Pierogi-girl!

Absolutely one of my favorites. Her name is "Debbie." Their venture is known as "The Pierogi Place." I want to thank her for hooking me up with the Treasure Island Market. She also hooked me up with the wonderful Amish "Hand-Rolled" butter. If anyone wants to know where it can be bought, let me know. This is a shot of her being "slammed" for a while. It's tough when you operate alone and a group comes by. There's actually one man in this group who ducked down to avoid being photographed. His excuse was that he's in the witness protection program. Yeah, so am I! Although, I've been know to have made a mistake once or twice.

This shot represents the kind of traffic we get on a pretty day. Not overwhelming, but strong and steady. This is a good crowd. The little things the managers do, like putting out the tables and chairs really help; but I've told you that before.

When I learn better how to manipulate this-here blog, I'll get my photo's in the correct order. This was meant to be my first. You can sort of guess the caption I might have used.

Our early morning entertainment turned out to be a tiny finch. It had landed on Pat's, (and I'll think of her last name soon, the artist who makes some really clever furniture out of some really cleverly-used pieces of wood) passenger-side mirror and decided that it didn't like what it saw. It jumped off the top of the mirror, attacked its own image and went back up top. Over and over. If I hadn't tried to sneak around behind the truck to take a picture, which scared it away, probably because it saw me in the same mirror, I might have had a fun photo for you.

Tomorrow is an off-day. Tuesday is back to Gulfport; one of my favorite venues. There is a "je ne se quois" air about their geography.

Treasure Island 2/26

I shot this at what I would call the average flow of customers. It was a very nice pace. Rarely was I overwhelmed by too many at one time.

This kind woman posed for this shot because I told her she would become famous by appearing on my blog. Could somebody help me out?

Today went well. I had the usual unease about a new venue but everything was fine. The man to the right of my tent with the pirate growing out of his shoulder is eighty years old and does markets to stay busy. He's a retired insurance executive.

A lot more people expressed an interest in the shipping side of our business today. I hope that's a good sign of things to come

I got a good idea for use of the Marinated Garlic today. One of my customers uses it in his ground beef for burgers on the grill. That's a good one.

I'm going to try for Lakewood Ranch tomorrow but the weather doesn't look promising. Y'know, I feel we Floridians should apologize to all of you Canadians and Brits and other visiting nationalities. We certainly have not provided you with any spectacular "Florida" weather and we're really sorry for that.

Safety Harbor Market 2/25

Another pretty, although chilly day! You'd almost think we were in Florida! I think the moon is in a weird phase today. It's on the cusp of "silly". Everybody was being silly today. The fish guy spent most of the morning trying to figure out how to put up a sign for "Whale Meat, Fresh From Orlando!" I'd like to thank the guy from Michigan who managed to insult every vendor who had food samples (most of us) by saying he tried a sample once in a store and it made him get sick. So then I asked his wife to pull the dagger out of my heart, she laughed. As they walked, my neighbor said something, her neighbor said something, then, by the time they rounded the corner, his wife was chastising him for being rude. It sort of snowballed and pretty soon everybody was chastising him. Then we caught him tasting a Jamaican style sauce and we all got on him for it. His wife dragged him back to Gerraro's. He tasted the Miraculoso Marinara, instantly liked it, turned around and announced to everyone how "delicious" it was. He went on to taste everything everyone had after that. If I remember correctly, he bought some Mother Mary's. Great fun! Nice people! That's the kind of interaction that can fix a day.

Clearwater

Well, sometimes negative events can trigger good results. I have been debating whether or not to continue participation in the Clearwater Market. Today helped me to decide. The prediction was for wind and rain this afternoon. Someone should have told the wind about that. At about ten o'clock, my first bottle of Mother Mary's Barbeque Sauce hit the pavement. I boxed everything back up and was going to bail when "Pierogi-girl" talked me into staying. It's the kind of thing that you believe is a waste of time and then sometimes, when you least expect it, the amazing thing happens. Well, absolutely nothing amazing happened. The most amazing thing I could come up with is that I bartered a jar of Mother Mary's for a polish sausage on a bun. It was pretty good. I thought it tasted really good when I put the Miraculoso Marinara on it though. It was like a deluxe ketchup.

