October Kitchen - April 2020

October Kitchen - April 2020

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

Meet the Team Behind Your Meals APRIL 2020

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

There’s something to be said about having a job you enjoy, especially when that job involves cooking food for other people. You can taste the difference between a meal that was made by someone who cares and a meal that was made by someone who just wanted to get something onto the plate. The former is made with love, as they say. That’s why when we bring someone into our kitchen, we look for a person who is always going to cook with love. They have to care about nourishing people just as much as they care about cooking good food. This is exactly the approach our sous-chef, Jameson, brings into the kitchen every day. CHEF OF ALL TRADES

How Jameson Cooks From the Heart

eggs. This was the start of my passion for food. The start of my culinary career — aka my first job — was delivering pizzas. In the beginning, delivering pizzas was the only way for me to be around food. While I enjoyed making people’s nights when I arrived with hot, fresh pizzas, I never felt like I was necessarily making their lives better. After seven years of making deliveries, I got burnt out. I started looking for a change, someplace where my passion for food could really do some good. October Kitchen fit the bill. At the time, a friend of a friend worked at October Kitchen. I stopped in to check things out and was extremely fortunate that Chef Jeff got me a job here. Under Chef Paul and Chef Kevin, I worked my way up to the top as a sous-chef. I put my time in at the kitchen, helping out where I could and being a sort of “chef of all trades.” My goal was to learn everything there is to know from everybody here. There’s something to be said about making food for people and having them enjoy it. I’ve always really taken pride in being able to make food our customers appreciate. In addition to being sous-chef, I’m also

“I’ve always really taken pride in being able to make food our customers appreciate.”

Before I started at October Kitchen, all I could make was Pop-Tarts and scrambled eggs. But in my defense, I could make a mean scrambled egg. Growing up, my favorite meal was breakfast for dinner. It was a common dish in my mom’s repertoire. When I helped my mom make dinner, she would put me in charge of the scrambled

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Jimmy Joe on the Red Scooter

The director said, ‘Jimmy, when you walked in wearing that outfit, I saw Felix!’ And I got the part. Although, my clothes might have been the only reason I got the part. My wife and daughters came to the show and afterward, my daughters said, ‘Dad, you weren’t acting! That’s how you are at home, dusting the blinds and everything.’ I guess Felix Ungar was the role I was born to play.” Over his career in community theater, Jimmy has been part of countless productions, from “Over the River and Through the Woods” to “Moon Over Buffalo.” In fact, Jimmy used to go by James before he took a role in a play that called for a Southern accent. While preparing for the part, Jimmy recorded his voicemail in a Southern accent and called himself Jimmy Joe. The nickname stuck. done some dramatic roles, but I love musicals and comedies. I like hearing the audience laugh. The world needs more laughs. That’s part of why I like October Kitchen. The food is so great and healthy and everyone there is always ready to laugh. Stopping by the store on my red scooter always brightened my day. That’s why I tell everyone about October Kitchen. I truly love what they do.” This is truly high praise from someone as lively as Jimmy Joe Byrne. Thanks for all the support, Jimmy! We’re looking forward to your next show. “I’m such a ham and I love to make people laugh,” Jimmy says. “I’ve

“One of my favorite roles, and the biggest role I’ve ever had, was as Felix Ungar in ‘The Odd Couple,’” Jimmy recalls. “I showed up to the audition dressed in a bow tie and kind of nerdy, just like Felix would dress.

If you’re reading our newsletter, then there’s a

pretty good chance you’ve heard about

October Kitchen from Jimmy Joe Byrne. Jimmy is one of our most vocal supporters. “I was a salesman forever,” Jimmy explained when we tried to thank him. “When I love something, I’m going to advertise it to other people.”

To say Jimmy’s sales career was illustrious would be putting it mildly. In his long career as a salesman, Jimmy worked for 3M (formerly Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company), Xerox, Jiffy Manufacturing and Sealed Air, the company that invented bubble wrap. The only thing that outmatches Jimmy’s career in sales is his career in local theater. If you’ve seen a community play in Connecticut in recent years, then you’ve likely seen Jimmy showing off his acting chops. Though he’s lived in Connecticut for years, Jimmy Joe Byrne is a Brooklyn boy, with a flair for the dramatic and a love of accents. He’s the sort of person who loves to make people laugh, which is why a friend at the bank suggested Jimmy audition for their local theater group in 1979. Jimmy auditioned, got a “teeny, weeny, little part” and discovered his love for community theater. He’s been doing shows for 41 years.

