Up-Lyfting Eats!

Up-Lyfting Eats!

Hatch & Coop's BBQ chicken sandwich

By. William C. Walker Jr.

November 19, 2018

Featuring: Hatch and Coop

You see a lot while driving for Lyft, especially when it's in a city such as Philadelphia. I've met interesting people, and taken notice of a multitude of restaurants. These places lie within the city like hidden gems waiting to be discovered. It was on one of my early Lyft rides that I met the executive chef and general manager of one of these gems Michael O'Mara of Hatch and Coop. Let me take you inside this self described chicken and egg joint in this new series of posts I'm calling Up-Lyfting Eats.

Located in Midtown Village at 122 South 12th Street you'll find what can be best described as an Upscale Chick-Fila yet not upscale in prices. Open seven days a week from 7am-9pm this place offers delicious food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The setting is casual and remarkably clean something that Michael and his staff take great pride in. The majority of the fares they present are created in house from all the sauces to the insanely delicious batter used to coat their chicken.

So let's get to the good stuff, there's a variety of sandwiches to choose from at Hatch and Coop. There full menu is available all day, but if your star is a chicken sandwich LET'S GET TO THE CHICKEN! I ate the Coop and their BBQ chicken sandwiches. To make their chicken Michael explained how they take this chicken breast brine overnight in pickle juice, pounded flat in the morning and then marinated in buttermilk. Next it's coated in their house made coating and deep-fried to golden perfection. Each sandwich is served on a buttered and toasted King's Hawaiian Roll. First up the Coop this chicken sandwich can be had regular or spicy served on a bed of homemade crunchy coleslaw and Hatch and Coop's house spread. All together each item fuses to create a delicious bite. I've never thought to eat a chicken sandwich with coleslaw on it but it works. It helps that this isn't your traditional coleslaw super wet and loaded in creamy dressing. Hatch and Coops slaw is fresh dressed in a tangy vinaigrette that's out of this world. The crispy cool slaw is a perfect companion to the piping hot and crisp fried chicken, there's a tang to the slaw that blends well with the sweet yet not overpoweringly so house spread.

While I greatly enjoyed the Coop I LOVED LOVED the BBQ chicken sandwich, in the words of comedian Tracy Morgan I loved that sandwich so much I want to take it home and get it pregnant! Once again we have this perfectly fried piece of chicken this time coated in homemade BBQ sauce and if the delicious coleslaw wasn't enough they kick it up a notch by adding their fried pickles. Texture wise the sandwich is a dream the soft bun, the crunchy chicken, slaw and pickles! It's sweet and tangy and I could've eaten at least 20 of these sandwiches if I was allowed. The sides that Hatch and Coop offer are not to be out shined by the sandwiches. The french fries were seasoned perfectly hot and crisp but not too much, so great whether dipping in ketchup or their house spread. Also, provided potato pancakes which were like mini hash browns again seasoning 100% on point. Next their fried pickles, now I've had fried pickles before typically they're lightly coated but you get more of a wilted pickle than anything else. Hatch and Coop's fried pickles are on another level. First they're well coated the pickle itself disappears into this golden brown shell that's loaded with flavor. As if this perfect fried nugget wasn't enough it's served with this onion vinaigrette dipping sauce that is dynamite! If there was one drawback it's that the pickle could slide out of the breading at times when trying to bite it, but the breading was so good I found myself still dipping and eating. Your best bet, eat it in one bite.

Even though Hatch and Coop is a chicken and egg shop they do offer up some dessert. Now while I was skeptical of coleslaw on my chicken sandwich, it paled in comparison to the level I skepticism that I had for Hatch and Coop's Ice Cream sandwich (pictured below). When Hatch and Coop says all their sandwiches are served on King Hawaiian Rolls they mean all their sandwiches! Yes I was highly concerned when I saw that included their Ice Cream Sandwich. Ice Cream on a BUN THIS IS MADNESS! But this along with their BBQ sandwich I could've eaten ALL DAY! First they have Vanilla Ice Cream rolled in cinnamon toast crunch cereal the bun is buttered and toasted totally differently from what they do for their sandwiches. It's extra crispy and then drizzled with this house made caramel sauce the ice cream in the middle with the crunchy cereal MIND BLOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! As if that weren't enough they offer another pairing with house made pumpkin spice ice cream and a sugar cookie! I know that much may think were over pumpkin-ed this time of the year, but I wanted jar upon jar of that pumpkin spice ice cream!

