Edgewood Creamery
701 Edgewood Rd
Edgewood, MD 21040

The other day a friend of mine suggested I review an ice cream shop in Edgewood, MD. I said, absolutely. I know we have Dairy Queen, Rita's Custard, so why not try a small business ice cream shop.
When I got there, I was so full of anticipation. It's a small store, a converted service station. Although limited in flavors the fact that it was the old fashion hard ice cream made fresh daily. As we entered they were in the process of putting another tub that was shock frozen into the serving freezer display.. I think the owner greeted me and asked if I've been there before.  So, that tells me that he is aware of who comes to patronize his place. That's an important  trait to have as a small business owner.
I'd rather have a limited menu that is of the best quality.
I decided to choose a sundae with 3 flavors, caramel salt, chocolate chop and butter pecan. with hot fudge, wet walnuts, whip cream and a cherry to top the sundae off like years ago.
It brought me fond memories when I was a kid getting the hard ice cream from the tub. Each flavor had its own unique flavor. The butter pecan was buttery, the chocolate chip was vanilly with chocolate chip and the caramel salt was salty and caramely.
They been in business for about a year and I always believe that supporting small business is important. If you have a chance, please visit them before the Summer is over. 
On a scale of 1-5 with 5 being excellent, I give the Edgewood Creamery a 10+
They're that good.

Chef Woo Can
www.chefwoocan.com
www.chefwoocancollection.etsy.com
​ 

Emmorton Snowballs & Ice Cream
101 E. Wheel Rd, Bel Air, MD

Every once in awhile I'm asked about a new ice cream place to try. To my surprise the Emmorton Snowballs & Ice Cream  was a pleasant surprise.  Let's see, Bel Air has Rita's Custard and Dairy Queen. This place blows both of them out of the water. Why you say? Well, small businesses can be more creative when making their products. More varieties especially when it comes to  a sweet treat. Yes, they have lots of interesting varieties of ice cream, shakes and snow ball ices with every conceivable flavor you can think of. Their loyal followers have been going here for years.  I'm sure word of mouth for this place does its job.
It's just delicious. I had one of their sundaes and it was so unique in flavor that I would go back again.
The ice cream was fresh tasting  and so creamy like it was made the old fashion way. 
I highly recommend this place and on a scale o 1-5 with 5 being excellent, I give this place a 10. It's that good.
So before the end of the Summer, you MUST visit this place and let me know how you like it!

Chef Woo Can
​www.chefwoocan.com    

Main Street Bel Air

Once upon a time I had an appointment to get my haircut and colored at Bei Capelli The owner Kelly Sorensen is a fantastic hair stylist and hair colorist. She will make you feel glamourous with her creativeness to get the right color for you. Call her at 858 997 9544 for an appointment before the holidays. She's that busy. She cares about how you look and takes pride in her work.
Although it was a beautiful sunny Thursday I sensed the exciting vibration of people were out for fresh air or just strolling around main street checking out the new shops lining the streets. It was a scene from small time USA  along the most common Main Street in Bel Air. The vibrancy of seeing families walking around with the kids running all over the place was a pleasant sight for all to see. The vibrancy and excitement of this picturesque  scene just reminded us all that we ae all different in our beliefs and culture that we can all enjoy each other on Main Street. That scene on a Sunny Summer day brought out artist on the street capturing a scene of small town America enjoy the outdoors.  It is a welcome relief of seeing us all getting along together,  like a kaleidoscope of colors blending together to create a beautiful mosaic of happy smiles from all walks of life and for that moment we can forget all the bad news that seemed to have beaten us down. Not in Main Street, Bel Air, MD. It was a welcome relief of happiness that I haven't seen in a very long time.
The media seldom reports the good stuff and did they miss being there on Thursday or any other day on Main Street, Bel Air. But for the record it was a sight to behold and made me damn proud to be from Bel Air, MD.

Chef Woo Can
www.chefwoocan.com

   

Chef Woo Can 1 Page Diet Manual

Mid Summer, the weather is beautiful, everyone is practically going on vacation to their favorite spot, whether International or near home. Most are going to the beach to enjoy the sand, exotic destination, crystal clear warm water sipping Pina Coladas, Marqueritas and enjoying the many varieties of food around them whether its Boardwalk  Fries, hamburgers, pizza, or the local delicacies.
We waited for this moment for a long time considering what we've been through. Getting the latest Summer fashions, arranging the perfect destination and most importantly going on a diet to lose some weight from staying homebound through this Covid crisis.
So, what do we do, we hit Barnes and Noble or amazon for the best diet book that promises to reduce your weight in a specific time schedule. We're really not concerned if the diet has been approved, we just look how much we can lose in a specific time. It could be no carbs, or the Paleo diet, Atkins diet, whatever. BUT this is what you should know:
Chef Woo Can 1 Page Diet Book:
1- How can 1 diet book apply to everyone interested?    
2. There are many factors that contribute to weight gain. Pyschological, stress, family history, medication etc....
3. No emphasis on will power. You have to want to lose wait long term so you'll be around for a long time.
4. As we all are we are not disciplined when it comes to eating. If it taste good, we want more.
5. What we ate as children no longer applies as we are older.
6. We may be doing our body more harm than good going on a diet. The shock to our system is enormous and dangerous.
7.Companies that claim they are manufacturing healthy options are deceitful and only concerned with the bottom line profit.

