Sorry for the delayed release. We had an online platform turn unresponsive at zero dark thirty this morning.

Back in my newspaper days, the printing press would go down and a team of ink-stained men and women would respond in minutes. You could literally watch them work.

Now?

All I could do was send an email and wait for faraway troubleshooting coders to fix it.

So, onto today's stories:

There are an estimated 44,000 McDonald's franchises on more than 100 countries across the Earth.

And some of the top 1% of all of them? Right down the road, owned by a local couple.

But first?

On January 19, we formally invite you to a very meaningful event: the return of Mindful Spice.

The evening combines two of our favorite, most savored things:

A Spice Trail dinner.

And mindful awareness.

Chef Sujata Singh will serve an introductory four-mini-course offering, with each bite accompanied by a brief mindfulness practice.

We'll practice savoring each bite; so often, I've eaten half my dinner without even being aware of it.

Mindfulness allows us to slow down, experience what's before us, to really savor and taste.

Then, a full dinner: a Spice Trail entree, drink and dessert, enjoyed in the afterglow of mindful awareness and community.

Tickets can be found here. The price includes gratuity and tax.

Last year, the event sold-out.

More good offerings:

Our video from Real Smoke: a Brief History of Barbecue featured a conversation with Chef Erik Niel and Dr. Mark Johnson.

Why barbecue was banned. The role Buc-ee's plays in modern barbecue. Why Chef Erik Niel started Little Coyote. And so much more.

The video's available to watch for all paying members of The Table.

Now, onto the big McD's story.

McDonald's recently released its Fred L. Turner Golden Arch Awards, "the highest recognition for a McDonald's franchisee."

In Nashville, Tony and Gina Wolfe were recognized for their 14 franchises in nine different cities: Spring Hill, Mt. Pleasant, Columbia, Cornersville, Pulaski, Hohenwald, Lawrenceburg, Waynesboro, and Ardmore, AL.

Gina hails from Columbia, Tennessee, where her parents opened the city's first-ever McDonald's.

And Tony?

Signal Mountain.

The Wolfes — the photo comes from their website — have won multiple awards for their McDonald's and philanthropy. Gina credits one thing behind it all.

"Our people," she said on their website. "Our employees."

(There's a marvelous story in The Tennessean.)

Congrats to Tony Wolfe, a homegrown Chattanoogan, for owning and operating some of the finest and high-earning McDonald's restaurants on the planet.

One more good offering?

Three days after the new year, I was walking through the yard, spotted a tell-tale sign, did a double-take and couldn't believe it.

Look what's growing.

Daffodils.

I'd say it's too early, but that's their business and timing, not mine.

I am inspired, though.

And speaking of inspiration, this Sunday, we have someone quite special for you to meet.

The muse.

Also known as: the green fairy.

Story ideas, questions, feedback? Interested in partnering with us? Email: david@foodasaverb.com

This story is 100% human generated; no AI chatbot was used in the creation of this content.

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