Anyway to get to the good thing; I did decide to resign from this market. It felt good to have at last made a decision. It'll give me back a second day off each week for now, but I'm sure I'll pick up another Wednesday venue. I have to take advantage of as much as I can before the season ends. I spoke to "Pierogi-girl" and we agreed that she will keep our products in Clearwater in her booth so I will give her dealer pricing so she can make a little more.

We're expecting some more rotten weather in the next few days so I'm keeping my long-johns close at hand.

Gulfport, this time, Florida

What a nice day! Perfect weather, nice traffic, good sales, lots of cards handed out, just got my notice that my first internet order has been left on my customer's porch...WOW! I have a bunch of Canadians conspiring to smuggle my sauces across the border. Not really, but I can understand why they won't order on line. To ship four jars to Toronto costs over twenty-eight dollars and from what I can gather, they have to pay duty and another twelve percent tax on top of that. I mean, our sauces and garlic are exceptional, but I don't think I would pay that much myself. Hmm, or would I? I have seen some very expensive wines, and other things gourmet. I'll sure let you know if someone does like it that much. Boy will I!

No pictures today. I brought the camera but my one-week-old batteries have failed.

We laughed a lot at the dogs. My neighbor vendor with the wonderful produce has a very life-like fiberglass calf. Normally it's up on one of his tables to attract attention. Today he put it on the sidewalk at the front of his space. Boy, Loki would be embarrassed to admit he was related to any of these four-legged chickens! Half of them wouldn't walk past the booth. They had to be dragged by their owners. The others just barked. It would have made for some pretty good video. Darned batteries!

Tomorrow is supposed to be windy. I'll be going to Clearwater–you know, the wind tunnel?–and I'll make my decision whether to stay or go then. Thanks for your business today.

My day off...

The first thing after my coffee (and crossword puzzle) was to get that milestone of a first-internet-order off to its new home. I was surprised at how nervous I was. After I sealed it up, I shook it and shook it to make sure nothing would be broken en-route. I mean, it's not like no one has ever shipped a jar before.

I get this good reassuring sense that people do in fact want what we have brought to them. I have to hesitate to hope for too much more because I can see how overwhelming things can become. Our stated goal is to treat every customer in a positive, memorable way. I had that same discussion with the two market managers over the weekend. I'm always flattered when they tell me that Sharon and I "get it." When I asked one of them how they dealt with all the vendors, he said he compared his job to herding cats. "They're independent, very sensitive and don't listen to a word I say anyway."

It's Gulfport tomorrow. I'll be seeing my new dealer "Rebecca's Veggie Patch." Rebecca is a hydroponic farmer. She and her husband Dwan belong to a group of small hydroponic and organic growers. What I liked about her group called "Locally Grown" is that they have a site where each grower posts what he or she will have ready to pick that week. You can then choose from what's available, they pick it and bring it to one location for you to pick up and pay. What I've seen at the market is really beautiful. What I've bought from them is really tasty. They have a tough row to hoe (word-play intended) because the market they took over in Gulfport seems to have had a poor reputation. Since they're my dealer, I like to talk them up. It's good for both of us.

When it's nice...

It was so very nice today in FLORIDA!

I actually saw some moderate sunburn. This is a view looking west on Corey Avenue in St. Pete Beach. The weather was nice enough to allow the table-and-chair sets to be out. Patrons really enjoyed their presence. We heard comments all day about how nice that was. In fact some overstayed their welcome and delayed the closing of the market. Good problem to have.

This is "Mr. I got 'em!" He's roughly 6' 6" and an old-timer at the markets. His tux represents an old tradition many people don't know. Here's a link, if I do it right, to see a story about him. He's looking for a real top hat (size 7) that he says has a stiffening liner inside. He doesn't want the original beaver pelt collapsible kind you see in the movies because he says they become soft after a while.

