Around the Uptown

Aloha to Aloha!

By Ryan 

 

 

Early in 2010 we finally advanced from a 20 year old micros point of sale system (POS) and into the 20th century with an entirely new POS from a company called PC America. We learned the ins and outs of the software and the programming only to find that this system simply did not do the things we needed it to do. It was literally an accounting and sales processing nightmare not to mention the lack of functionality the system allowed to our service staff! The system was just a mess and finally we decided to do what we should have done all along. We purchased Aloha and installed their software in the middle of June. Aloha is pretty much the top dog in all of the restaurant POS industry.

 

It's really not as easy as hooking up a computer and walking away. We had a full day of on-site staff training sessions prior to our install. Ray, and our programmer Brian, were here until 4am installing the Aloha software on all of our computers. There is no other time to do it. We close at 10pm, we open at 11am so somewhere in between, the conversion has to be made. That first day is tough. You have an entire staff learning a new system basically as they go, despite the efforts made in our training sessions. We of course need to staff extra servers because each server is going to be slowed down substantially until they get comfortable with the onscreen menus and payment options.

 

Then there's the back of the house issues. The office goes from viewing daily reports and following daily procedures with one system to a brand new way of viewing reporting information which is followed with a brand new set of daily procedures. We have to set each menu item to print to it's respective printer in the kitchen or the bar. We had to wipe out our entire inventory control program and start fresh with the new POS. We needed to link each menu item in our inventory program so that it could be recognized with the menu items in our new POS. Daily labor and payroll procedures are completely changed and we are still working those out.

 

Those first few shifts have numerous occasions where an employee might alert you to an item that is not yet in the system and they can't order. Or an item that is ringing up with a $0 price. The kitchen might buzz you 3 or 4 times a night informing you that a menu item is not printing to the proper station meaning the cook in that station has no idea he needs to make it. Each time a void, return or gift card payment is needed, it's the first time and a learning experience for everyone. It wasn't an easy week, that's for sure.

 

We do already see many advantages with the new system. Such as simply being able to split a single appetizer 3 ways evenly amongst one table. Being able to combine a large one check party with 2 or more servers into one ticket and only having to swipe the customers credit card one time as opposed to 2 or 3 or 4 times depending upon how many servers had sales on that party. Overall this is a much more user and customer friendly system that we almost fully understand.

 

Changing systems effects everyone from customers to servers and bartenders to the back of house office personnel. We hope that once we work out the kinks with our new POS, that our customers will notice an improvement in our service and our efficiency. We know we are seeing daily improvements already.

Things to do in the Illinois Valley

Local Museums and Historical Societies

By Jim 

 

For those that live in the Illinois Valley, it may often seem like a struggle to find things to do. The endless summer days of spending time at private or public pools, local rivers, parks or long drives to Chicago can become uninteresting. One thing that may often be overlooked here in our area, is its rich history. Now not many kids find learning about what happened long ago very fun while being out of school for the summer, but traveling to different museums and historical societies in our area does give them an idea on what life was like way back when. They do need to realize there was a time without cellphones, Playstations, Ipads or computers. Bring them back to days of no automobiles or even electricty. A short walk throughout these buildings can really bring a person back to life in the "old days".

 

Although major cities like Chicago have larger museums that could literally take you all day to see everything, our area is not as big but yet it contains a variety of information if you are interested in what happened many years ago on the same grounds that you walk on today. The oldest public museums in the world opened in Rome somewhere during the 14th to 17th century. Across the world, early museums began as private collections of wealthy individuals, families or institutions of art and artificacts. However, many significant museums were not founded until the 18th century. Nowadays, museums collect and care for objects of scientific, artistic, or historical importance and make them available for public viewing. Although most do not allow physical contact in efforts to preserve its history, a more and more interactive, hands on approach has been evolving to enhance the experience putting you back in that time. The museums of the Illinois Valley are no different in that they give vast amounts of information on what occurred in our area many years ago.