“In the summer of 2016, I was riding my red scooter in Bolton when I spotted a farm stand and decided to stop. Behind the stand, they had this beautiful strawberry rhubarb pie. I bought the pie and was surprised to learn it had come from October Kitchen! They’d made the pie just for Pesce Farm. I took the pie home, found it to be delicious and decided to visit October Kitchen’s store myself. That’s when I met Chef Paul and I’ve been eating with October Kitchen ever since!”

–Jimmy Joe Byrne

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100 BUMBLEBEES Community Celebrates 4-Year-Old Cancer Survivor’s Birthday

“It’s all the Bumblebees everywhere!” Whitaker cheered, thrilled to see yellow sports cars, moving trucks, taxis, fire trucks, and school buses all lining the roads. Hundreds of people joined Whitaker on his walk to school that morning in what his sister called “a birthday parade.” During the parade, Whitaker even got to sit in one of the “Bumblebees.” The Weinberger family was touched by their town’s generosity. “This is a whole community doing something to make just one person’s day,” said Seth. Whitaker’s 4th birthday was a celebration the whole town will remember forever.

_____________________________ 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 April 30, 2020. WORDSEARCH Getting a 4-year-old 100 cars is a tall order, but Erin put the word out on social media. She was amazed by the response. Their whole community came out to celebrate. When the Weinberger family opened their front door to walk to school on the big day, they were greeted with a crowd of neighbors, all dressed in yellow, Whitaker’s favorite color, and hundreds of yellow cars. Every birthday should be a time for celebration, but for young Whitaker Weinberger of Alexandria, Virginia, enjoying birthday festivities has always been difficult. As an infant, Whitaker was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma. He spent his first three birthdays in the hospital. Last year, Whitaker was declared “stable” and got to spend his 4th birthday at home. His parents, Seth and Erin, asked their son what they could do to make the day extra special. “I want 100 Bumblebees for my birthday!” Whitaker declared. The little boy wasn’t asking for a bunch of buzzing insects — Bumblebee is the name of Whitaker’s favorite superhero, the bright yellow car from the “Transformers” movies. Every time Whitaker sees a yellow car, he thinks it’s his beloved character.

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involved in deliveries by helping pack the food to be delivered. I get to see just how many people we’re able to help. It’s cool to see the same names come up week after week. The work we do at October Kitchen is truly improving people’s lives and it’s a blessing to be part of that. Since joining October Kitchen, I’ve learned how to make some pretty amazing meals for our customers. For example, tuna casserole, from our frozen menu, is one of our biggest sellers and I love making it. Plus, our rotating fresh menu is always full of different dishes we get to make. But even after all my years improving my skills in the kitchen, breakfast is still my favorite — whether it’s eaten in the morning or at dinner time.

BUNNY DAISY EARTH EASTER

EGGS FOOL GARDEN PASSOVER POLLEN PRANK RAMADAN TAXES

–Jameson Fountain

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309 Green Rd. Manchester, CT 06042 INSIDE A Word From Jameson, Our Sous-Chef page 1

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Have You Met Jimmy Joe Byrne?

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A Birthday Parade

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Word Search

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Finding a Job You Love at Any Age

It’s 6 a.m. on Monday morning and your alarm clock blares in your face. You groan and, with the thought of another week looming over you, pull yourself out of bed. But the early wake-up call is the least of your worries. Another week has begun and you’re still stuck in a job that you no longer love or maybe never did. Does this sound familiar? If so, you may believe changing careers isn’t worth the hassle, especially if you’re close to retirement, but here’s the secret: It’s not too late! There’s nothing stopping you from finding a career you love later in life. Here are three tips to get you started. Be Flexible If it’s been a while since you’ve hunted for a job, then you may have forgotten what it’s like. Job searching can be exhausting and some job requirements can look overwhelming. But getting stuck in your ways and focusing on the things you cannot do will only hinder your ability to find a job you actually love. Instead, take a deep breath and be open to what comes. You may discover a hidden talent or passion! Forget the Money Money matters, but it shouldn’t be your first priority on the job hunt. Instead, consider what’s A Golden Opportunity in Your Golden Years

3 TIPS FOR CHANGING CAREERS LATER IN LIFE

going to make you the happiest. What’s your dream job? What have you always enjoyed doing? If money wasn’t an option, what would you be doing right now instead of counting down the hours to 5 p.m.? Be realistic in your goals and find something you love. Seek Guidance Remember, you’re not alone in this fight! Plenty of people switch careers midway through their lives to focus on something they really enjoy. Seek guidance from those who have had a similar experience and look to professional job hunters or consultants for help. Furthermore, after years in the same job or industry, you’re bound to have made a few connections. Reach out for professional support. Regardless of what path you choose, remember that a career you enjoy is always possible. We can’t promise that you’ll love getting up at 6 a.m., but at least you won’t dread what comes next.

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