Columbus Parent Review of Harvest Moon!

Well readers, it turns out that this humble little shop/eatery I find myself writing in has made it into Columbus Parent, a free newspaper-ish collection of articles with a special focus on family values.

It turns out that one Saturday morning a mom and her son came to this little brick dwelling, excusing themselves from the small town bustle of the historic square and walking into the quaint settings of the caf with a secret agenda of reviewing the place. Actually, it was no secret at all, at least not to Nathan and Kelley, the owners. They were informed that the reviewers were coming weeks before, but they actually completely forgot about it. Oops.

Seeing what it's usually like around here on a Saturday morning (depending on how early you come in) their experience was most likely the mix of regulars and new faces filling the warm inner walls with the buzz of conversations about the weather, the economy, the Buckeyes, and what such and such said about so and so. From the article, I deduced that they most likely came in the late morning, sometime between the acceptable hours for breakfast and lunch, which can be a time that widely swings from incredibly busy to easily steady. The mom ordered our Heavenly Hotcakes and a Roots & Fruits juice. Her son ordered the Real Man's Breakfast and a Strawberry Smoothie. He liked the smoothie so much that he actually ordered a second one! Talk about a full belly!

The article was an inundation of sincere complements and appreciations. They even complemented them on their bathrooms. It's interesting how Nate and Kelley forgot about the big day that Columbus Parent just strolled on by to write a review on the place and probably borrow a cup of sugar while they're at it, and yet the reviews were beaming with delight! No extra attention to detail was given. It was treated as just another Saturday in the team's minds, and wouldn't you know it, the reviews were positively positive!

~The Harvest Crier~

6 Kinds of People

In the very first post done for HM, I outlined the attitude and ambiance of this place, calling it The Culture of Harvest Moon and the Garden Herb Shop. I would like to expound upon that culture a little more by describing the different kinds of people who come into our humble brick building.

Understand that we're not writing negatively about anyone. In fact, we're not writing about anyone specifically. Instead we're writing about the groups of people that come traipsing into our shop and restaurant. If you take time to watch people, you'll notice that they have a lot of similarities. You may read this and start laughing, only to stop and think, "Hey, that's exactly what I do!" Don't worry, we're not keeping tabs on you, people are just funny in the sense that they can be categorized into groups that transcend the parameters of ethnicity, age, gender, religion, and social status. So check this out and ponder which one you may be.

The Dr. Oz Disciple: "Dr. Oz said," is usually how your conversations begin in the Garden Herb Shop. You've made a point to listen to professional opinions pretty regularly, like the morning news. You like to keep up with Oz as well as other professionals because you know that he's done more studying than you. Your personality is more trusting of authority than others, enabling you to follow the rules with great ease and delight.
And no, we do not carry Raspberry Ketone. :)

The Athlete: You usually stroll into the Moon some time mid morning, wearing one of four things: running shorts, short running shorts, tight running pants, or some sweats. You grab your supplements, food, and drink with a quiet confidence of, "Oh yeah. I'm awesome," and everyone can see it on your face. Nothing feels better than pushing yourself on the trail or in the gym and then grabbing some food. And if you can mention the number of reps you did this morning while telling the cashier your order, that's a plus.
Because you're awesome.

The Blur: You're in and out with your cup of coffee faster than it takes to read this sentence! :)

The Usual: "Just gettin' the usual," you say placing your quart of dairy-free milk-like beverage on the counter. You enjoy frequenting Harvest Moon multiple times a week, maybe even a day, because of its relaxed environment where people can sit around and talk freely. Because you're so relational, you prefer to come here, and may even go out of your way making sure to pick up your regular dose of socializing. You're cool. See you in about 5 minutes.

The Newby: The delicate look on your face as you hesitantly stand in the middle of the Herb Shop gives you away as a newb almost immediately. You've just recently turned over a new leaf and have firmly decided to eat right henceforth. But you don't know what you're doing and would prefer it if someone came over, put their hand on your shoulder, and filled you in. Hilariously, you could be told that you need to supplement your diet with organic bumble-bee elbows, and you'd probably believe it. It's okay. We were all there at one point. You're fine. :)

The BOTTOMLESS Bottomless Mugger: Just a bottomless mug is apparently all you're sustaining on. You're probably too cool for normal people food, paying no attention to the steaming hot platters others are enjoying. You've discovered the secret to living off of the bean, enabling you to work on your laptop or smart phone unhindered. Who needs to chew when you've payed for a bottomless mug? I'm sure there's an app for that. :)

So there you go. Think about it an see which one you are. Perhaps you're a whole different animal not mentioned in this post, or perhaps you're a blend of two different ones described here. But then again, perhaps I've just described you perfectly! Now wouldn't that be funny?

~The Harvest Crier~

Foodview: Green Energy

Don't be deceived into thinking that this drink is your run of the mill liquefied lettuce-head (we all know how enjoyable that would be, right?) The Green Energy drink fills the mouth with a very sweet and tangy taste! Its ingredients are kale, kiwi, pineapple juice, banana, and dates.

-Kale: One large leaf was put into the blend, hidden by the more ostentatious ingredients. A brief researching of this leaf has shown me that its benefits include lowering cholesterol, lowering the risk of certain types of cancers, and helping detox the body. (source)

-Kiwi: The eccentric and fuzzy kiwi, the hairy kid of the fruit class, was also thrown into the mix. It came in second place in regards to potency of flavor. Its health benefits include a copious supply of Vitamin C, as well as phytonutrients which protect your DNA. (source)

-Pineapple Juice: Pineapple is another rich source of Vitamin C. Its tropical flavor put a real tartness in each sip, definitely taking first place in the flavor experience. Its perks include potential anti-inflammatory and digestive benefits.

-Banana: The banana assisted the Green Energy drink by providing a fuller taste and a thicker texture, making it quite filling. I feel that it toned down the spike of tartness that may betide a person if they solely drank the pineapplejuice. The banana is like the big, benevolent kid in the class, the one who keeps everyone in check. Its benefits include potassium and protection against atherosclerosis. It can also prevent high blood pressure and, of course, has a lot of Vitamin C. (source)

-Dates: Tiny morsels of diced goodness were found throughout the Green Energy drink. It's meaty texture gave the drink more character. It added to the fruity experience while simultaneously toning down the overall tartness! The positives of dates are numerous and include benefits for your heart, your metabolism and your digestive track. (source)

I liked it, simply put, and would recommend it for someone who is in a little bit of a rush and doesn't have time for a full on lunch. It's no turkey dinner, but it may tide you over until you have a clear opportunity to eat, you know, solid food. :)

~The Harvest Crier~