Diner of my Dreams

For Sale

2009-04-23T12:53:00.000-07:00

I know, I need to stop looking at diners for sale right now. I'm not quite there yet...but I still had to share this very special one, for sale for $12,000 and located in storage in Lancaster, PA. It felt so meant2b.
I mean, can't you just see it? And here's the part where I have maybe a little too much "vision" and not enough practicality, because this is what it looks like now:

...and that still isn't stopping me from thinking it is absolutely perfect. This one is gonna be hard to let go.

'wich craft

2009-04-23T12:41:00.001-07:00

I found this book through a blog post featured on tastespotting, and I'm trying to refrain from driving to the nearest Barnes and Noble and devouring it (get it?!) haha. I really love a nicely put-together sandwich and if they're made with locally grown veggies, locally raised meat and fresh bread, I think everyone else will like them too.

Update: I got the chance to check this book out at Barnes and Noble and I will definitely be adding it to my wishlist. Not only is it a great guidebook to sandwich building in general, it also explains how the business was started and the challenges it faced. Definitely want to visit 'WichCraft on my next trip to NY.

Progress

2009-04-22T11:24:00.000-07:00

So far all 3 of you readers chose cloth napkins with a resounding yes. I voted too, but I'm not counting myself :)
That's cool because it brings me to my next idea, which is to make branded cloth napkins (screenprinted with my diner's logo) to use and possibly sell (if the logo is pretty enough...which it totally will be).
Also... I've added a new restaurant to visit to the list: Flow in Jim Thorpe.

I've actually wanted to check this place out for a while, my coworker Pam's son opened it a few years ago but has since withdrawn involvement. Kevin and his wife Sara are farmers and bakers who sell their wares at the local Emmaus Farmers Market (which I'm embarrassed to say I have never been to!). They even have a blog! Pam offered to introduce me to them at one of their wednesday evening CSA potlucks, so I'll probably be going with her in 2 weeks. I'm really excited to meet this couple since it seems like we are interested in some similar pursuits, and I'd love to see how their whole operation runs. P.S.- visit their site, their bread looks amazing! Worth a Sunday afternoon trip to Emmaus in my book.
I just checked out the menus for Flow and since their are some great trails nearby, I think it'll make a fun day trip for an upcoming weekend. I'll see if I can rope some people into going with me and report back.

cloth napkins

2009-04-21T08:54:00.000-07:00

It will create more laundry than I care to think about, but I love using cloth napkins at home and I'd like to use them in my diner. But first- please tell me what you think:

poll by twiigs.com

*Photo from this etsy store.

on the side

2009-04-21T08:26:00.001-07:00

Lately I've been really trying to think hard about what I like/don't like when I dine out.
One thing I hate hate hate is potato chips with a sandwich. I don't eat potato chips, and I don't want them on my plate. It doesn't feel like a bonus, it's a sloppy side. I really want to come up with a low-cost alternative: small, interesting sides that feel like an addition or bonus to a small lunch or sandwich.
Here are some ideas:
-A selection of homemade pickles (or pickled items like okra, cauliflower, etc...)
photo by flickr user disneymike

-Cold crop Coleslaw
-Carrot salad
-Black bean/corn salad
-Seasonal fruit (a wedge of watermelon, sliced apple, peaches...)
-Homemade sweet potato chips
-Veggie pasta salad
-Butternut squash/kidney bean salad
I like the idea of serving 2 or 3 of these in tiny dishes next to the entree, so people can have a taste of a few different things. It makes a more balanced meal and feels more special to me.

Back to School

2009-04-21T08:22:00.000-07:00

Next week I'm going to my first small business workshop at Lehigh University.
It feels awesome to be doing something proactive about this instead of waiting till I'm less busy or have more money. I think that with starting a business, like a lot of other things in life, you just have to go for it.
I'm childless, debt-free, and healthy, there's no better time.

classifieds

2009-04-16T07:42:00.001-07:00

I know it's a tad too premature to be scanning craigslist for listings but look at this place for sale:

It's got potential, right? And it comes with customers!

Road Trips?

2009-04-14T08:28:00.001-07:00

So far, I've worked in 6 different restaurants/kitchens (including my foodservice jobs). I think those experiences have provided me with a good sense of how everything from a small cafe to a large cafeteria operates. None of them embody the style of food I'd like to serve, and I want to try to visit and support places that do. Some of these destinations are fantasies but some are within reach.
Here's a list of places I'd like to visit to eat, observe, and continue learning...
The Farmhouse, Emmaus, PA
Bolete, Bethlehem, PA
Moosewood, Ithaca, NY
Chez Panisse, Berkeley, CA
The Farmers Diner, Quechee, VT
Terrain at Styers Cafe, Glen Mills, PA
Flow, Jim Thorpe, PA
I'm sure I'll be adding to the list, and hopefully crossing some off!

Heroes*: Lindsay Laricks

2009-04-14T08:16:00.000-07:00

Fresher than Fresh
Organic Snow Cones

Snow cones? 50's trailor? Amazing.
Also- totally do-able and cute idea for a DIY dessert station.

*I'm starting a "Heroes" series to keep track of all the successful business owners I respect.

Researchin'

2009-04-13T11:33:00.001-07:00

Of course, it's only fair to say that this whole idea was inspired by The Farmer's Diner in Quechee, VT- mentioned in Barbara Kingsolver's book, Animal Vegetable Miracle.
So I'd like to start learning as much as I can about the diner, and go on from there. Fortunately, this article has a lot to say. Just sent it to my potential business partner this morning :).

The Beginning

2009-04-13T11:21:00.001-07:00

Oh how I love blogs and blogging and diners and cooking and daydreaming. That's what this blog is for. I don't have much of a readership on any of my blogs and instead they have become great archives for ideas or projects. This project is so big, I had to start it's own blog:
I want to open a diner, and by diner I mean- affordable eaterie that gives regular people access to locally-grown, superior-quality food.

I want to grow lettuce and sell salads.
I want to grow cucumbers and turn them into pickles to set next to burgers.
I want to have regulars- retired old men who come in every morning for a cup of coffee.

I might change my mind about wanting to do this, I might change what I want, and maybe none of this will ever happen, but for now I'll document every thought or link related to this project and see what happens.