October Kitchen - January 2021

October Kitchen - January 2021

This is our way of saying you are important to us, and we truly value your business. Please feel free to pass this newsletter on to your friends and neighbors. ENJOY!

THE NOURISH LETTER

JANUARY 2021

OctoberKitchen.com | 860-533-0588 | 309 Green Rd., Manchester, CT 06042

Meet the Team Behind Your Meals

Reminiscing Life Lessons I’ve Learned Through My Dad and Elvis MEMORIES OF ELVIS IN A CHEVY NOVA

rarely sang in church, although he’d hold up the hymnal and follow along. But Elvis? He couldn’t help but bust out a tune. Despite being emotionally reserved, he had his exceptions and we all knew one of them was Elvis.

There are certain artists who are a part of the soundtrack of your life forever. For me, Elvis Presley takes up significant tape in my 8-track, if you know what I mean.

So when I looked on the calendar for this month’s newsletter, it immediately stuck

It was especially touching because one of his favorite Elvis songs

out to me that Jan. 8 is Elvis Presley’s 86th birthday. Elvis was one of my dad’s favorite musicians of all time. Thinking about the King of Rock and Roll didn’t only remind me of his music but also my fondest memories of my dad. My dad had the gift of gab — he could hold a hearty conversation with almost anyone. He spent his whole life in

was “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” My dad loved

to point out that if there was one song that Elvis couldn’t get through and mess up, it was that one. You can often hear in the original recording that Elvis is getting choked up as he speaks about his love with Priscilla falling apart.

It’s made me realize just how important the soundtrack of your life is to staying inspired.”

It was a deeply emotional song for the singer and, perhaps, my dad too. He felt a strong kinship with Elvis, maybe because they went into military service around the same time. Although many of my experiences with my dad have to do with drag racing in his Chevy Nova (which I’d love to talk about in a future newsletter), Elvis Presley’s music gave him a masculine form to experience validation, hope and inspiration.

the carpenter’s union and spent most of his career as a construction worker, building skyscrapers in Hartford. However, my dad was never emotionally forthcoming.

His only exception was when he was listening to Elvis.

When I was born in 1970, my dad also bought a 1970 Chevy Nova SS 396. Some of my earliest memories are in that car, listening to my dad hum and sing along to Elvis songs. And let me get one thing straight: My dad did not express emotions outwardly very often and didn’t sing for almost anything. He

And now, as I enter my 50th year, I realize just how much music has played a similar role

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How We Won Over Rachel Macri A TRUFFLE MAC ‘N’ CHEESE TO REMEMBER

To combat troubles in the kitchen, Rachel Macri was looking for healthy, affordable food options. She’d tried some recommendations from family, but nothing was really sticking. “It’s hard to find something I like,” she tells us. Her standard is pretty top-notch. Her mom is a fantastic cook — who could possibly compete with her? So, Rachel turned to the internet. After she discovered us, she placed an order and drove 30 minutes to pick it up in person. It’s been a year now and she’s been doing that almost every week since. While Mom’s cooking is always best, we’ve definitely managed to fill Rachel’s fridge with delicious, healthy meals that she can easily pull out any time of the day. “I don’t have to cook. I don’t have to plan meals,” Rachel says. It’s hard to beat a full meal that’s as easy as simply warming it up! It’s left her far more time to enjoy life and she’s even experienced lower cholesterol. She loves how simple it is and how easy it is to change up the meals every single week. There’s another reason she drives 30 minutes every week to get to our store — she loves our freezer and unique specials, like our cupcakes. She also adores our staff and enjoys chatting them up week to week. Not long ago,

she mentioned how much she missed our truffle mac ‘n’ cheese. It’s her absolute favorite dish on our menu. “The truffle mac n’ cheese is never available online,” she says. “[It’s an] in-store, very rare special only.”

The following week, we put it on our menu. She was absolutely thrilled.

Rachel has happily spread the good word about us. She told us that her “friends [and a coworker] in Manchester will order and pick up sometimes.” Thank you so much for sharing your experiences, Rachel! We’re so thankful that we’ve earned your love for our food. That truffle mac ‘n’ cheese will always be back for you and its many fans!

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York City named Bob. Unfortunately, without a last name, that didn’t leave a lot of information for me to work from.

for me. We used to say, “Dad, this music is sooo old” whenever he’d tune into a ‘50s radio music station. Now, I’m always tuned in to a ‘70s or ‘80s channel and my music taste has the same exact decade separation that my dad had at my age. It’s made me realize just how important the soundtrack of your life is to staying inspired. I still turn on Elvis now and then to remind myself of the awesome mornings driving to school with my dad and his Chevy Nova. He sold it shortly before I got my license and I’ve been tracking it down ever since. It was beautifully restored and featured on multiple magazines. I’d love to buy it back. A few months ago, I actually found the guy who bought the car from my father. Apparently, he sold it in 2000 to a painter in New

However, I still keep a lookout for that car! And I know, one day in the future, I’ll buy it back and keep it in the family for many more decades to come. I’d love for my children and grandchildren to experience Elvis songs in that Chevy Nova. Whenever I miss my dad, I remember the life lesson he taught me early on: There’s no better way to appreciate the King of Rock and Roll than in a hot rod.