Thus ends my first account for Up-Lyfting eats! First out the gate Hatch and Coop is going to be tough to beat! But it's a spot you have to go to! I already know it's going to be a regular spot for me! There were items I didn't get to try that I have to go back and partake! Chances are I'll be devouring BBQ chicken sandwiches but WILL POWER MAN! Do yourself a favor and go to this awesome restaurant, check them out on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter! But most importantly get down to Midtown Village 122 South 12th Street Philadelphia, PA 19107 and enjoy!

Hatch & Coop's Ice Cream Sandwich, pumpkin spice ice cream and sugar cookie

In the End the Laundry Wins!

In the End the Laundry Wins!

by. William Walker Jr.

Dallas Cowboys Ezekiel Elliott (21) is tripped Atlanta Falcons strong
safety Damontae Kazee (27) during the first half Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018,
in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Danny Karnik)

I HATE JASON GARRETT. Let's get that out the way right away. I mean I don't hate the man personally I'm pretty certain Jason Garrett's a great guy when he's not breaking Cowboys fan's hearts with his terrible coaching. Jason Garrett as the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys however I hate. Yet after a Monday night debacle when the Cowboys got trounced by an average Tennessee Titans team coming off the bye, I was ready for the Garrett era to be over! Okay let me be honest I've been ready for the Garrett era to be over ever since his 3rd straight 8-8 season that ended in Washington D.C. when Robert Griffin III was actually good! With each Cowboys win the likelihood of a Garrett firing is fading into the background, putting most fans into a precarious position.

Do you take pleasure in your team's victory when you know it ensures the coach you HATE will keep his job? I haven't been immune to this dilemma after the Cowboys lost to the Washington Redskins in DC I was done! I canceled all my game day rituals tossed out my superstitious practices, and made the decision that the 2018 season had to be sacrificed to save the FUTURE! With each loss we'd come closer to Garrett being fired! Again after the loss to the Titans it seemed inevitable, Jason Garrett was ready to walk the green mile. He was at the World Series during the bye, it wasn't a good look for a 3-4 team, the loss didn't make it look better.

Going into the Sunday night game versus the defending Super Bowl...champs...(sorry I think I'm going to be sick, inhale deeply and exhale) Philadelphia Eagles, it seemed like a given that they were going to be killed! You know what for the first time that I can recall I was okay with it. The night before I had been at my 20 year high school reunion and one of my friends was teasing about the impending beat down the Cowboys would suffer, and I welcomed it! The dream was one embarrassing loss would lead to Garrett's firing. Yet the game starts and by halftime when you hear Pigeon fans booing their team, I couldn't help but smile! As much as I dislike Garrett I'll give him credit, when it seems like the end is near these players rally for him. It was easily one of the best games the Cowboys had played this year escaping Philly with at 27-20 victory. In spite of my strong wish to see Garrett gone I still relished in the anguish suffered by Eagles fans. Besides this is classic Garrett's Cowboys tease us with what could be only to pull the rug from under us next week against Atlanta.

Thus brings us to yesterday's game against the Atlanta Falcons. A team that also finds themselves fighting for their playoff lives! Back to the house of horrors for Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, in Atlanta last year when Dak was sacked 8 times! A game that had Jason Garrett's ineptitude on full display. With Tyron Smith out backup left tackle Chaz Green was used and abused giving up 6 of Atlanta's 8 sacks! What made it so infuriating was the coaching staff's refusal to either pull Green or give him some kind of help until the game was out of reach! A loss that appeared to had broken Dak Prescott he didn't look like the same player. Dak even admitted to the Fox broadcast team before this year's Atlanta game how the sacks affected his play. Same as my shock with the win in Philly I was shocked that they beat this Atlanta Falcons team. Holding them to one touchdown and 4 field goals, this is a team that averages over 30pts at home! Even as I watched Brett Maher's field goal barely squeeze through the uprights as time expired for Cowboys 22-19 victory I couldn't help but leap for joy.

