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CZ BlogThe results are in! We ran our Sandwich contest at the end of June and the feedback was great. This past month we've run each of the entries that we recieved on our menu as the daily specials and asked the customers who tried it what they thought. Here are the highlights: The Nor' Easter - we sold a lot of this sandwich and people really enjoyed it, the kicker was the cranberry mayo that we spread on the bread - we will be adding this to our rotation of specials sometimes and the Multigrain bread it was served on is sure to become a staple on our menu because it was so good! The Hawaiian - this one was my favorite! {but not the winner :( } the housemade pickled ginger with a spicy brown mustard and grilled pineapple was an awesome treat and those who tried it really enjoyed it. Limburger with Onion on Rye - This generated more conversation (and more smell) than anything we've ever put on our menu! People who like Limburger were so excited to see it on a menu and to get that special treat, we heard lots of childhood memories and everyone wanted to share how they liked it served the best. Those who didn't like it - including some of our kitchen staff - turned up their nose, but I kept reminding them that they didn't know if it was good if they never tried it! There were a few other entries but the winning entry actually sold out in just a two days and everyone enjoyed it. The entry came from Brad from Niagara Popcorn and it was a very simple request "Roasted Red Peppers with Gruyere". I hunted WNY for an affordable Gruyere cheese and found that the price ranges from $12/pound (if you buy it in BULK) to $22/pound...making it a very pricey cheese for sandwiches. Gruyère Cheese is a hard yellow cheese, named after the town of Gruyères in Switzerland - we actually thought it tasted very similar to a standard swiss cheese when melted with the peppers. SO, we are going to be adding a Roasted Red Pepper with Swiss Cheese Panini Melt brushed with herb infused olive oil - it's not quite the same as using Gruyere, but it will make it able to be the same price as our other sandwiches so we can all afford to enjoy it! AND it makes Brad our contest winner! Stay tuned throughout the fall as we'll be updating our menu with some new sandwiches (including Brad's) and some new ingredients that we think you'll all enjoy :) It is with a fond memories and a hopeful spirit (and a little childish glee - which I'll explain later) that I write this entry. As of Friday, July 15th 2011 at 3pm, the Comfort Zone Cafe will no longer be on Elmwood Avenue. We are passing the torch to another wonderful family owned and operated business who are anxious to get their start in the "big city". We have be in business for three years on Elmwood Avenue, and while we've made many friends and GREAT customers, it's time for us to head back home (that's that childish glee I mentioned). We will truly miss the wonderful people that we've met in the city and I will definitely be spending lots of time in the area enjoying all the things our city offers us. As a small town girl though, I have to admit, I am very excited to get to go back to my roots in Hamburg and work there with my family and customers that I've been missing the last few years. BUT THE REAL REASONS I'M WRITING THIS Straight from one of the owner/operators to my inbox - "Ashker's is a family owned and operated cafe, with three other locations (Youngstown, Lewiston, and Niagara Falls). We serve fresh juices, smoothies, and coffee beverages. Look for our soon-to-come ice cream and frozen yogurt desserts! Ashker's looks forward to continuing on the warm and comfortable service and atmosphere offered by Comfort Zone Cafe. The focus of our menu and atmosphere is health and wellness, offering a fresh variety of breakfast and lunch options, such as wraps, paninis, salads, and baked goods." I for one am excited to try out all that Ashker's has to offer to the Elmwood strip. Over the last few years I have seen a demand for healthy food options, ice cream, and a juice bar - so I expect great things from them! I hope that you will show them the acceptance and loyalty that you have given us over the last 3 years on Elmwood and that they too can be a part of the family that resides on Elmwood Avenue from year to year. With my sincerest gratitude and an ache in my heart, I would like to thank you all for your support and friendship on the strip these last 3 years. I will truly miss being a part of your mornings, helping you start your day out on the right foot, and experimenting with new tastes, soups, and creations for us to experience together. Thank you to my friends (aka customers) on Elmwood Avenue, "How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard." "The world is round and the place which may seem like the end may also be the beginning. " Well, it's been awhile since I've chimed in with an update so I thought I'd fill you all in on the latest at the Comfort Zones. 2011 has already started as a pretty good year for us, we just hit 400 fans on facebook and our new campaign is going really well. If you're not a fan of the Comfort Zone on facebook yet you should really jump on that bandwagon! A few times a week we post a riddle, trivia, or fun thing for you to do, and as prizes we give a tons of FREE stuff! We've had some great response from these and we're just getting started. Click here if you want to like us on facebook and start getting in on the fun! Zenia
So, we've had a few new things happening around here, and I've been falling in love with my job all over again. I've been working at this cafe for almost 13 years now, and as you can imagine, it can get a bit monotonous if I don't actively try to spice it up a little every now and again.