Here is what you need to do:
- Set a goal of how much you want to lose. 
-Check with your doctor if its obtainable. In all probability be realistic. Doctors appt's aren't exactly cheap.
-You doing it to be with your family for a very long time. Don't be selfish.
-Everything in moderation is ok.
 -Accept the fact that you need to be active, whether walking, bicycling, jogging or working out.
-Gradually get rid of items that are bad for you, The rule is all white products, bread, pasta, cakes, cookies and danish. Use the prepackaged foods until -gone or throw it out.
-Cut out all sugar drinks, ALL. Includes Gatorade. Gradually get use to water not necessarily bottled water.
-Buy fresh produce and fruits. If your diabetic, check internet. Low glycemic rating is good but everything in moderation is ok.
-Focus on non red meats gradually or portion control red meat.
-Balance meal is a protein, veggie and carbohydrate.
Don't add addl salt or sugar to anything. Allow the fresh foods provide the flavor. A little salt will bring out the flavor. Don't cheat yourself on quality. The better quality more flavor.
Marinades for Summer is ok but use mostly herbs, fresh garlic, fresh rosemary or thyme, and olive oil with a little barbeque sauce for sweetness. The longer the marinade is on, the more flavor.
BUT most importantly, losing weight is a gradual process. Not just for that planned vacation but for your overall health.
You don't have to restrict yourself on these diets and suffer due to quantity your allowed to do or use ingredients you don't really like or make you change your eating habits. You should be able eat what you want using fresh foods!

The same scenario, every loses weight according to the diet, they look fabulous but after vacation they let loose and gain back all the weight they lost and more.
The key is to  maintaining the weight. I went from 206 to 189. I discontinued Metformin, work out to tone my muscles, swim and watch what I eat every day. I do cheat, its only normal to cheat. Temptation is all around us bombarding us every minute of every day.
I no longer eat whole wheat bread. It's over processed and the result is less fiber. I eat Rye bread, more fiber and brown rice, more veggies and a little meat, fresh fruit and just drink cold water all day long.
​Most important is to have a glass of water before going to bed. Yeah, you'll need to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night but what they found is if you don't, it may be a detriment to your system. 

Chef Woo Can
www.chefwoocan.com
 

Hiring Hiring Hiring!

Everywhere we look, practically all businesses need more staff added. As a self employed business person I can understand the difficulty of getting good help. Some establishments are crying that they have so much business but not enough staff to help service the customers. For that brief period when it was ok to open business again, there was a mass movement to open up for  business  as we were all hurt last year due to Covid.
I understand all that and also know that the food service business is hard, work conditions, dealing with customers may not be the most pleasing to staff, always complaining about lack of service, food quality. Why should workers go back when they can enjoy unemployment and make just as much if they were working? Really do you blame them. Could you do a better job and be on your feet all day? I think not.
But as business tries to add staff, they may or may not be adding incentives like sign on bonus, extra days off, continuing education, and maybe add healthy benefits are even raise the hourly rate.
Business owners are not being focused right now. They've been devastated with no business, bills mounting, threatened bankruptcy and just closing!
Business owners and corporations are desperate. Their thinking is this, if we offer a higher hourly rate with sign on bonus and other benefits, they should flock to them.  However, conditions never change, advancement is nil, unqualified leadership is non existent. So, what? If potential candidates don't like it  there will be another willing to take the job. But consider all the time and effort management devotes to get these workers up to par. It's a major expense. What do you get in terms of future candidates? A person just looking to make a couple of dollars and doing the minimal work possible and doesn't care about the customer and doesn't care that the customer's business helps sales which ultimately pay their wage. 
Case in point, today I was at AT & T looking to switch. The girl was uninterested in getting to know me, unfriendly, impersonal, impatient and one hell of an attitude.
Now as a customer, what the hell? In the telecommunication business its so competitive, you treat customers this way, sales sales and sales. 
Let me just say, you don't get a sale if the customer doesn't feel comfortable with the salesperson. It's called "getting to know you"
I left and swore I wouldn't go back to them. I went to T Mobile, the sales girl was friendly very patient and willing to answer my questions and we were able to talk to each other. I had questions and she answered them as best she could and was very understanding.
I guess the bottom line is this, you can hire any candidate and they can all be trained but you can't train someone with a bad attitude!
If your hire someone to fulfill a number and has a bad attitude, you'll lose customers  rather than gain more customers.
As customers, we have our limitations to. We want to be treated with  some  respect and we'll walk. Right now business can't afford to treat the customers poorly, not ever especially now!
So, if business wants to flourish correctly, they need to get back to "How to serve customers 101",  
Corporate needs to look at other things than sales, sales is derived from a number of factors and they should be focused on 100%. Train managers and once trained then employees can be trained the right way. Recruiting shouldn't be based on meeting numbers but a careful review of qualifications and a positive attitude!
I was so pissed at AT & T in Bel Air.
Chef Woo Can
www.chefwoocan.com
​