Click the picture to view their website

 

Lasalle County Historical Society

Located in downtown Utica, The Society obtained its certificate of incorporation under the General Not-For-Profit Corporation Act of the State of Illinois on September 5, 1924, under the name of LaSalle County Historical Society. The purpose of the Society was set forth: "To search out, procure and preserve in permanent form, facts and data in the history of the County of LaSalle, Illinois, as related to persons, places and all objects therein." The organization had no formal home and meetings were conducted in church meeting halls, school auditoriums, service organization halls, and private homes. In October 1966, the LaSalle County Historical Society conducted its first annual meeting in the remodeled museum building that it occupies today. The museum houses agricultural exhibits and the society offers a look at a blacksmith shop and an old, one room school house.

Click here for their hours. 

 

Click the picture to view their website

Bureau County Historical Society

The Bureau County Historical Society Museum is located behind the Courthouse square in Princeton. The museum consists of two buildings that are next door to each other: the Clark-Norris Home, a handsome Prairie Square mansion built in 1900, and the Newell-Bryant House, a stately Greek Revival house dating back to 1853. The museum contains fossils, Native American artifacts, pioneer utensils, tools, farming equipment, Civil War and military memorabilia, Cherry Mine Disaster display, period furniture and pictures, musical instruments, arts and crafts, glassware and china, early vehicles, medical equipment, and a research library.

Click here for tour information. 

Click the picture to view their website

Starve Rock State Park Visitors Center

The visitors center offers an abundance of information on one of our state's most beautfiul parks. Starved Rock is probably the single most prominent historic place connected with early American Indian life in our area. The center contains artifacts and hiking maps to see some of the most fascinating rock formations and canyons.

 

 

 

Click the picture to view their website

Hegelar Carus Mansion

The mansion always fascinated me. While growing up, I lived only a few blocks away from this massive building. This was prior to all of the wonderful restoration work that has been done to it. At the time, it was not yet labeled a historical landmark and a gentleman named Alwin Carus used to live in the home. I was fortunate to be able to deliver newspapers to the home every day for 2 years. It always intrigued me. The area surrounding the home was a dense forest and it was a very dark, gloomy looking building. The large wooden doors creaked everytime they opened, it was almost something you only see in a movie. Quite interesting being 12 years old. Now it is put on the list of National Register of Historic Places. It is amazing the restoration project that has become of this building.

Click here for tour information. 

 

As you can see, even though I have not listed all of our areas interesting historical museums, there is plenty to do on a Saturday afternoon. So next time you are trying to find something to do on an open weekend, think history. Then think of us for a nice lunch in between stops. We carry many brochures in our rack to peruse while enjoying your meal and planning your next stop.

 

 

Keep Cool This Summer 

Foods That Will Help You Beat the Heat

By Aly 

 

I think we can all agree that this so called summer weather has been anything but ordinary. The weather may be unpredictable but what and how you decide to nourish your body is not and is immensely important in regulating your internal and external temperature during these intense summer months. Nourishing your body is the single most important way to allow you to stay cool and energized in which the food you choose to eat is crucial. With that said here are some easy and effective guidelines to consider when trying to eat and stay cool.

Keep Moving!
Don't sit and stay in the air conditioner as nice as it may feel, it really is doing more harm than good. Certain foods are prone to making you feel stagnate and should be avoided such as nuts, eggs, and dairy products, because they can cause your body's system to slow down. When your body's system slows down it makes it harder for internal organs to digest the food thus making it harder for your body to regulate its temperature and run smoothly.

Rethink Ice Cream and Chilly Drinks.
This one really surprised me because I was under the impression that consuming iced beverages and foods were the best route to go on hot days, however I stand corrected. Ice cream and iced drinks actually do little for you which seemed odd to me at first but as I kept reading it made more and more sense. They actually cause the stomach to contract and slow digestion (especially with dairy based products). Iced cream and iced beverages create cooling sensations in your mouth but ultimately do little for you internally.

