YJ’s On the Food Network
By JASON HARPER
Popular Crossroads eatery YJ’s Snack Bar is going to be featured on national television. A two-man camera crew from the Food Network (neither of whom was bottle-blondie Guy Fieri) filmed the YJ’s lunch rush and interviewed customers Thursday at lunchtime for an upcoming episode of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives . Actually, to say that they interviewed customers is a bit of a stretch — like TV lawyers, they pretty much just told people what to say. Except for YJ’s owner David Ford, that is, who, as usual, said whatever the hell he wanted.
During the shoot, I happened to walk in the middle of it with Calendar Editor and Buckle Bunny columnist Crystal K. Wiebe. Somehow, we didn’t notice the big sign out front warning patrons about the video, spotlight and the risk of getting caught chewing with our mouths open on camera. After we placed our orders, videographers instructed us to order again for the camera — but to order different menu items. Then, after the food arrived, the filmmakers zeroed in on my co-worker. Because she loves YJ’s, Wiebe agreed to talk about how the menu is “international.” In the middle of her coached spiel, the guy with the camera interrupted the filming to tell her that her nose was “glistening.” After wiping it, she decided that she never would have made it as a TV journalist.
Meanwhile, I secretly coveted the attention the Food Network interviewers were lavishing upon my young and attractive co-worker. (Coincidentally, my nose always glistens red because I drink too much.) Apparently that I-slept-on-the-floor-last-night-with-my-head-next-to-or-in-the-dog-bowl look just ain’t good enough for them cable TV people. I waited until the camera crew left, then wolfed down a BLT, silently contemplating a career in Russian public-access television.
No word yet on when the episode featuring YJ’s will air, but apparently this was the TV peeps’ second visit to the shop; they had returned today for a few extra shots to add to the final edit. In the meantime, visit YJ’s for the finest of divey Crossroads foodstuffs and coffee.
(Oh, I should mention that Crystal actually wrote half of this thing. Did I mention I drink too much?)
