Thankful for These Tweeps

Twitter users understand that it's a bit of a ritual to send out a #FF each Friday. The # makes it an easy way to get picked up by the Twitter search engine, and the FF stands for "Follow Friday." It's a way to keep growing your Twitter network and get connected with new people that may share something in common with others who follow you. Each week, I like to select a handful of Tweeps who have interacted with me by mentioning @daisymaesmarket with a comment, question,  or link that tells me they're reading my posts.

This week I wanted to #FF all the wonderful people who reacted to yesterday's misfortune at Findlay Market. These people either re-tweeted my blog link, expressed sensitivity and support, or offered other words of encouragement. As I started to make a list, I realized there were far too many to thank using the 140 character Twitter limit. So this week, I've created my own #FFsuperduperblogpost list. Thanks to all of you (and I apologize in advance to those I may have missed). You make it all worthwhile. 

geekjames

TaketheCakeCafe

mojojacob

merubin

positivelycinci

cbesl

joshosbo

msred513

CincyNomerati

WillCook4Shoes

UneasyPink

feoshiawrites

foodstuffsnati

Twitricia

TasteofBelgium

TravisFessler

Megebee

classicgrrl

kendurbin

GoMariaGo

Sophiaz123

sdugas

TheRealFadi

Nikki

WestEnder

Thankful for These Tweeps

Twitter users understand that it's a bit of a ritual to send out a #FF each Friday. The # makes it an easy way to get picked up by the Twitter search engine, and the FF stands for "Follow Friday." It's a way to keep growing your Twitter network and get connected with new people that may share something in common with others who follow you. Each week, I like to select a handful of Tweeps who have interacted with me by mentioning @daisymaesmarket with a comment, question,  or link that tells me they're reading my posts. 

This week I wanted to #FF all the wonderful people who reacted to yesterday's misfortune at Findlay Market. These people either re-tweeted my blog link, expressed sensitivity and support, or offered other words of encouragement. As I started to make a list, I realized there were far too many to thank using the 140 character Twitter limit. So this week, I've created my own #FFsuperduperblogpost list. Thanks to all of you (and I apologize in advance to those I may have missed). You make it all worthwhile. 

geekjames

TaketheCakeCafe

mojojacob

merubin

positivelycinci

cbesl

joshosbo

msred513

CincyNomerati

WillCook4Shoes

UneasyPink

feoshiawrites

foodstuffsnati

Twitricia

TasteofBelgium

TravisFessler

Megebee

classicgrrl

kendurbin

GoMariaGo

Sophiaz123

sdugas

TheRealFadi

Nikki

WestEnder

One Bad Apple Won't Spoil the Whole Bunch

An Open Letter to the Creep Who Stole Our Cash Box:

Thanks for ruining our day. It was unfortunate that our staff member was engaged with a customer and turned his back for an instant. We're not worried about the money. In fact, we hope you use the money for a nice Thanksgiving with your family and some Christmas gifts for the kids. We know we can earn the money back by working harder and longer.

What will take a little longer to earn back is our trust. Now we'll have to decide if we should walk to the other side of the stand to discuss a recipe with you or if we should guard the cash box. We'll give you a second look if you just hang around and don't buy anything. We'll hustle to pack up at night so we don't meet you on the way to the car. 

What you won't change, however, is the faith we have in the Cincinnati community. Shortly after you helped yourself to our money, support poured in from customers and friends encouraging us to keep our chins up.  We love the energy, the diversity, the pride, and the history of Findlay Market. We love being a part of the urban atmosphere and offering a much-needed service in Over-the-Rhine. We feel appreciated by the locals, the weekend suburbanites, the other merchants, and the tourists. 

We'll assume you're going through some tough times. When things turn around for you, we hope you come back and spend your hard-earned money at Daisy Mae's Market. In the meantime, we'll be here...working hard to help YOUR community. We're digging in our heels. One bad apple isn't going to spoil the whole bunch.

Happy Thanksgiving,

Daisy Mae's Market

Be Thankful for Findlay Market

If you like traffic, parking headaches, and long lines, don't read today's post. If, however, you like one-stop shopping, continue on...
We just ordered our fresh turkey for Thanksgiving from Busch's Country Corner at Findlay Market, and that got me thinking about how I really can get everything I need for the holiday right here at the market. Think about it...park your car once and shop 'til you drop (or at least until you have everything on your list.)
First you'll need to do a little decorating...maybe a centerpiece or candles or another holiday craft. All are available at Findlay Market. Next, you'll need a few appetizers...maybe some boiled shrimp or special cheese--lots of choices. Along with the turkey, you'll need fresh produce, and ALL of your favorite produce is available at Daisy Mae's Market. You'll also need bread or rolls...plenty of options in that department. Of course, you'll need to pick up a bottle of wine...easy. And what about dessert? You'll have a tough time choosing between pies, cakes, gelato, and other sweet treats when it comes to dessert from Findlay Market.
But what if cooking a huge meal isn't exactly your cup of tea? You can order fully prepared meals and leave the cooking to someone else...or just pick up a few prepared side dishes so that you can concentrate on the main course. Yes, you can do all of this at Findlay Market. Why would you go anywhere else?

