It's brave to open a restaurant these days
Chicken Mo Mo sure is an interesting name for a culinary creation. But it's never had the pleasure of meeting my mouth and stomach.
Nor has any other delicacy most common in Nepal or northern India.
So I will have to add the new Taste of Himalayas restaurant on the corner of Third and Cedar streets in St. Charles to my list of places to check.
I admire owner Jack Bhandari and his confidence in opening a restaurant during these rather shaky economic times.
"So far it has been OK," Bhandari said of his first weeks in St. Charles. "I know the economy is not in our favor, but I have been getting very good feedback from the customers, so now it is just a matter of getting more people to know about it."
Bhandari feels that the authentic Nepali food he offers cannot be found anywhere else in the nearby suburbs.
"I'm certainly not dissatisfied with how things are going, but one's satisfaction can never be fulfilled," Bhandari surmised. "You are always thirsting for more and to do better."
It's a tough business
In thinking about any new restaurant opening this year or any other year, I am reminded what a fickle business it seems to be. A few readers in the past month have sent e-mails bemoaning a general downturn in customer service at their favorite locations.
It made me wonder how restaurants cope with a weak economy. If an owner is forced to trim staff and thus hurt customer service and quality, what can be done to keep loyal customers happy and new ones coming through the doors?
I'd like to hear from any restaurant owner who'd want to share thoughts on that topic.
For the charity
And let's not forget that so many of our restaurants chip in or take part in community fundraisers.
Daddio's Diner in Batavia is involved from 3 to 7:30 p.m. today and Thursday in a fundraiser for the outdoor learning area of the Early Childhood Learning Center on the campus of Alice Gufstason School.
Anyone who dines at the restaurant, 134 W. Wilson St., will be helping the cause because Daddio's owners Scott and Terry Beltran are donating 10 percent of sales to the center.
Softball brethren
It was sad to read last weekend about a former co-worker and fellow softball player from many years ago who was killed in a fatal car crash west of the Tri-Cities.
Craig Smith of St. Charles worked in newspaper ad sales for a short time, and played a solid second base for my team during several years of softball wars. He was a hardworking husband and father for his wife and four kids. It was logical that he was on his way to work when struck head-on by another vehicle. My condolences go out to his family and friends.
It's still the Arcada
Spell-check on your computer can haunt you on occasion. I've written about the Arcada Theater in St. Charles probably a thousand times, but through the editing process last week it somehow came out as the Arcadia in one of my items. Yes, it's still the Arcada.