So I got back yesterday from the latest SoyBlendz run. We actually ran about 8,000 cases over two days in brand new PET plastic bottles! Since we had to print new labels for this run, I also used the opportunity to add calcium and vitamin D to the formulas. Now each bottle contains 30% daily value for calcium and 25% daily value for vitamin D, making them excellent sources for both of those vitamins and minerals. We have had many lactose intolerant people request the addition of both calcium and vitamin D because milk is where most people get them.
We decided to switch from glass bottles to PET plastic bottles for a couple of reasons. The main reason was because some of the large national chains loved the product, but they didn’t like handling glass bottles. They also wanted a more tamper evident seal, which plastic bottles can do easier. They now have a breakaway tamper evident seal. Hopefully, this change will convince some of the companies who were on the fence about bringing SoyBlendz into their stores!
Here are a few pictures for those who have never been in a bottling plant. Enjoy!
So people have been asking me about where the pics of Amy’s brother’s farm is. Well, I’ve been editing them…slowly. I should have them up sometime this week so everyone can see what 30,000 baby chickens look like in one chicken house.
Anyway, being as we were going to meet our friend, Rachel on the SW side of Chicago, we decided to eat at Szalas Restaurant, described by many as surreal Polish. Szalas is located on S. Archer near Cicero Ave, just a couple of blocks away from Bobak’s, and is instantly recognizable by its A-Frame appearance.
Amy, Rachel, and I entered and were greeted in Polish. I think they asked if we were part of a party or something; it was hard to say. We weren’t, and they sat us at a table in the back by the bar. I’m not sure if they put us there because we weren’t Polish, but it didn’t really matter since the food was incredible. Amy and I ordered Okocim, a Polish beer which is easier to pronounce than that other Polish beer, Zywiec. Rachel just got some water which was brought to her in a 6 oz glass, so she had to ask our waitress to refill it like 6 times during the meal!
After getting our steins of beer, an appetizer plate was set down at our table that contained some kind of flatbread along with some tangy goat cheese and a ball of bacon fat! The flatbread with good with both the goat cheese and the bacon fat, but a little bacon fat goes a long way!
The menu (which is made of genuine leather) has everything you could want. Rachel chose cheese & meat pierogis, I ordered the breaded pork cutlet, and Amy chose the Highlander Special - A potato pancake topped with goulash and cheese. We also ordered sauerkraut soup and cheese blintzes for dessert.
How was everything? Delicious! In fact, we want to get back there as soon as we can. I’ve known about this place for some time, but it always seemed a little far just for a restaurant. Now that we’ve gone there, however, we know that the drive is totally worth it! I guess it’s a good thing that the Chicago Fire’s new stadium is in Bridgeview so we’ll be able to catch their games AND eat at Szalas!
Oh, why is Szalas described as surreal Polish? Take a trip there and you’ll find out!