Mom's Choice on Mother's Day |
For my money, I'm taking Mom somewhere I know she'll like..providing my sisters let me, but that's another story. LOl. Let's just say sisters rule mom's time come Mother's Day in my house, with us boys outnumbered and out aged by the older sisses...Truth be known they deserve first crack as they are much more in tune and touch to mom's day to day stuff, much more than I anyway, but my brother might have a case. Over to you bro!
At any rate, one year I took my mom to what was then called Deli House Brunch, now more branded as Stellar Hall, still Deli House Catering fresh, but with some new kitchen staff and crew, still all hands-on supervised when possible by Johnny and now wife Marcel of course...and my mom had a great time.
It wasn't the food she raved about, although as I recall it was quite good with various stations set up to make or serve some fresh hot dishes to order, while others were set out buffet style or crepes, pasta station etc. We got mom her plate I think and picked out for her, but Johnny took the time to come around and spend time welcoming her I guess because later on she actually was quite taken by it, mentioning it several times. And my mom is no easy cookie to please! But she raved about it. Trust me..she can be quite vocal if she's displeased somewhere, so I pay attention.
" Who was that fella," she'd said, " The owner I think. A really nice chap.....You know I really liked him. He was such a nice person"...I don't know what Johnny did or said, but I do know he recognizes hospitality is a big part of being successful in a business where you rarely can please everyone. And he's genuine. My mom likes that.
I first met Johnny Cutrone when I was a bartender at Newmarket's Glenway Country Club, now an abandoned lot, when we both served fine dining night, as they were not set up for that and I'd had some experience. I showed him french service...Zee rest eezz heeztory! Lol
They've come a long way since opening that first deli shop on the corner of Yonge and Mulock slinging breakfasts at 6 am to get by, along with his mom and dad. His Dad only recently passing away from cancer..and a great guy himself. Definitely give you the shirt off his back if he could..
View from Stellar Hall Window |
Happy Mother's Day all. Go where you want but go... I do know Stellar Hall is putting on an extra special Mother's Day deal this year with something for everyone..omelet stations, carving stations..the works! I'm drooling just writing this. Oh..and some good old fashioned hospitality! Egads!
Mom the nest builder |