Fighting Misperceptions

So I pick up the Cincinnati Enquirer today, and I see "Man Killed Near Findlay Market." I check out www.cincinnati.com and there's the headline again. I turn on the radio, and the same thing is repeated on WLW news. I'm sure it was on other local media as well. I don't get it.

The shooting in Over-the-Rhine yesterday did not involve Findlay Market. It did not occur on the Findlay Market premises. Why didn't the headline say "Man Killed in Over-the-Rhine" or "Man Killed on Green Street?" Or better yet, "Another Drug Deal Turns Deadly."

This morning another robbery and shooting took place in Price Hill. Cincinnati.com posted an article detailing the crime but making no mention that it took place "near Kroger." I guess "Near Findlay Market" is more sensational than "Near Kroger." 

It bothers me that Findlay Market is often perceived as a dangerous place. It bothers me even more that our hometown newspaper contributes to this misperception by publishing an irrelevant headline. Someone is missing the big picture...Findlay Market is a vibrant urban market that thousands of locals and tourists visit each year. They come for the history, the food, the atmosphere, the entertainment, and the fun. I really doubt if they would come if it was "dangerous." Findlay Market is no more dangerous than Kroger. Drug deals, however, that's another story...

There's an App for That!

I just got back from a few days in Florida visiting my father and stepmother. The bulk of the time was spent conducting an "iPad Boot Camp" for my 86-year-old dad. I'm glad to report he was a terrific student and is now reconnected with the children, grandchildren, and the rest of the world via email and the internet.
While I was away from Daisy Mae's Market, I continued to conduct many of the tasks required by a small business...thanks to my handy-dandy iPhone. Sure, I talked and texted regularly with Mr. Daisy Mae at Findlay Market, but I also did a lot more with my phone. Not only did I continued my daily online interaction with our followers using "TweetDeck" and "Facebook," but I also took delivery orders by email and posted the orders for our staff using the "OurGroceries" application. I kept track of payments using the "Zenbe Lists" app, and for customers that wanted to pay with credit or debit, I used an app called "Credit Card Machine." I could even enter employee hours using Intuit's "Online Payroll" app while I was away from the office!
In addition, I've found several other apps invaluable for managing our fresh produce business. I regularly use "The Weather Channel," "Specialty Produce," "CincyMobile," and lots of the built-in iPhone apps like "Calendar," "Camera," "Photos," "Contacts," "Maps," "Calculator," and "Clock." I truly felt like I had a computer in my pocket while I was away from the office...And, when it was time to head back to Cincinnati, I checked in using "Fly Delta." After all, there's an app for that!

Take a Walk Down Memory Lane

Almost every day someone picks up one of the stalks of raw sugar cane that we sell at Findlay Market and exclaims, "I haven't seen this since I was a kid!" True, it's not something you see every day around Cincinnati.
Raw sugar cane is harvested in stalks grown in tropical areas. The raw sugar is then extracted in mills and refined to make the sugar most commonly used on our tables and in our cooking. Sometimes, however, the newly-harvested stalks are cut into 6" pieces and end up as a special treat for someone looking for nature's chewing gum!
"So how do you use it?" ask the customers who are unfamiliar with raw sugar cane. You simply wash it, dry it, and chew and suck on the sweet inner core to get at the natural juice. You'll want to pull or cut away the hard outer stalk and discard any pieces of the cane you come upon while chewing. You don't actually swallow any of the sugar cane since it's hard to digest just like Wrigley's chewing gum. Another use for raw sugar cane is as a natural swizzle stick for tropical drinks. It adds just a touch of sweetness to the drink while also making a great presentation.

Raw sugar cane is just one of the many specialty items you'll find at Daisy Mae's Market. Maybe you'll find something else at Findlay Market that you haven't seen since you were a kid. Isn't it time you take a walk down Memory Lane?

Fun at the Fall Food Festival

We had a great time at the Fall Food Festival yesterday. Findlay Market was a beehive of activity with food presentations, musicians, dancers, and kids' Halloween activities all sponsored by the Findlay Market Business Association. Daisy Mae's was so tickled to host Anna and Milovan, a terrific father/daughter duo. While they entertained us, the trio from Cooking with Caitlin offered samples of two of Caitlin's favorite dishes. Meanwhile, the kids ran their parents ragged throughout the market searching for Halloween "things" during the I Spy Hunt. Thank goodness, Bridgett, from 365 Cincinnati was there to help me hold down the fort and pass out the prizes for that!
We really enjoyed talking with some folks who were new to Findlay Market, but it was also fun to see family and friends in a different kind of setting. The Findlay Market Business Association is hoping to make the Fall Food Festival an annual event. In addition, we hope to present more special activities throughout the year at Daisy Mae's so that as many folks as possible realize that Findlay Market is more than just a place to shop...It's also a wonderful place to eat, meet new friends, see great entertainment, and experience one of our country's most historic urban markets.
Thanks again to all who stopped by yesterday!

For those of you who were asking, here are the links to Caitlin's culinary creations from yesterday:

http://www.cookingwithcaitlin.com/dish/red_wine_poached_pears 

http://www.cookingwithcaitlin.com/dish/whipped_cream_recipe

http://www.cookingwithcaitlin.com/dish/buttercup_mustard (a version of what she drizzled on the sweet potato fries)