Made by our own hands, with a Sherry Cream Sauce and a piece of Garlic Bread

¨ Cheesecake Cookie Cups                           $5

Cheesecake flavored with Grand Marnier in individual cookie cups!

So, Johnnymac, what’s in store for next week? 

These are the current thoughts…So, if something changes, don’t yell at me, please.

January 31-February 3

Breakfast 7:30-11:00

Kitten Head Biscuit Menu (Kitties)

¨ Plain Biscuit with butter and/or jelly                 $3

Raspberry, Blackberry or Apple Butter & Sharp Cheddar Cheese

¨ Cat Head Southern Biscuit                          $8

Breaded Fried Chicken Cutlet

¨ Hash Browns                                $1

¨ Omelet Tortilla Wrap                                  $8

Seasoned Egg, Ham, Tomato Chutney, Cheddar

¨ Raspberry Pancakes                                 $5

Lunch 11:00-3:00

¨ Beet Salad on a Stick                                 $6

Beets, Arugula, Goat Cheese, Walnuts, Honey Balsamic

¨ Elote Corn Soup                                      $8

Because it’s good, that’s why.

¨ Fried Potato Ribbons w/ Sauce          $5

Choice of Ketchup, Mayo, Chipotle Honey Mustard or Malt Vinegar

¨ Soft Pretzels                                                  $5

With New Beer Mustard Dipping Sauce

¨ Quiche Lorraine                                       $10

Classic with Ham and Swiss with Side Spinach Salad

¨ Roasted Crispy Pork Belly                           $14

Sticky Black Thai Rice

¨ Cake Crumb Mousse                                 $5

Leigh Anne and I are proud to be part of this community.  We try to take advantage of as many events and festivals as we can.  So, if you know of something going on that could use a food truck, let us know!  Send us an email, text message, phone call, smoke signal, whatever!

Lastly today, speaking of community, I want to give a big “shout out” to two local businesses.  To be blunt, the restaurant business is often very cutthroat.  Everyone is an enemy.  Everyone is trying to steal your customers.  In just about every city that I have worked and lived in, that has been the true mindset…until now.  Leigh Anne and I started this business saying out loud, “We don’t mind competition, but we are not here to make enemies.”  There are two small businesses that have been continuously encouraging and offering advice, sweet and helpful, each having had food trucks.  The first is Grilled Cheese Mania.  And the second is Mashita.  I don’t believe either of them are on this mailing list.  But, I hope you can support them if you are in Harrisonburg.  They both make great food and are just outstanding people.  Small business is tough enough without having to worry about others in your trade.  To find someone like these two is simply a blessing.  Harrisonburg is a better place with them.  So, please…shop local…especially Grilled Cheese Mania and Mashita.

Let’s chat again soon!

Thank you all for your interest and support,

Johnnymac