Staid, static, status quo are three words I would like you to think about this September and back to school time. All three come from the Greek root statos which literally means standing.
Last month my niece got married. Both bride and groom are from Long Island; so where was the wedding? Woodstock, N.Y. I asked my niece why are we going 2 1/2 hours away. She said, "Uncle Richard, you of all people should understand I don't want the traditional elaborate wedding typical of Long Island." Well, it wasn't. It was held at The Bearsville Theater in Woodstock. The ceremony was outside and reception was quite different. There was no fixed seating; instead there was a bunch of cocktail tables with 4 or 5 chairs. Intentionally they were just short of being able to seat everyone. The buffet was served on small plates meaning you went back several times (at least I did). The combination meant you kept moving and were on several tables during the course of the night. I must have met or spoken to just about everyone there. It was quite lovely.
Back to School is a time of trepidation for students, teachers, and parents alike. No one quite knows what to expect. Naturally it is a challenge to the status quo. Instead of being afraid of it; embrace it. Good teachers challenge their students and give them the tools to tackle and think through problems. I hope you all avoid the trap of creating a new status quo and keep that level of excitement throughout the entire school year.
Reinwald's Bakery also struggles with the status quo. I remember a customer in our old Queens store that bought a fudge layer every Saturday. One day I asked him to sample our new chocolate mousse. He did and said he really liked it. I said, "Should I wrap one up for you?" His reply, "Nah, I'll take a fudge layer."
Our "Sweet Treats" monthly menu really challenges our bakers. Every month we have to come up with new items. I am proud of our staff for stepping up to this challenge. The response from our Sweet Treat members has been fantastic. You have been trying these new items and many have been added into our lineup. Of course this means some old items have to be jettisoned. We try to limit this by rotating products; so what is here this month may go on hiatus next month.
A quick note on this month's menu, last year I told you how the cherry crop was decimated. This year's crop is very good and cherries harvested in August have made their way to us. To celebrate one of our selections is cherry pie. Even though this is a regular item that fits the status quo theme, that status quo was broken last year by Mother Nature so we can bring it back this year. It is hard not to be static, but the long term reward is "sweet."
Enjoy your days,
Rich Reinwald.