The man on the bench in the red shirt (actually there is no other man on a bench) is J. Lee. I've known him for a year-and-a-half now. I mess with him pretty regularly and when I can I introduce him to "new horizons", hmph-hmph! I had him taste a "Wasabi pea, and a piece of our Marinated Garlic. If only I had had a camera at the time! I didn't know anyone not involved in gurning could make a face like that. Good guy.

Today, these happy people experienced their very first market. They were a lot of fun, have a good product, great personalities and should do very well. Remind me to tell the young man on the left (I'm sorry to say, I've lost his name) to "PULL UP YOUR PANTS!" Nice kids, good product.

This picture (below) should prove to you that Mother Mary's Barbeque Sauce goes well on everything!

Tomorrow is a day off, sort of. At least it's a day not at a market.

Saturday Morning Market, St. Pete

Really had fun today. Nice people from everywhere. Sharon came to help. Phew! I'm so glad she did. There are so many people in attendance even the two of us couldn't give everyone the attention they wanted. Really tired too. It's hard to go non-stop for the six hours of the rush. This isn't a complaint, mind you, there is no room for complaining because every vendor there goes through the same thing. It's tough because there isn't time for food or drink or bathroom. Well, there is one vendor who resembles Jabba the hut, with less movement, but we won't go there.

The upside is we got home and had our first official order on our website. Woo-hoo!

My favorite catch today was toward the end when a guy who was across the aisle from us was craning his neck looking for someone; probably his wife; and I just hollered "Here I am! C'm'ere!". He gave up right then, laughed and came right over, tasted, laid down and bought. He just laughed about how I just "reeled him in."  I told him it was easy. "When you walk down the street with your mouth open, I just have to lay the hook out. A-n-n-d... into the boat you come." Fun guy. He loved the Mother Mary's Barbeque and when he was leaving he said "Hook, line and sinker, and no bait!"

Sharon has asked me to tell all of you "Thanks for a good time!"

www.saturdaymorningmarket.com/

The manager of one of the other markets we work was there today scouting for vendors who would fit into his market and he mentioned that he liked the way Sharon and I engage our customers. We do, too. Eye contact, humor, brashness seasoned with a little tasteful humility make for a memorable experience. I like to look at markets as if we, the vendors, are the entertainment. People come here to see US, then to buy the product. It's one of the reasons Sharon and I return to the same restaurant or bar and grill. We enjoy the interaction and cajoling with and by the staff. If we don't perform well then our product doesn't do well either. I like the idea that people from New Jersey or Ohio can return home from their Florida vacation, serve a great product to their friends and tell them "We got to meet the guy who makes this.".

One of my customers told me he used to live down the street from Chef Boyardee. I hope I spelled that correctly. People mention his name and nothing more needs to be said. That, to me, is cool. That's why our slogan is...well, you can read it on the side of the jar.

See you at Corey Avenue Sunday

www.suntanart.org/

Day off, sort of.

I went to check out the Treasure Island Market today. I was pleasantly surprised to see thirty-something vendors for food and a whole bunch of others for just about anything else. Didn't see any plumbing supplies though, or lumberjack tools.

I had to laugh today. My son wisely advised me to avoid anything unpleasant in connection with our products re: "Gulfport, Alaska" blog from a couple days ago. Sure enough, my daughter in D.C., sent me this Youtube thing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IrlhLF1c3k

She said my life would not be complete without it. She was absolutely correct!

It's amazing! Thank goodness I don't own a dog. I'm sure I'd have to buy one. ;)

We'll be in downtown St. Pete tomorrow. We're prepared to be slammed. What fun that would be! I'll go down first to set up. Sharon will come down at around ten to help with the higher traffic and stay until about one or one-thirty. I sometimes think this shy person likes this job more than I do.

www.treasureislandchamber.org/calendar.htm

Safety Harbor Market

What a pretty day! And I saw two robins! When you see them here in Florida, it means spring is not far behind. They are heading back north. A lot more dependable than Puxatawney Phil! Oh, darn! To all my ground hog aficionados, I apologize. I keep forgetting how my insensitivity can affect my internet sales. Forget I said that. Hmm. Now I've probably made the robin folks angry. Forget I said that too. Just remember that in Safety Harbor, Florida, today, it was "PRETTY"! (and I saw two robins).

