jonnyandthegypsy

[jonnyandthegypsy]

It's a glass of wine in the garage type of night #winesday #wine #wineteriscoming

#wineteriscoming #winesday #wine

[jonnyandthegypsy]

Grateful for a great team 😎😎😎

[jonnyandthegypsy]

Jonny blonde food truck fare

#jonnyblonde jonnyblondefoodtruck foodtruck #hamont flatbread sandwiches burger homemadebread #local foodie

[jonnyandthegypsy]

#wedding catering jonnyblonde foodtruck hamont

[jonnyandthegypsy]

Looking forward to our burlesque dinner at Auntie Booms this Sunday! Sold out show. These two fabulous ladies above will be joining us

#burlesque auntiebooms hamilton jonnyblonde foodtruck popuprestaurant estherdeville adifferentkindofsundaydinner

[jonnyandthegypsy]

The ups and the downs

I wrote the entry below a couple months ago, back in early September, when I was feeling the back-to-school itch. The urge to buckle down on some unfinished personal business, to make some kind of significant change. *******************************************

From time to time, I find myself lamenting the loss of my care-free and creative persona. When you're knee-deep in bills, running on adrenaline, constantly on the go, weary from lack of sleep and worn thin - sometimes i hear myself nagging and I cant stand the sound. I used to define myself a certain way that no longer applies anymore. I'm ready to figure out who I am again, to feel connected and inspired. I signed up for yoga and among other health goals, I hope to make the time to reinvest in things that used to be important to me, and still are. I think sometimes I'm afraid of things actually working out okay. There's a fine line between being a realist and being a party pooper.

It's been awhile since I've shared on this blog. It's been hard to find the time and when I have it, I just want to sleep, or take that moment to chill, relax and try to avoid conversations related to food trucking and work. Since we don't always have time to do anything but work, I've found my biggest struggle has been an emotional one, despite the crazy workload and financial demands of being in the first year of business, and in the food truck industry in particular.

I'm not a fan of change. I always struggle with it at first; my natural reaction is to resist. But then, after the dust settles and the emotions subside, I usually realize that my anxiety is just based on fear of the unknown. The truth is its always harder for me to shatter a dream, burst the little vision bubble in my head, than it is to actually make the change. Letting go is the hardest part. Here we go...

[jonnyandthegypsy]

Dear Layal, I hope you are well. My name is Hoda, and I found your blog after doing a research on alumni from the documentary media program at Ryerson. I am applying for the MFA, and I was wondering if you could tell me about it, and if you would recommend it. I have a BFA in video art, and I do spoken word. I'm Lebanese and I've been living in Montreal for the past 12 years. So I'd move to Toronto for the MFA. It's a big move for me, so I wanted to hear about the program from someone...

Just saw this one too! I loved the MFA program it was two of the best years of my life. In terms of getting ahead career wise I mean its not an MBA you don't need a masters to make film or art or photography and so completing it doesn't necessarily guarantee career success or maybe nothing but a bigger student debt. That said, I feel I was able to accomplish things I wouldn't have (ie learning how to video edit, organize large scale events) and also making some amazing friends and defintiely opened me up creatively in terms of making art and meeting a ton of likeminded people to continue to stay inspired and bounce ideas off of, as well as collaborate on projects. Overall I'm happy I did it and would recommend it. My year I was lucky to have a really ambitious proactive group of people so I do also feel that what you as an individual and your group as a whole puts into your time there makes a huge difference. I'm a pretty social person and so were a few others in my group so we constantly organized get togethers, fun fundraisers to support each others art etc over the two years so we were good at working together by the time we had to organize our festival. Ah the memories - I love school especially the luxury of studying things you are into so I'm always a big fan of going for it! Would love to see some of your work so feel free to share! Nice to meet you thanks for reaching out

[jonnyandthegypsy]

(ctd) I would appreciate any good/bad/warnings/praise you could give me,if you have time. Btw,I enjoyed your music video :) and reading about your food truck adventures. As for quitting smoking, I tried acupuncture and it worked!It's been 4 years now. But you have to actually want it. You get pressure points in your ear that you can press when you feel the cravings. There is also the Only Way To Stop Smoking Permanently book, a fun and enlightening read. Take care and hope to hear from you! Hoda