~Zenia "Every man can transform the world from one of monotony and drabness to one of excitement and adventure." Well, it's the first of December in Buffalo and suddenly it looks like it. It's snowing and blowing outside for the first real snow of the season, although it doesn't seem like it's going to stick. Either way, it's gotten me in the mood for the holidays more than I was the last few days when it was raining and gross out. So, my point? 1st, I should be headed home to decorate instead of sitting here and writing this, but 2nd, our new merchandise is finally here and I'm pretty excited about it! We got a big shipment of stuff for the holidays, but almost none of it LOOKS like it's for the holidays so they're great presents for year round use!
We also have some new holiday wall hangings that are a great price and light up so they add some light to your wall, they're battery operated too so you don't have to find a place near a plug without having the cord showing. Oh yeah, and let's not forget the 7 or 8 different Garfield mugs with some of his classic sayings and some AWESOME disappearing mugs that change when you put hot liquid in them. Ok, you may be saying, wow Zenia, you're way to excited about this, but to you I say - STOP IN AND CHECK THEM OUT! I bet you a free pastry heart you won't be able to read the magnets and mugs without letting out a little chuckle or at least a big grin :-D Zenia "Live nutty. Just occasionally. Just once in a while. . . Wow, it's been a long time since we've posted here, things have been a bit wild around here, which is great. Lately we've been looking to update our menu and add some different options for our customers. I've been craving some new, crazy, out-there drink lately and I'm having a mental block on anything good. We have had some luck on the food end though, here are a few new things we've added in the past few months that you should come check out!
I just love coming up with new things and I get such a kick out of it when people like what we've come up with. Here are a few things I'm thinking of trying and I'd love some feedback as to what people would enjoy seeing on the menu every once and awhile.
These are just a few ideas, like I said, I'd love some feedback! Zenia "Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen." April's almost over and we're finally getting our April Showers. We've been busy around here launching some new products and working on hiring some new staff to get ready for our upcoming busy season. A month or so ago we added a Cupcake Latte to our menu which has quickly become a favorite amongst our sweet coffee drinkers. Also, for the summer we've added a new Lake Effect special. For those of you who haven't tried a Lake Effect before, they are cold, "blenderized", coffee drinks that have other flavors such as Cookies and Cream, Mocha, or the ever popular Vanilla. Our newest addition is the "Samoa Cookie" Lake Effect that tastes just like the Girl Scout Cookie, with a hint of coffee, coconut, caramel, and a nice drizzle of sweet chocolate. In other news, Hamburg has been expanding their menu to offer a wider variety for the lunch crowd. Recently they added a Build Your Own Wrap option as well as a Daily Special Stuffed Baked Potato. Some potato options you can expect to find are things like the Pepperoni Pizza Potato, Greek Souvlaki, and Reuben Potatoes, among many others. Elmwood had its first Poetry Reading last month and it went over very well. We will be holding one again this month on May 8th, click here for more information. We have also increased our options for Vegan soups here on Elmwood. We've tried some new ones such as a Roasted Cauliflower Soup, Tomato Florentine, and the popular 16 Bean and Split Pea soups. We are looking forward to the sunny weather here in Buffalo, May will be here soon. "April showers bring May flowers." ~Zenia Well folks, I just did next week's schedule and it's the beginning of April, amazing how the time flies. Our Tasting Parties are this weekend and I'm very excited about them, which I think I made apparent in my last post. I hope we'll see lots of people at them. We're doing the food a little differently & I think it will be nice. We're going to sample the food just like the drinks so there will be no buffet, just sample size pieces of the food, cupcakes, and all the drinks you can imagine, should be a great time. Our new expansion at Elmwood is going well, new people notice it every day. I'm very excited to say that we're finally getting ready to install the railing for the patio outside so our tables and chairs will be fenced in, that should be a BIG change here. We're also brainstorming some new ideas for the menu, we would love to get some feedback and ideas from our customers. We're trying to come up with a few lower calorie choices, along with a couple items that don't involve carbs so much (it's difficult to be on a low carb diet and then eat here every day of the week!) We're testing some ideas we have, but if you have any suggestions, please send them our way! The good news is that the sun is out in Buffalo today and the streets are full of people. I just love the feeling in here when people are ordering smoothies and iced coffees, everyone just seems SO much happier. Those are my updates for now, I'm sure there will be a lot more to say in the next few weeks! I hope to many of you at our tastings :) “No matter how dark the night, somehow the sun rises once again and all shadows are chased away” ~David Matthew
Zenia Well March is here and we've been running around keeping very busy! There are lots of exciting things going on at all the CZ locations this month. First of all, Congratulations to our Facebook winners, we reached 200 fans and awarded 2 lucky people with $25 gift certificates to the Comfort Zone Cafe. Second, the dates have been chosen for our annual CZ Tasting Parties! Elmwood's will be Saturday March 27th from 4-6 (with a possible 2nd session if tickets sell quickly) and Hamburg will hold theirs on Sunday March 28th from 4-6pm and then again from 6:30-8:30pm. For those of you who are not sure what a CZ Tasting Party is...