Eat Raw.
Raw vegetables and fruits are great! Eating raw is a easy, cool and refreshing solution because there is little prep work involved. You can eat raw vegetables or fruit on the go or make a salad or fruit bowl creating a healthy option. Fruits like berries are especially great because they contain lots of nutrients and antioxidants, and are low in sugar and very accessible during summer months. Cucumbers and fresh sprouts are summer go to vegetables because they are full of vital of nutrients such as vitamin C, low in calories and would be great on salad or sandwiches creating the perfect amount of texture/crunch.

Spices.
Surpringly, spices are your friends. Spices are great in moderation because they help your body cool down. They create heat inside your body temporarily but in the end they disperse the heat throughout your bodies surface. Spices like ginger, cayenne or pepper are great to achieve this cooling sensation. Also your bodies reaction to spicy foods tends to make you sweat which is natures way of cooling you down. In India, spices like saffron and curry are heavily used in their cuisine because in order to induce sweating and a cooling effect.

Liquids! Liquids! Liquids!
Hydration is key in your body's regulation of heat. The most obvious way to achieve hydration is drinking water however some foods contain water as well. All fruits and vegetables contain water. As for fruits, melons such as watermelon, and cantaloupe contain the highest percentage of water 92%. Strawberries, tomatoes and grapefruit also have a large water percentage. Vegetables like cucumbers, celery, and iceberg lettuce have the highest water content is among the highest averaging out around 95%. Adding mint to any drink is a great way to cool down because it instantly refreshes the tip of your tongue. Alcohol makes your body temperature rise so if you must, indulge in one of our Mint Mojitios or a chilled beer! Also drink plenty of water while consuming alcohol because it does dehydrate you.

Go Green.
Leafy greens like spinach, kale, and romaine lettuce and broccoli are great because they are high in fiber and water. They can be eaten in salad or a topping on any sandwich. We give lettuce with all of our sandwiches so next time your in, try it because it will help you cool down. Check out our salad's because we have a wide range to choose from. My favorite is our wedged romaine topped with blue cheese, hard boiled egg, and toasted almonds in our house made red wine vinaigrette. Also currently on our menu we are offering a grilled and chilled asparagus in a balsamic vinagrette topped with blue cheese and sugar glazed walnuts. Asparagus is great because it contains a large percentage of water and balsamic is also good for cooling. Meats take longer for your body to digest consequently depleting your energy so try to limit your intake.

Countries around the world have to deal with extreme heat on a regular basis. Luckily here in North America heat comes in waves. In Asian countries such as Japan, China, and India whom are accustom to intense heat year round, their cuisine is modified depending on the weather. For instance, when looking at the cuisines of China and Japan noodles and rice make up a large portion of their diet. Noodles and rice are a great example of how populations modify their food depending on the weather. When its hot, it is likely that they will serve these dishes cold (warm when its cold out). In the Philippines chilled cucumbers sliced in vinegar and pepper are consumed frequently because of their cooling effects.

Lastly when choosing what to eat, a simple rules of thumb to abide by are: light is always better than creamy dense sauces, opt for olive oil sauces or light broths, refrain from sugary and caffeinated beverages because they do little for you. I hope these tips help you beat the heat and have a cool summer!

To learn more about cooling foods visit the following links:

 

List of Fruits & Vegetable With a High Water Content 

 

Foods That Can Keep You Feeling Refreshed and Cool This Summer 

 

Foods to cool you down this summer 

 

Employee Updates

July Birthdays and Anniversaries 

 

Birthdays

Andrew Eiten

Roger Konczak

Courtne Camp

Brooke Hannen

 

Annivesaries

Brett Witek-- 3 years

Eric Swanson-- 2 years

Jennifer Nieder-- 1 year

Nickie Pelligrini--1 year