I got a wonderful inquiry today from someone who was given a jar of Mother Mary's Barbeque Sauce by a friend from out of town. She wants to know where to buy it. WoW! This is the little kind of thing that is the reward for the persistence we exercise in growing our little flower bud of a business. We have faith in our products. Our family and friends have faith in our products and in us, but it's the total stranger who comes from out of nowhere that cements our resolve to hang in there. I'm not kidding. When I turned on the computer and checked our e-mail, I got a rush to know that someone was out there looking for our stuff. It was also delightful to hear from my two oldest children on the same day.

Also had a return customer who bought for herself and some more as a gift for her brother (who happens to be a gourmet cook!) Is my excitement showing?

At the urging of my son who is my guru on things electronic, well, actually, anyone younger than I am could be my guru on electronics, I am now on "Twitter". I will have to learn what it is but if it's a way I can let everyone know where I'll be on any given day then I'm for it.

Too cold and windy today.

I cancelled today's Clearwater Market because the temp didn't get beyond 52 and the wind was predicted to be 15 to 20 MPH. In Clearwater that translates to about a category five hurricane. There is something about downtown Clearwater that creates a wind tunnel effect. Last time I was there, I was on the shady and windy side of the street. I couldn't put up my tent or even use my tablecloths. I think my total sales for the day came to $23.00. Amazingly, the other side of the street, some fifty feet away, had sun on them and not even a breeze. They didn't even need to use weights on their tents. They were the "eat-here" foods and they had a banner day.

Speaking of tents, I got a new one today. I went to Sam's Club where I bought it, explained my circumstances and they replaced it for me. Whew! I didn't need a new expense right now.

I'll be in Safety Harbor tomorrow. It's more of a "safe harbor", har, har.

Gulfport, Alaska

Man! I can't figure out why I do this sometimes.

I set up in Gulfport in my usual spot. It's just that my usual spot is experiencing some "upgrades". I'm not sure what those are, but if you look at the picture, you'll understand. It's my kind of karma. If an elephant needed a place to p--p, who's yard do you think he'd p--p in?. Good guess!

In fact, after I mentioned to one of my new "regulars" about my usual good fortune, a woman with a HUGE black labrador let him p--p about two feet from my tent. MMM! I want THAT on my pasta! Then I had to deal with the fact that it doesn't bother her to reach down and grab it with her little plastic bag. I guess it's good that there's no place to retch in Gulfport. I think you might get a ticket for that.

Why hasn't someone come up with a long-handled gizmo that has a bag already opened that can be placed under the dog's hmm-hmm, to capture it as it falls? Then it's a simple snap and the bag is closed and disposed of. I hope someone gets rich off of this idea and remembers me.

Anyway, I seem to digress a lot. The market was good. I saw familiar faces and someone came by to say thanks to me for telling them about some of the more (to ME anyway) interesting places to see in St. Pete. I had suggested they explore a neighborhood called "Roser Park". It's where all the 'old' money built in the early days of the city (circa: 1906) and is essentially built on a rare, hilly part of St. Pete. I mean, hills in Florida are scarce anyway. I also told them to visit "Sunken Gardens". I think everyone on Earth has heard of it. It's just not one of those things you go out of your way to see. Well when I saw it, I couldn't believe the specimens. There are fifty-year-old plants that we are accustomed to seeing on someone's desk that have leaves big enough to sleep under in a rain storm. Turns out, it was an old sink-hole that some entrepreneur turned into a botanical garden and a money-maker. I wish I had met whoever that was.

Boy! Talk about DIGRESSING!