Yes I know this win coupled with the broken leg of Washington Redskins quarterback Alex Smith, and the humiliating Eagles loss of 48-7 the Cowboys are now in the driver seat for the NFC East. Look I don't think there are Cowboys fans alive that wants Jason Garrett to stay the coach. However what if just what if to spite all of us they keep winning ensuring that Garrett remains the coach! Will I not take joy in the Cowboys winning a championship? OF COURSE NOT! I'll be dancing and shouting like it's 1995 all over again! The best way to explain this feeling was best described by Jake Kemp a producer and co-host for the Dallas Cowboys post game show for Sports Radio The Ticket 1310am/96.7fm. He said when it's all said and done fans root for the laundry, and he's right! Even though, we all know this team will be BETTER with Garrett gone true fans still want to bathe in the team's success. Here we go Dallas six games left and the future in your hands. I want Garrett fired, but when the game starts I want to see good things for my Boyz. In the end the laundry wins!

Minority Report (Why Women Don't Tell)

Minority Report
Why women are hesitant to report abuse?

by. William Walker Jr

October 19, 2018

Weeks ago the nation was wrapped up in the confirmation hearings of Brett Kavanaugh. Then he was the supreme court nominee of Donald Trump. Like most decisions by this President not a choice without controversy. During his confirmation hearing Mr. Kavanaugh had been accused of sexual assault, by one of his former high school classmates. Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, had come forward to accuse Judge Kavanaugh. The process descended into a partisan fight, with those of the Republican party leaping to the defense of Judge Kavanaugh, and the Democratic party doing everything to discredit him and support Dr. Ford. Credibility stood at the center of the matter, which person was more credible with their account. This post isn't actually about the confirmation process, but a question that arose from it. This is a question that pertains to women who've been victims of assault. That question was: "Why didn't you report the crime?"

Those that wanted to attack or discredit Dr. Ford's testimony were quick to state well why are you now coming forward? Why didn't you say anything before now? Those that asked those questions seemed to ignore the fact that Dr. Ford had come forward with her accusations against Judge Kavanaugh before he was even the pick for nominee. Also she named him back in 2012 when having couples therapy. But this isn't anything new to victims of sexual assault. Often times they face some form of interrogation and questions to the validity of their claim. I myself have been guilty of the mindset of why didn't the woman say something before, how can you not report when someone assaults you? Like most men it's hard to understand a woman's plight. I'm not alone, most people when putting themselves in another's shoes at times can't empathize. We often go "Well if that was me I would've done it this way" not truly understanding or being able to relate to the situation. It's this attitude that plays into a victim's hesitancy in report.g the crime. I had two conversations that helped my understanding of this matter.

First conversation took place with my wife when watching news coverage on the hearing. I voiced the common question why do women not report assaults? My wife sweetly responded "for the same reason you didn't bring up issues with your manager to HR". You see at my last job I had major issues with my manger. He wasn't professional, there were a ton of issues I had with his management style. Others had recommended I discuss the issue with Human Resources. My hesitancy was rooted in zero faith with the department. I've never felt that in corporate America that the HR department was ever an advocate for the employee much more so for the Company, that is a topic for another day. The point is eventually I did bring up the issues with the HR department and after having a conversation with the HR manager, who's best advice to my problems was to I'll paraphrase "get over it". At one point I was advised told to speak to a therapist in regard to how I should deal with the stress of the job and how to accept the situation. I came away from the experience like what was the point? The manager's conduct remained the same and if anything I felt like there was now a target on my back. This is a feeling that plenty of women understand all too well. This brings me to the second conversation I had, which was with my father. I was talking to him about the conversation I had with my wife and how it made more sense to me why women wouldn't report abuse. For decades women's accusations and reports would fall upon deaf ears. My Dad said that was mainly due to the society the attitude that persisted as he was growing up which was in the sixties and seventies. He could recall often times when women would be chased down the street naked in his neighborhood by their abusive spouses or boyfriends. With people in the neighborhood looking the other way. The culture turned a blind-eye to a woman's plight if one actually did report a crime they were put through the ringer, while the perpetrator would either get a slap on the wrist or face no punishment at all.

The Me Too movement has created a cultural shift within this country. For once women's voices are being heard and taken seriously. Yet even though there appears to be this shift the same issues they faced before are still prevalent. While women may feel better about reporting allegations of abuse they still face demonizing attacks or in-action. Dr. Ford has faced a bevy of attacks due to her report while being ridiculed by the most powerful man in the country. The fact that Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation was barely delayed screamed to the public "What was the point?". Other women witness this and they've been witnessing results like this throughout this country's history. I recall the disappointment I felt when my call to HR resulted in nothing happening, and the paranoia of feeling like at any moment I would feel retribution from my manager. Again this is a feeling that women know all too well and repeatedly they witness how victims are attacked in a multitude of ways and the assaulter typically doesn't face such wrath.