Hey thanks so much for sharing this! Apologies for only getting back to you now - I've taken a long hiatus from writing and checking this blog regularly w the busy foodtruck season and only today am getting back to it. I still struggle w smoking and hope to kick the habit this month. Recently signed up for yoga which has helped me in the past. Appreciate you sharing this it helps motivate me to keep trying and sharing :) have a great day

[jonnyandthegypsy]

Interview #6 - Dobro Jesti @dobrojesti #hamont #foodtruck #documentary #inthemaking

Last week I interviewed the owners/operators of Dobro Jesti food truck, Jim and Lori. Dobro Jesti invited us to their beautiful home and commissary kitchen in Caledonia. The interview was meant to be an hour long, but we spent about four hours hanging out, having beers and tasting their entire menu. Such lovely, hardworking and inspiring people. It was a great evening, full of laughs, great food and candid conversation.

The interview is for a documentary-in-progress (title TBD) I'm currently working on with my talented buddy James Harvey on camera. The documentary will feature a variety of food truckers within the Hamilton food truck community, speaking candidly on everything from how they started to why they were motivated to start a food truck, their greatest and worst moments, what inspires them to keep going, survive cold Canadian winters, truck disasters, and keep their personal and business relationships intact.

Ill be posting short clips of interviews with various Hamilton-based food truckers over the next few months - Gorilla cheese, The Salted Pig, Dirty South - and hoping to include the perspectives of those who are no longer in the food truck business and those who are just starting out. My goal is to provide a realistic look at what it takes to make it in this business even in one of the food truck capitals of Canada - the different backgrounds that make us unique and the daily struggles and triumphs that help unite us as a community.

#foodtruck #Hamilton #hamont #documentary #2014 #profile #foodtruckdiaries #layalalhaidari #gypsylulu #jonnyandthegypsy #ThisIsNotEatSt. #staytuned #dobrojesti #slovanian

[jonnyandthegypsy]

Interview #2 Patrick from The Salted Pig. Began filming interviews with Hamilton-based food truckers for a documentary project I’m producing with talented Hamiltonian photographer and new friend James Harvey. Excited to transcribe it. The experience of food trucking with Jonny and being filmed for Eat St. has inspired me to learn and share the stories of the vibrant niche community Ive become immersed in. I’m fascinated by the different lives people led before they decided to start a food truck, the common struggles and triumphs we share, the biggest lessons learned, the effect on personal relationships, and just what it takes to be a food truck warrior. Look out for more posts and video excerpts from the ongoing project this summer

#foodtruck #documentary #hamilton #foodtruckers #steelcity #gypsylife #warrior #jonnyblonde #storytime #reality #television #video #film #foodtrucks #lifestyle

[jonnyandthegypsy]

Hello sunshine :)

[jonnyandthegypsy]