It was cold because of the wind. I kept my crab-pot burner going all day so I could stand over it and put my hands in my jacket pockets and put it forward to let the warm air flow up inside. I'm sure it looked a little bizarre to the average passer-by. But that's what gets them to pause for a moment. I have even resorted to Groucho Marx in my method. If I'm visiting a vendor next door and someone walks by, I turn and match their stride until I'm back in my own space and spout a big "HELLO!". They're usually laughing by that time and it gives me a chance to engage them for a taste.

I'm beginning to enjoy this too much. Even though I know there is no one reading this, I have this sense of actually talking to somebody who is listening. I guess it's because I can see what I say. Ooh! That's a little scary! Maybe I'm listening to me a little more than I should.

Tuesday Market

Tuesday is at Gulfport. It's a little bit like an east coast Taos. Quaint, old and artsy, it's one of my favorite markets. They don't close the street. Instead, the vendors are on the shoulder and front the sidewalks. I'm in front of what looks like an old, and I mean OLD, hotel that's now an apartment or some sort of place to live. If I remember, I'll put some new batteries in my camera and stick a couple of pictures up.

Corey Avenue Market

Boy! I can't believe we FINALLY got a nice day for a market. It was cold early but got really "Florida" by noon. I feel really bad for the people who have spent all the money to come here to enjoy our advertised "paradise". I sometimes feel guilty for not being able to provide them with a classically beautiful day. But, as with many good things, there was a bitter pill. While I was taking-down, I hadn't noticed the change in wind direction and the tent went over in slo-mo because I had my weights on the former windward side. I felt really stupid until almost every other vendor (who came to help) fessed up and told me they'd all had the same problem; at least once. I guess it's a rite of passage. The nice side of it is that it reinforces my desire to be around so many hard-working, optimistic, honest people. Any one of them could be trusted watching your money. AND, speaking of money, I had to run back home after setting up to get my clean dishes which were in their container under my desk. Can't imagine why no one put them in my van for me. And guess what? When I got back, my money was still there!

More than anything I enjoyed having four repeat customers. One even came by to tell me how much she and her family enjoyed the "parm" recipe.

I've kind of resigned myself to the fact that the new martini will be called the "Gerrarotini" Too many people suggested it today. Sorry, but there will be no contest. Shame is, you might have won a free jar of Marinated Garlic.

Tomorrow is sort of a day off. My only "business" is visiting Gulfport Produce to set him up as a dealer. I really like this guy. He delivers fuel to farms within a certain radius of his plant and uses that connection to bring some of those farmers' products to the markets. He's brought some of the prettiest organic produce I've ever seen. I bought some swiss-chard. I haven't had that in years and had forgotten just how good it is.

I even saw a family that I knew I knew. I couldn't place them but I just knew there was some connection I couldn't put my finger on. They were eating pierogis at a table in the middle of the street right in front of me. Finally, after a whole lot of comments from me, they also recognized me. Turns out, they were my landlords in my first tiny little cottage-house in Indian Rocks
Beach from 2000. I had to tell "Pierogi-girl" that "I'm glad I didn't bolt on 'em, they might have had me arrested".

I'm sorry. I'm running on. I've also discovered some "real" butter but I don't want to go into that tonight. Even though I took forty winks (you can ask Sharon, I snored forty times), I'm tired.

Good day today! Thanks all of you!

Lakewood Ranch market

Well, here it is on Friday night and Sharon and I were trying to decide about setting up tomorrow. It's not going to happen. The biggest factor is the wind. If I can't set up my tent then I can't set up my tablecloths and it makes for another Clearwater. I'm way too old for standing in 49 degrees for six hours to make $23.00. I actually own a pair of snow-bibs and moon-boots, if you can believe that, but I think I'd be too embarrassed to wear them, being a "gangsta" and all. Besides, Sharon wouldn't let me out of the house looking like that.

Since I'll be working St. Pete next Saturday, I won't be back for two weeks. If you are one of my regulars and you were planning to see me tomorrow, I'm sorry. The up-side is that if you are one of my regulars, you have my card, you can call me and I will get you your product. But of course, you'll owe me big-time.