Sadly not enough empathize or relate their situation to these victims. When harassment and assault has been so prevalent for years with the results typically being the same, it almost makes you question why would woman come forward at all? It also makes more sense on why the Me Too movement has been so powerful. It's almost as if the dam of holding back justice for women has burst and a torrent is consuming all in its path. That is a good thing there can be some downside to this sudden rush but again a topic for another day. If you've ever voiced the question "why didn't she report it or say something sooner?". Look through the history of how women have been treated in this country. It's up to us to further shift the attitude and encourage and protect more women to where they can feel like something will be done, and they'll get an answer to their own constant question of "What's the point?".

A New Journey Begins

New Journey Begins

by. William Walker Jr.

September 27th, 2018

For the majority of my life I've always wanted to be a writer. To utilize my creativity in some form or fashion. Whether it be in Junior High and High School writing short stories, poems, and raps in one way or another I would find myself drawn to creating through the written word. However as I entered into adulthood the financial benefit of becoming a writer wasn't at the forefront of my mind. When I first started college I had no clue what my major should even be. I knew I liked to write and be creative, I distinctly recall my father telling me "you should major in journalism". My thought however was a news reporter seeking out some boring or depressing story. Nothing brought me lower as a kid as the news, so the thought of entering that arena did nothing for me. I loved working with computers and I figured computer programmers make money (which they do) so I figured that was the job for me.

What no one tells you is how tedious and at times boring being a computer programmer can be. I was struggling mighty in a Unix class and this was just the bare basics. So I figure change my major someday I'd like to run my own business, so you know let me take business marketing and management that's perfect for me. It was during that time I entered the workforce starting at TCIM services a telemarketing company. For a kid that was used to minimum wage from working at Wendy's this job seemed perfect. It paid well and all I really did was answer the phone and do a few steps here and there. I quickly learned how draining how just sitting there answering the phone can actually be. From there I went into banking working for JPMorgan Chase in their collections department. This was well before every single person had caller ID so the possibility of actually getting someone to answer the phone and speak to you existed. It was becoming quickly evident that the corporate culture wasn't not the best environment  for me.

I also was lacking in my dedication to my school work, fell behind and eventually stopped all together simply working moving from one office job to another. It was reading an article from one of my favorite magazines that I realized the person that wrote this article was a journalist! This wasn't some boring news story this was a thought out creative piece of art. I had fun reading I learned something about a subject I was interested to and the writing was top notch. Why didn't I pursue this. Unfortunately I had felt like the time for me to being a writer or journalist had passed I was just trying to make a living. I was enjoying the job I had as a customer service rep for a chemical company, I enjoyed my co-workers and the pay was good. Then the economic crisis of 2008 hit and for the next 6 years I was moving from one temp job to the next primarily working in an office doing customer service.

We've now have reached 2014 and I take on another new temporary assignment as a claims processor for a company that deals with unclaimed property. A field I didn't even know existed, the pay was great the hours were flexible and to my joy I was actually hired as a permanent employee in May of 2015. For the first time since 2008 I was going to be getting benefits if I took a vacation day I actually would get paid for it. But like the vast majority of the office jobs I've had prior the job itself began to wear on me. The chance for growth with in the company was stagnant the manager I worked for a buffoon with a God complex the worst combination possible. Yet I had fell into this complacency that kept me from doing anything about it. Sometimes you have to be shaken to even move, so in September of 2018 the quake came.

After dealing with the death in my family, and health concerns for my wife I was let go. The initial response was definitely anger, than shock, but next came a strong sense of peace and joy. Happiness in the fact that there were definite elements to this job that I would no longer have to deal with, people who treated me poorly I wouldn't have to converse with and the chance to finally do what I was meant to do. For years and years I ignored my calling to be a writer, so as I sit today and write this I said no more. It was time to invest in myself and believe in my own abilities and do my best to make writing as a career a reality. So marking the date in my calendar September 27, 2018 is the day my New Journey Begins.