In case you couldn't tell, we're very excited about these parties. We have done them a few years now and they're just always so much fun for everyone involved, even those of us who "work" them. Tickets will be on sale starting the week of March 8th and space will be limited. In other CZ news, Elmwood is in full gear with the new cozy section and our newest healthy option, Wheatgrass Juice Shots. This stuff is amazing, the nutritional benefits are countless, if you're interested in learning more click here, or stop in and read one of Nature's Treats newsletters or brochures. Planning is also starting for our 2nd annual "Always A Bridesmaid" Event so keep an eye out for more information. Check out our photo gallery to see pictures from last year, it was so much fun and we're excited to do it again! Lastly, check out the entertainment calendar for March, we have a couple new musicians playing this month on Thursdays in Hamburg and on Elmwood. It'd be great if we had a lot of support for our local talent! Zenia "Spring is when you feel like whistling even with a shoe full of slush." Well, we're almost half-way through the month of February, how the time flies by. I am happy to report that the Quad-B Executive Conference Room is officially open and available for rent at our Elmwood Avenue location. The expansion now has cozy seating for approximately 14 people (17 if people cuddle up on the couches) with lamps and tables for studying, writing, or just enjoying that atmosphere. The Quad-B satellite office is staffed from 9am-5pm Monday through Friday (and sometimes Saturdays) so that people can drop off their computers for repairs and get to know the Quad-B staff. They are also available to meet with any business who is interested in their website or IT services. We are currently planning for our big open house event in conjunction with Quad-B Systems. On Thursday, February 18th, 2010 from 4pm to 7pm we will be holding an open house in our new expansion. There will be refreshments provided by the Comfort Zone Cafe as well as door prizes valued over $1,000! Please tell anyone who you know who may be interested in using the conference room and plan on stopping by to check it out! On a different note, Valentine's Day is sneaking up on us. For those of you who just can't think of what to get that special someone CALL US! (716-648-5779) Order by Saturday at 2pm and get a platter of pastry hearts in their favorite color, or a heart-shaped cake to show them how much you love them just in time for Sunday Night! Of course, don't forget the flowers to go with your special treat, for which I will shamelessly plug Expressions Floral and Gift Shoppe. Happy Valentine's Day Everyone, Zenia "Anyone can catch your eye, but it takes someone special to catch your heart." Well, it's been a long haul but our expansion is officially open on Elmwood Avenue. I think it's been worth the wait this time! It's so exciting to see all the new faces stopping in to check out the changes and all our loyal customers have been starting to check out the new seating. I hope everyone will stop in and check out the huge transformation the next time they're in the city. Elmwood is making a few more healthy changes in the coming weeks. We just placed our first order for Fresh Wheatgrass Shots that will be available to purchase. The benefits of Wheatgrass Juice are numerous and we're really excited to be able to provide such a great product for our customers. Also, we have a new Vegan cook starting here a day or two week, her name is Shauna and we're looking forward to having her on our Elmwood team. Stop in to try some of her creations and welcome her to the Elmwood Strip. Our open house for the expansion and Executive Conference Room will be held on February 16th, 2010 and everyone is welcome to stop in to meet the Quad-B team and to get a feel for the new space. There will be door prizes and refreshments for those business people who stop in for the open house. "Good things come to those who wait." ~Zenia I write today with a somber feeling in my heart. Our McKinley Mall location is officially closed. I am sure that we will have many people asking why, so I will answer here. Unfortunately, as we have all felt the pinch of the economic down-turn the last couple years, so has mall traffic. No matter what we tried we could not make this location work and there was no sign of anything changing. Many members of the McKinley staff have found new homes at our other three locations and we truly hope we will continue to see all of our loyal customers from the mall at the other stores. While we regret having to leave a place that's felt like home for so long, we are going to make the best of it. Our location at the Eastern Hills Mall is doing well and we have been enjoying the customers and mall friends we have made. Thankfully, the Eastern Hills Mall actively promotes their stores and is doing everything they can to boost