There used to be a coffee shop, named after my home town, smashed between a giant Staples store and a Pier 1, so hidden that you’d drive right past it if you didn’t know what you were looking for. It’s not anything flashy, and there certainly aren’t any tablecloths. But there is a coffee bar with vinyl seats permanently fastened to the ground. The same seats that I’d climb up into as a small child and incessantly spin back and forth, right next to my PopPop. My old faithful order: a hot chocolate (regardless of the temperature outside) with extra whipped cream. PopPop a coffee, which, after repetitive begging, he’d pour a splash into my hot chocolate. Inevitably whipped cream would be plastered on my face, and he’d laugh– one of those belly-jiggling chuckles. With my elbows perched on the counter and my head in my hands, I’d sit, longingly gazing at the donuts, just begging my PopPop for, “ one– and only one, pleassse”. But true to the other times I’d wear my sad eyes and pouty lip, he’d shoo me away telling me that I had to eat a real breakfast before sweets. It wasn’t a fancy place, with 5-star food. It was just a small coffee shop, where I’d get eggs, bacon and toast. And those unforgettable memories of moments I shared with my PopPop. The old coffee shop is still there, and I still sometimes stop in and order breakfast. Sometimes I can even look to my right and imagine my PopPop sitting there next to me, flirting with the waitress and denying me a sugary donut.
Flash back: my college days-which in reality is like, two years ago. But humor me.
“Food is Life” is the motto and mantra of the Culinary Institute of America. There are banners on every light post; posters on every wall, making it clear to students and guests what exactly was our focus.
Yes, it is absolutely important that we nourish our bodies with the best possible meals. And of course, we wouldn’t survive without eating or drinking water. But I don’t see “Food is Life” in that light; I see it not as an enrichment of our bodies, but as an enrichment of our mind and souls.
During my bachelor’s program, I took “Intro to Marketing”. A teacher who embodied the perfect portions of smart and smart aleck blessed me. He was hard to impress regardless of the assignment give us. One week, he assigned a paper; the subject was our favorite and most memorable restaurant experience. Now just imagine, a class full of food obsessed human beings, we literally ate, breathed, and dreamed food. So as you’d expect, many students wrote about their NYC experiences: places like Eleven Madison Park and Blue Hills. Restaurants renowned for a life changing “food enlightenment” experience. Writing what they thought my teacher wanted to hear, their papers came easy to them.
I struggled. My memory of PopPop called to me, so I wrote about that—certain my grade would be in jeopardy. But to me, PopPop was “food is life”.
It’s not necessarily where you go, or what you eat, but whom you eat with. Food is the effervescent center of our social gatherings. It is what unites us through all facets of life. Regardless of your gender, race, orientation, cultural background, food is the common ground we all walk on. It is a shared love and appreciation. One of the best “food is life” moments I ever had took place waiting tables up at school. I approached an older couple whose plates were clean, except for one; there was a single French fry left on the plate. I politely asked if I could get the plates out of their way, and they obliged right until I went to pick up the plate with the French fry.
“Oh no, leave that one please!” The gentleman said to me. And his wife looked at him with the biggest grin and sparkling eyes. She then turned her attention to me and giggled like she was sixteen again, “On our first date, we split a plate a fries. It got down to the last one and we jokingly fought over it. We then decided that we’d split it in half. We’ve been doing exactly that for over forty years. Every time we go out to eat, we split the last French fry.”
My heart immediately swelled with such admiration and my philosophy verified: food is life. Food is about family, friends, and love. Our souls are nourished every time we sit down to a meal with company; which is why Baker’s Treat is so important. It goes hand in hand with our “Eat Good. Feel Good. For Good” philosophy. Everyone who walks through the door comments on how beautiful, warm and inviting the Baker’s Treat is. It makes you want to make memories around an amazing meal, memories that perhaps you’ll write about some day; that will fill your soul with your food is life story.
So when I handed the paper in, uncertain of the reception it would receive, imagine my shock when the teacher said he had read one of the best papers in his entire career of teaching the class–and that it was my paper! He was so moved I chose my most memorable restaurant experience based on my shared memories with someone who had been an important part of my life, rather than if it was Zagat rated or not.
Eat Good, Feel Good For Good. Surely you have heard us say this about Baker’s Treat. I love being part of providing the 5 start food AND the memories for each of our supporters and customers. Our new chalk wall, our gourmet comfort food, our encouragement for you to linger, chat and enjoy.
You are cordially invited to make memories at Bakers Treat. But you are also invited to enjoy excellent food our differently-abled have participated in bringing to your table. You are invited to feel good about the nourishment your body receives from the food, but also mind and soul.
And you don’t have to get into a time machine to create the memory. Come see us today.