Food trucking and smoking cigarettes, at least in Hamilton, seem to go hand in hand. This isn't quite true - there are many food truckers who don't smoke. But not as many. Before I began food trucking, me and Jonny had been quit for several months. But its stressful starting a business, the hours are long, the workload is constant, and like the many waitressing jobs I've had in my day, sometimes a smoke break is all you've got. But these are excuses. I am afraid to quit smoking. Yes, I'm having a cigarette now as I type. Thumb typing makes this convenient. But smoking has become more than an inconvenience. It brings me down. Its making me sick; physically, mentally and even soulfully. Yet I've found it the hardest thing I've ever had to learn to let go. I've been a smoker since I was seventeen (I'm now 32). I can't count the number of times I tried to quit over the past seven years since my first attempt. It has to be about 20 or 25. My longest stretch was nine months back in 2007. Six months in 2011. Then five months last year. Every other attempt isn't really worth mentioning, at least in terms of longevity. I used to compare my relationship with cigarettes to a bad ex boyfriend - maybe you had hot chemistry, shared some great memories but he didn't make you happy. He was bad for your health, your self esteem and he never really loved you but still you would make excuses not to leave him. Tried to stay away but late at night, maybe after a few glasses of wine, the rules would go out the window and you would find yourself driving out in the middle of the night to get your fix. The next morning would always be filled with regret. I've had laser therapy, attended quit smoking clinics, used the patch, gum (eww), inhalers, electronic cigarettes, wine and weed. I've made art, written articles and even crocheted knitted cigarettes in an attempt to exorcize my smoking demons. My last attempt to quit was in January. I lasted about a week and a half - not great, but better than my teammates who caved after three days. This time I cited boredom and loneliness as my excuse. We live in a basement apartment. Without my usual social hour in the garage, after my free week expired at the gym i was sick of being a hermit going solo. The subzero temperatures and an empty wallet were my excuse - surely once I made enough money to join a gym and the weather got warmer that would finally be the right time. If I am totally honest, I chose failure. Maybe because I was afraid to quit for good. Or more likely afraid to fail at quitting again so I decided to beat myself to the punch. The ring I'm wearing in the photo is my late grandmothers, who died of lung cancer in 2004. I was actually the only one in the room when she breathed her last breath. That is one of my clearest memories - it was as if time slowed with each breath she took until it finally stopped and I was aware she was no longer there. That moment also killed any romantic notions Id had of smoking gracefully into old age. She had been parasailing the year before and had a lot more life to live. I miss her. I've decided to be honest and air some dirty laundry after attending a seminar this morning called The Soulful Woman's Guide to a Kick Ass Life by Tammy Holland. A fantastic seminar I would recommend to all women seeking a path to happier, healthier living. Big thank you to Jonny's mom Marjonneke for inviting me and my mom. Tammy didn't address cigarettes, but her talk was all about cravings. Fatty food, sugar, alcohol, shopping - cravings for any of these are usually just substitutes for something we are craving on an emotional level, stress or negative thoughts we are escaping, or trying to avoid dealing with. Instead of giving into cravings, she suggested to carry a journal around, set a timer for fifteen minutes and start writing. She provided us with a framework to acknowledge and analyze our cravings. Clearly I didn't completely succeed with this as I'm now on my third cigarette (sorry mom). But I plan on quitting for good. And I know that this will help.

#smoking #quittingsmoking #cigarettes #foodtrucking #cravings #selfhelp #icandothis #gypsylulu #reflections #demons #vices #addiction #nicotine

[jonnyandthegypsy]

Songs in my head

Sometimes I feel like throwing my hands up in the air But I know I can count on you Sometimes I feel like saying Lord I just don't care But you've got the love I need to see me through... (From "You've Got the Love" by Florence and the Machine)

#florenceandthemachine #songsinmyhead #musicforthought #hardday #brighterdays #bepositive #love

[jonnyandthegypsy]

Here she is - finally, a Hobart mixer of our very own! You have no idea how happy this made Jon. After almost a year of hand kneading dough every day for all of the sandwiches and caterings we work, he can finally just press a button and have it done for him. Looks like he will have to start hitting the gym to get those pipes lol. Thanks to our friend Krys, the owner of Cafe Domestique, for allowing us to use and pay off in instalments. So just know when you are supporting our pop up nights at the Cafe, you are helping save Jon's arms and shoulders one batch of dough at a time. That's about an hour and a half of kneading dough each week!

#homemade #dough #bread #handmade #Hobart #newday #progress #foodtruck #jonnyblonde

[jonnyandthegypsy]

Some shots of the tapas menu we served the other night at Cafe Domestique for their 4 year anniversary party. Felt like the beginning of something new and exciting. It was also our first down payment towards our new tabletop Hobart mixer! Hopefully a few more parties and we will own it :)

#tapas #cafedomestique #dundas #hamilton #hamont #jonnyblonde #foodtruck #popup #resto #anniversary #party #catering #appetizers #foodie #gourmet #delicious #spanish

[jonnyandthegypsy]

Our tasty wedding favour which aside from being tasty, I appreciated how it was also completely functional. You eat the delicious candy corn, use the jar to store whatever you like and keep the little tag as an unobtrusive memento. Thanks for thinking of us!

#wedding #favour #candycorn #CrazyCorn #thankyou #keepsake #lovetokens

[jonnyandthegypsy]

This made me laugh. Julie Andrews with machine guns reminds me of Kathleen Turner in Serial Mom. One of my all time favourite movies thanks to my dear friend Paula John.

#julieandrews #thesoundofmusic #kathleenturner #sweetandpsycho #thesoundofmachineguns #sunday #funny