Hi All,

While I have not posted much lately, I do very much lurk---I read TCB every day. For a little background, I retired from the NYPD over 15 years ago, the began an on-site Pit BBQ Catering company in the Hudson Valley of NY shortly after. Been blessed, very fortunate, we have done well. 35-40 times a year we get to go to celebrations and see people enjoy our BBQ. How can you not love that?

This year, the COVID-19 virus had completely wiped out our schedule thru June. We had 6 weddings on the schedule (those poor folks), along with about a dozen other events. Done. We had taken all the gear out of winter storage for our first event on March 28th, catering a lunch for 200 poker players at a charity event. It never happened.

I had just made peace with the idea that I would have a lot of time on my hands this Spring. Then late Wednesday, I get a voice mail from someone from the Department of Homeland Security asking me to call them----huh?!? A little intimidating. I call the number and speak to a nice young lady who asks me if we could possibly go to the COVID-19 test site in New Rochelle and cater a BBQ lunch for 150 Army, National Guard, Nurses and assorted law enforcement on Saturday, and again at the test site in the Bronx the following Wednesday. She assured me that they would keep our staff safe. My usual reply to any request is "Yes, we can", but this time I was not sure, because I didn't know if my purveyors could get all we would need to make it happen under the present circumstances, and i was not sure if I could get the staff needed.

Make some calls, did some begging, and by Friday morning I knew we could do it and I told them it was on.

Here is a pic from yesterday's BBQ (guess which one is me lol). It was amazing to see the operation they have going on down there. In case you didn't know, the COVID-19 test site in New Rochelle was/is the first mass testing site in the nation. The people behind the logistics of that operation have done an INCREDIBLE job. There was an ENDLESS steam of cars of people getting tested. The line moved smoothly, everything was uber-orderly. As you got progressively closer to the actual testing area, you saw the level of protection increase, from masks at the first checkpoint to full blown haz-mat suits on the actual testers. Those nurses doing the actual testing are saints.

On our end, we probably have never been treated better by a host. We had two people assigned to make sure we got everything we needed. My business partner and I arrived early Saturday to start the pit. The rest of our crew arrived at 10AM. They had a NYS Trooper escort waiting for them when they arrived. They supplied us with masks and gloves. The food service was somewhat different than what we usually do. Everyone entering the food tent got their temperature taken. The only ones allowed to touch the plates were the servers (2 of ours 4 of theirs). At the end of the line when the plate was full it was placed on a table and the diner picked it up.

We were told (and paid) to feed 150. Our liaison came to me at at 10 and asked if we could possibly feed more. I knew we were feeding military guys so we prepped for 175. I told her 175 easy, if we stretched, maybe 185.

We fed close to 200. BIG burly Army soldiers, National Guard troops, NYS Troopers, other assorted law enforcement, and civilian support staff.

The soldiers ate first. HUGE plates. Lots of smiling and laughing while they ate 4 to a table that had 12 seats. I was busy slicing briskets when my liaison grabbed me and introduced me to the Incident Commander. He said "You guys absolutely crushed it. The food is fantastic. You have no idea what a morale boost this is to them they have been working like dogs". Then he said "Can you guys do this twice a week for at least the next month?" I thought he was kidding. He was not. We will be catering at that site and the one in the Bronx once a week each until this ends. LOL! Just when I thought we were out they pull us back in........

The whole time we were there everyone kept coming up to us to thank us and tell us how much they loved the meal. Seeing everyone happy over our food was something that always makes me happy, but it was real special yesterday. More than that tho, seeing how professional every single soul at that operation handled themselves and the situation made me so proud of our country....and our government. Seeing it in person reassured me that we will get this under total control soon. You would have that faith too after seeing what I saw. I thought you all should know this.

Wish the story ended there, but when I got home, I got a call from the doctor who is treating my 85 year old mom at a local hospital. She was transferred from a nursing home on Friday. They tested her. She has the bug. She currently has no fever and is breathing well. She is a tough nut. Of course it is all in God's hands but if she beats this she moves from "mom legend' to "all-time legend" status.

Happy Easter, God bless and stay healthy.