business. They are a great bunch of people to work with! Check them out on facebook along with their website listing store promotions and upcoming events. At Elmwood, the progress still continues with our expansion... We have all the walls in place, carpeting down, tables and chairs, and now we paint. We are hoping to plan an Open House for the EVA in the beginning of February. Hamburg is going to get a face-lift soon, which we are VERY excited about. While the new staff is settling into their new homes and Cindy is bouncing from store to store making sure everything runs smoothly, changes will come. We are planning to do our annual tasting parties in the coming month or two. Either by the end of February or the beginning of March. I will keep you all updated. I hope to see lots of people these again this year! Looking forward to a plentiful Spring in 2010, Zenia "Without change there is no innovation, creativity, or incentive for improvement. Those who initiate change will have a better opportunity to manage the change that is inevitable." ~William Pollard Well, we're over a month into this expansion and we've finally started phase 2. All of the couches and chairs are in place with their cozy carpets and tables. We've gotten all of the extra plugs for our WiFi users to plug-in to and we're ready and waiting to go! I am so excited to open up on the new side and the anticipation is driving me crazy. Here's a sneak peak of the new paint job on the other side. Stop in and take a peak while we finish it up!
We hope to see you soon :-D Another week has passed and we are much closer to opening our new cozy section at the Elmwood location. The archway is completed between the two sides of the store and the base paint is on the walls. We are very excited to get all of the couches and chairs in place and to take down the plastic divider. As with every project in older buildings, there were a few stumbling blocks, including a wall full of mirrors that had been dry-walled over, but our contractor did a great job and left us with a great result. We are hoping to be able to seat people on that side by the 1st of the year. Phase 2 of the project (Quad-B Satellite Office) will start soon after. We will be looking for local artists who would like to display/sell their artwork on the walls, please contact us at elmwood@comfortzonecafe.com if you would be interested. In the mean time, the malls are certainly bustling. We have the 2010 Buffalo First coupon books in stock at all of our locations, but they're selling fast! It's an awesome book this year and we're really excited to be a part of it. Photos of the new addition coming soon. Happy Holidays! ~Zenia Every Friday and Saturday night there is entertainment at the Hamburg Comfort Zone from 8-11pm. Let us know what you think and what else you would like to see us offer. If you have any comments, are interested in playing at Hamburg, or would like to make a suggestion, please email us at elmwood@comfortzonecafe.com So we're open in the new location and absolutely loving it. Eastern Hills Mall is a great place to work and shop! The Comfort Zone is in the center concourse of the mall between Macys and BonTon, right across from Victoria's Secret. As dangerous as it is for the wallet to be working in a mall at Christmas time, it has definitely been a great addition to the Comfort Zone Family, and just in time for the company to celebrate our 12 year anniversary. There are a lot of exciting things happening at the Comfort Zone Cafes and we're looking forward to another great year in 2010. I am currently listening to the hustle-bustle of dry-wallers working on our expansion project at the Elmwood location. We can't wait to open our doors up to the new addition of comfortable seating! We've also expanded our clothing line from Crooked Nail Creations, it now includes caffeine themed onesies for the new parents in our midst, sweatshirts, and long sleeve t-shirts for the colder months ahead. Holiday drinks are in full swing and so is our team with our Holiday Flair! I hope you'll stop in to get a break from the holidy rush and give us a chance to put a smile on your face soon. Happy holiday shopping and be careful on the roads. ~Zenia We serve many different types of coffee at the Comfort Zone Cafe, but we are always open to suggestions and feedback about our product. What are your favorite coffees that we offer? What would you like to see in the future?  Let Me Feed You..
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Some of our new stuff includes awesome magnets, fridge notepads, and mugs with fun animals and sayings on them such as a picture of a puffin that says "Stud Puffin" or an image of giraffe necks and heads that says "It's been a LOONNG day". Oh yeah, and the cows that say "Pasture Deadline", the moose hopping in the car that say "Text Moose-aging", and the bears and beavers that are having bads days and say "Life's a Bummer".
