Winter 2008

Greetings from the staff of The Blackwater Café! Welcome to the third edition of the Blackwater Newsletter. It is hard to believe that 2008 is here and along with it the quietness of the winter months. Although it is winter there have been days that seem like spring, I am not complaining but I know it will not last. As always, let me first thank all of you for your continued support and a special thanks to all of our associates/staff for their continued loyalty and dedication. I feel so blessed to have such great people to work with every day and such a supportive community.

Awards: The results are out from the local Laker Magazine with the “Best Of” Awards for 2008 and I am extremely pleased with the results. The Blackwater Café won many awards and I would like to elaborate just a bit on each.

1. Best Chef – Mark Crim: Mark joined us in April and he has been a great addition to our team. When we interviewed Mark for the position of Executive Chef he was the only candidate that asked about the locals and what they expected and wanted in a good restaurant. Mark excels in part because we have a great kitchen team with Matt, Jesse and Jason

2. Best Bartender – Miranda: She graduated from Bartending School about two years ago and continues to make her mark behind the bar as well as throughout the restaurant. She can and will make just about any drink you can come up with.

3. Best Breakfast: We re-designed our breakfast approach last May after listening to many of you. We now have a great breakfast at very reasonable prices and it is under the direction and leadership of our Senior Cook, Jesse.

4. Best Restaurant Atmosphere: We will continue to insure that atmosphere and ambiance of the restaurant stay a top priority so that you always feel comfortable dining with us.

5. Best Place for a Romantic Meal: As mentioned above, we will always strive to make your dining experience our priority.

6. Best Seafood: We will continue to offer the freshest seafood available and provide you with the best options for your enjoyment.

7. Best Steak: We serve only the best Steaks and Prime Rib. It may cost slightly more but only Certified Angus Beef products are served at the Blackwater. In fact, we are the only restaurant serving Certified Angus Beef products around the lake area.

8. Best Desserts: I am proud to say that all of our desserts are now homemade right here in the Blackwater kitchen.

9. Best Wine Selection: We have a comprehensive wine list and have made several changes based on your input. Your comments and suggestions are always welcomed.

10. Most Comprehensive Drink Menu: Miranda is always looking to add additional drink options to our menu. If you have a favorite drink please feel free to tell Miranda or John.

11. Best Customer Service: This is the award I am most pleased with. This is very satisfying because this award was not really a restaurant category and receiving the Silver Award behind Capps (Platinum) and Franklin Community Bank (Gold) is an honor. The second reason is that Customer Service is my personal passion and the entire Blackwater Staff has truly embraced this.

I can promise you that winning so many awards will not go to our heads and we will continue to work very hard every day to continue to earn your confidence.

Prime Rib Night: Our Prime Rib continues to be very successful and we plan to continue to offer the Certified Angus Beef Prime Rib on Friday nights during the off-season. Come in and enjoy Prime Rib prepared just the way you like it.

Valentines Day: As always, this is a very special day and we intend to make it even more special again this year with a very unique menu on Thursday, February 14th. Please call us early to see what we have planned and to make your reservations.

Easter Sunday: We will again be open on Easter Sunday with a special “Brunch” menu from noon until 4pm. Breakfast will also be served as usual from 8am until 1pm. Call us and make your reservations as early as possible.

Blackwater Staff: We choose our profession many times based on what we like to do. I think it is obvious that the staff at the Blackwater likes people and we are passionate about what we do. We didn’t win so many awards because we were lucky, we won because of our commitment and passion for being the best. I am very proud of what we have accomplished and proud of the entire staff.

We just completed our second year at the lake and we have plans to be around for many more. One of the keys to our success is our ability and willingness to listen. We are nothing without you, the guests. We want you to feel comfortable at the Blackwater and we want this to be your restaurant. Your comments and input are critical and we want to encourage you to continue to provide us with your feedback.

Our passion to be the best and our commitment to listen, embrace change and never forget that “Your Dining Experience is Our Priority” will always be our mission.

If you would like to receive periodic news about upcoming events at The Blackwater Café and be added to our email listing please let us know or send me an email at bwcowner@embarqmail.com

General Manager: John Gordon | Executive Chef: Mark Crim | Proprietors: Tom & Lynn Gordon