Half Moons

[Clipper]

That is interesting Rod. I thought the bakery on Oswego St was completely shut down. I had lost interest in Hemstrought's baked goods over the years and become a Holland Farm's fan when the quality of the Hemstrought's goods went down hill over time. NOTHING tasted the same as it did when the little shop was on Columbia St downtown, and even the "Fried Cakes" changed and had little resemblance to the donuts of years gone by. I think the products fell victim to too many shops to adequately keep supplied, while maintaining the original quality. In later years, the only thing that I really liked from Hemstroughts was the hard rolls, and during lent, the hot cross buns. All other breads and baked goods were much better purchased from Star Bakery and Holland Farms.

[rodwilson]

Just so happens that I am married to the daughter of the aforementioned Tom Batters.

He and a couple of partners bought it in '96. One partner jumped ship shortly in and he had nothing but problems with little help. He had MUCH employee theft. Then a couple of his employees decided to swipe the famous Hemstrought's Half Moon recipe and start out on their own. He was repeatedly stabbed in the chest by his "own"people. He had a very difficult time finding truly skilled bakers. He battled it out, I will tell you that. I know he went to the City of Utica looking for help and got doors slammed in his face.

Sad thing is is that he ran MANY other very successful business' and is one heck of a guy!

So the small spattering of cars out back are the folks making those Half-Moons.

[frankcor]

I think I knew that, rodwilson. But Hemstrought doesn't have the macaroni and potato salads that I can pick up with the halfmoons. heh heh heh

[Clipper]

That is too bad Rod. Sounds like a typical story of the "help" that businesses get from the city though. The other thing that I ALWAYS liked at Hemstroughts was the icing and the birthday cakes. They also changed over the years. I can't blame that on your father in-law either, because THAT drop in quality also occurred before 1996. It seems that Tom Batters inherited what was left of the Hemstrought quality and did the best he could with what he had. Thanks for the background Rod. I have always attributed the changes to trying to get too big, and losing the quality along the way.

I used to work for Jeffery Hardware when I first got out of High School, and when they were located on Columbia St, right across the alley from the old bakery. The smells alone, coming from the exhaust fans in the alley, would make you fat, or at the very least, very very hungry, haha.

[rodwilson]

All too typical. I agree with the scale issue. He tried to reign it back in and of course the response was that he was driving it into the ground. Couldn't be LESS true. He worked TIRELESSLY to get that thing turned around with no help. Then the community vilifies him for dragging down a Utica Institution. He was heartbroken. Needless to say, he's left the area to enjoy his retirement.

And to say that he was OUTSTANDING to his people doesn't even begin to cover it. He always went above and beyond to help out his people!

[chris]

Just so happens that I am married to the daughter of the aforementioned Tom Batters.

Are he and Sue still together. I worked with both of them and was at his wedding. Matter of fact I recently found an old roll of film and not knowing what was on it I had it developed and the first photo on the roll was of Tom and Sue. (but since it was so long ago and shot from the back....I forgot what or who it was at first) Tell him Chris Conway says hello. Those were great times at Metlife with a bunch of great people. I hear it is not like that any longer. Back then it was like a family. Tell him I'm still in Rochester.

[rodwilson]

Hey Chris. No he Sue divorced a while ago (10 years maybe). He is remarried in Ohio. I know he still talks to Mike Labounty. I will def pass along the salutation!

[bobbbiez]

I just found the best half moons ever. They beat all the rest, even Hemstrought's, which "were" my favorite.

We took a little drive today and stop at Flo's on Rt 31 for dinner. We saw their half moons displayed on the counter and decided to try them for dessert. OMG, were they ever delicious! They were so good I bought whatever they had left to bring home. We can't stop eating them.

Flo's has a local woman make all their desserts. Let me tell you, this woman can bake. Fantastic half moons! When we stop at Flo's again, will buy whatever half moons they have in the restaurant that day.

The price was right also. Much cheaper then any bakery or store around here. That's for sure. ;D

[Clipper]

Unless Flo has retired from the baking business, she used to do all the baking herself. She makes the best damn pies you can buy. She was originally the cook at Hammerle's Truck Stop on Rt 31, and then she opened her own place just up the road from where she is now. She outgrew that place and built the present Flo's Diner.

If you are ever in the neighborhood for breakfast, Flo's will give you a breakfast that will satisfy your hunger for the whole day, right up to supper time. Their specials and dinners are good too. All home cooked comfort food. I have known Flo ever since the early 70's when the Central Coach Drivers used to come back from charters in Syracuse that way, just to spend some time with Flo and to drink coffee when she was still at Hammerle's. She is a sweetheart.

[bobbbiez]

We know Flo quite well also. My Dad and she will very good friends. My Dad use to help her with repairs in the diner. We've known her for many moons now because we always had a family camp at Sylvan Beach and Flo's was our favorite spot to eat all meals. Can't beat the food or the prices. A cup of coffee is still only ten cents.

She doesn't do the desserts anymore, but all is very delicious.

My favorite dinners there is the liver and onions or the fresh perch when in season. Till today, my favorite dessert was their strawberry shortcake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on their homemade biscuits. Now, their half moons have beaten out the other. ;D

[Clipper]

Liver and onions is one of my favorites too, and when bullheads are in season in spring, she always had a delicious bullhead dinner.

I love the pancakes, and the damn things are as big as the wheel on a truck. A neighbor across the street from our camp used to go with me every Sunday morning for breakfast at Flo's.

We had a camp in Verona Beach until we got ready to move down here, and then we sold it to Kathy's sister. Didn't want the responsibility of having someone care for it in winter, and I am not an Oneida Lake fan. I would much rather have a camp on most any other lake. I didn't like the eel flies, and the smell when the lake turned over in summer. Also, the wind really blew off the lake where we were located. I am much more in favor of the Adirondacks or Delta Lake. I would consider the southern tier lakes though, and have looked at camps on Lebanon reservoir, and Bradley Brook in the past.

May do some more looking when we are up there this summer.

[frankcor]

The coffee at Flo's is still 10-cents. But the cup holds only 3 ounces today.

[Clipper]

Now that is an astute observation that I have never made. I never looked at the size of the cup as long as they kept it full.

[bobbbiez]

Yep Clipper, that's exactly why I sold my camp at Oneida Lake and am now at Delta Lake. Much cleaner, quieter and less bugs.

The worse at Delta is the flies but can't be helped with all the farms surrounding our area. That liquid ca-ca the farmers spread on their fields, the flies just love and swam all over and we are in their path.
Still, rather deal with just that.

[d]

Unsure of it has been mentioned yet, but the best half moons (exactly like what were grew old around, not the tiny ones Hemstroughts tries to push now) are located at the gingerbread bake shop *PERIOD*.