I don’t usually send out this kind of email, but I wanted to conduct a test. Just to see what some good old fashioned word of mouth might do…

We did a ribbon cutting ceremony this morning for a new member of the Chamber of Commerce, for the opening of their new business.

Some background. I am a fried catfish connoisseur, I mean, I don’t just like fried catfish, I study it. I analyze it. I savor it. I seek it out. I know when its done right. And moving back to west Texas has made it very hard to replace what I grew used to back in East Texas. Let’s face it, catfish have to travel a long way to find their way into the local fryers out here in the desert. I’m always trying new places to find someone…ANYONE who knows how to fry up some catfish!

I haven’t found a really good, down home place here in Midland yet, but after the ribbon cutting, I decided to stay for lunch. I know its not health food, but WOW….the absolute BEST catfish I have ever eaten! To steal a line from “Po Melvin’s” in Irving, “It’s so good, it’ll make you wanna slap your momma”! And it was. And I’m not exaggerating.

But that’s not the only reason I’d like to see if some good old fashioned word of mouth can’t get some business stirred up for these good folks.

I was talking to the lady who started the restaurant, and was bragging to her about how “I’m the Man”, when it comes to judging good catfish, and if she had anything as good as the City Café in Van, TX, near Tyler, then we could talk, because I know my catfish! I was talking tough, in fact I was bold enough to tell her, “you know, I am the official catfish taster here in Midland, appointed by Mayor Perry himself, and if I don’t like it, it ain’t gonna work!” She just smiled at me, slowly shaking her head, with that look on her face as if she knew something I didn’t, and said, “I tell you what…you try this, and if its not better than that place in east TX, then I’ll just give you your money back”.

It was on.

She started to tell me the story of why she took the risk and started this little restaurant. Although, I had to correct her. A catfish place is not a restaurant…it’s a place. A steakhouse is a restaurant, but a catfish place…is a place. Anyway…She’s a long time member of Greater Ideal Baptist Church here in Midland, and over the years her and some lady members would bring their “special recipe” to some Church functions here and there. They’d cook for groups of workers, Sunday Lunches after Church, Funerals, etc. Over time, at the continued hounding from the members, it basically turned into a weekly routine for them, and it grew and grew and before they knew it, they had been cooking up this wonderful food for the whole Church every week for the last few years.

She said her father took the risk a long time ago and started a trucking company, and her brothers are still running it today. Her father always told her that you could do anything, in spite of any obstacles, if you trusted in God, he would bless you. She said she never thought she could do anything like run a business, but she knew she could cook. I met the pastor of the Church who was at the ceremony. What a loveable man. He just oozed wisdom and love. We’ve all met men like him. She said their pastor told her a while back, “you know, maybe God has been preparing you for something bigger here. Over these last years, you’ve basically been running a restaurant on a weekly basis and feeding hundreds of people. Maybe its time to have some faith and step out”? And, so…there she is. On faith.

Half way through my meal, she came and stopped by my table, hands on her hips, not saying a word, but just stared at me, with this look on her face as if she was asking….”Well…”?

I didn’t want to slow down and have to interrupt my chewing, so with my mouth still full, I just gave her a big thumbs up, and told her, “I wish you hadn’t put this place so close to my office”!

I got back to my office and I wondered what it must have been like for her father way back when. In light of the way things were, and still are in some respects, for someone to go out on their own and start a business. And now, here she was, taking the same risk. And I was wondering if there was any way I might be able to help out a fellow sister in Christ?

All I’m asking is for everyone to forward this on to your email distribution lists, and ask them to do the same… Everyone does it all the time on politics, or feel good stories, or pictures, etc…, you know, those annoying, weepy emails! Well, I thought this might be a good test. To see what good old fashioned word of mouth might do to get a good word out…

Eddie’s Catfish Company - 301 N. Lee. Just a block or two west of Carver School, at the corner of Illinois and Lee. Mon – Sat 11am to 8pm. Closed on Sundays, of course.

PS – Unless you are with someone, do not, and I repeat, do not order the two piece meal. You’ll understand…