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THE AMERICAN PURSUIT OF OLIVE OIL

How a Former State Senator Is Bringing Fresh Olive Oil to You

But he changed his tune as Tommie explained that Georgia had a perfect combination of climate, soil and water for growing several olive cultivars. They went on to buy a cold

_____________________________ Write your name here and fax the completed puzzle to 860-533-0585, send it via empty delivery box or bring it to the shop and receive 10% off your next order . Limit one per customer. Expires Jan. 31, 2021. WORD SEARCH BEGINNING CELEBRATION CLOCK COUNTDOWN FAMILY FIREWORKS FRIENDS Over a decade ago, it was relatively shocking that anyone would seriously produce olive oil in the U.S. Over two-thirds of the world’s olive oil is produced in Italy, Greece and Spain and the U.S. only produces .001%. That made freshly crafted, days-old olive oil a European luxury. However, that luxury is becoming more possible now in the U.S. thanks to Georgian farmers, one of whom is a former state senator. For over 25 years, Tommie Williams, his brother, Clint, and their business partner, Darrien Ramsey, have managed a successful pine straw and land development company in Lyons, Georgia. The brothers were very acquainted to an agrarian lifestyle after being raised on a working farm. These humble beginnings didn’t restrict the brothers from traveling the world or being exposed to many cultures and cuisines. They traveled whenever they could together as Tommie Williams’ political career continued to thrive. He was a state senator from 1998–2017 and Senate Majority Leader from 2005–2009. Then, sometime in 2013, he told his brother Clint that he’d start to grow olives “just to see what would happen.” Clint was naturally skeptical!

press mill and their first piece of farmland in 2013. In 2014, olive oil from Terra Dolce Farms received a Gold Award in the New York International Olive Oil Competition, which judges 700 olive oils from across the world. Tommie’s political role as a passionate American didn’t diminish despite his passion for farming; in some ways, his outstanding olive farm inspired further involvement. In 2018, he was appointed the minister-counselor for agriculture in the U.S. Mission to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture in Rome. He recently flew back to Italy on Oct. 20, 2020, where he’ll serve until the end of January. Thankfully, the trend of Georgian olive oil production has been catching on. We can’t wait to try more American- made olive oils as they become more available in stores nationwide! Thank you for all your hard work and inspiration, Williams brothers!

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INSIDE Memories of Elvis in a Chevy Nova

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A Truffle Mac ‘n’ Cheese to Remember

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How a Former State Senator Is Bringing Fresh Olive Oil to You

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Word Search

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Write Us a Review!

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These Old-School Hobbies Are Making a Huge Comeback

Out With the New, In With the Old! 4 OLD-SCHOOL HOBBIES MAKING A MAJOR COMEBACK

Collecting Cards No matter what people were into during the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s, there was a trading card game for it. And even going into 2021, that tradition has been kept alive. When many people were stuck at home last year, they rediscovered their card collections and remembered how much fun they were. As a result, card sales went through the roof, and online card communities lit up with activity from all over the world. Restoring Cars Car restoration is a hobby that lets you get your hands dirty, and it’s one that you can do with your kids or grandkids. It can be not only educational for them but also fun! Together, you can track down parts, talk to folks who are also interested in restoration and learn about the history of your car. Though car restoration can be a bit costly and

January is National Hobby Month — and for good reason! As people set goals for 2021, they’re also thinking about trying new hobbies. But with so many out there, picking just one can be a hobby in itself. Thanks in part to COVID-19, many people have rediscovered old-school hobbies. Some of these have been around for decades or even longer, and others have established communities that can rely on one another for support, sharing information and more. Here are four great examples. Making Bread Over the last year, interest in this ancient hobby has skyrocketed. Homemade bread is tastier and more nutritious than store-bought and it’s so satisfying to watch it come together. Not to mention it’s a great skill to have! With so many types of bread to try, you’re not going to run out of ideas any time soon.

time consuming, it’s certainly a journey worth taking. Embroidering Embroidery has taken off because it’s both inexpensive and fairly easy to get into. Plus, many people have fallen in love with its meditative quality. One of the great things about embroidery is that you can use it to make amazing personalized gifts, like pillows, wall hangings and kitchen towels!

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