I'll miss seeing you.

About the martini thing; we just haven't had time to go see Sheila. Since we decided to cancel tomorrow, we'll probably get trashed trying it out here at home. Perfection takes work, you know. Any ideas for names for the new drink, let me know. Besides, the opening ceremonies are tonight and Sharon won't let me go out. Some "gangsta", huh?

Gerraro

Defrosted a little today.

Safety Harbor...might be safe from the hurricanes but not from chilly temps. Actually the day was tolerable except that because we were able to put our tents up, the tents themselves kept the warmth of the sun off. Can't win sometimes. It got up to about 51 degrees and stayed there. It's okay if you don't have to stand in it for a few hours. At about 11:30, I got this little two-by-two patch of sunshine that landed right where I could stand. Since I have black shoes, I went green and captured some solar energy. It actually worked...might be something to that stuff!

Something fun came up. One of the things I do with my customers is to try to engage their sense of humor. I mess with them really bad sometimes. One example in Safety Harbor is an old, Korean War veteran named "Joe" (I'm not making this up...GI-Joe and all), who reminds me of George Burns; at 100 years old. He comes to the market to be abused by all the vendors, to sing his songs from the thirties and to be busy. I asked him this morning when I noticed him, "How the heck do you keep getting out?" He said "My keepers are bad shots!". He's actually a bright spot for the day.

I'm sorry. I digressed. The OTHER fun thing is that on last Saturday, one of my customers said he fishes through the garlic cloves to get the fat ones and uses them to garnish his martinis.

That got me to thinking, since I really enjoy "dirty" martinis, that I am going to take a jar of our marinated garlic to Nickel City, one of our favorite wing places, and ask Sheila, our favorite bartender, to make me an "Absolut ----- martini". I want to name the drink. My first thought was "Give me a 'Wreck-your-breath' martini". When I talked to a garlic "newbie", she thought that was a great idea and came up with "Date-wrecker". When I figure out, by having one or more for myself and believe it's a viable mixed drink, I'd love to come up with a name-the-drink contest. Don't know that there would be a prize. Maybe fame and glory, but if it's fun, great!

Oh, and for those of you I spoke to today, Here's the pork tenderloin recipe:

GERRARO’S MIRACULOSO PORK TENDERLOIN

INGREDIENTS

• One pork tenderloin
• Salt
• One 12 oz. bottle of Mother Mary’s Barbeque Sauce
• Pepper
• Aluminum foil

DIRECTIONS

1. On a piece of aluminum foil large enough to completely encase the pork tenderloin, place the tenderloin in the center.
2. Season with salt and pepper. Coat with Mother Mary’s Barbeque Sauce. Turn over and repeat on other side.
3. Fold the foil to seal the tenderloin, place in a baking pan (Sharon uses a cookie sheet) and bake for 40 minutes at 350 degrees.
4. Remove from oven, open and spread the foil and bake uncovered for an additional 20 minutes
5. We like ours with mashed potatoes and green beans. When you scrape the sauce from the foil, you'll love the new sauce you've made…mmmm. Put some on your potatoes and liberally on the meat.

www.gerraros.com

Worked the Clearwater Farmers Market Today

Worked the Clearwater Farmers Market Today.  Froze my bu.. off. There's a certain physical/mechanical thing that happens on Cleveland Street. It captures the on-shore wind and focuses it along the buildings in a way that allows the shady, southern side (which I was on) to become a category 5 wind tunnel while the other side stays calm and warm. I actually put my tent up, tied it to a parking meter, used my 80 pounds of weights (all on the windward side) and had to take it back down. I couldn't even use my tablecloths. I felt really professional with three folding tables and a hot plate.

Couldn't give a sample away today because the few potential consumers were in a hurry to get warm and you couldn't spend any time with them. The good side was that the few sales I did make were from customers who came just to buy some more. I love the repeat business. Tomorrow is Safety Harbor. It's going to be cold but not windy; we'll see.