The kids who work at the restaurants as wait staff are often more privy than Barbara Jean to this aspect of her husband's personality with the customers. From time to time, however, she ventures out of the kitchen, even though she would probably love nothing better than to remain back there with the food.

Offering new menu choices is always fun for Barbara Jean and Jim, so from time to time they find a dish they would like to try out. That does not mean they prepare less meatloaf and mashed potatoes because that will never change. However, before any new item can be added to the menu permanently, samples are offered to the diners with a request for their feedback.

Not long ago, they were thinking of adding Shrimp Burgers to the standard menu. They had eaten and enjoyed them at an out of town restaurant, but Barbara Jean was convinced she could come up with her own version that would taste even better. She made up a platter of small-sized shrimp burgers and asked Jim to pass them around to the customers waiting in line to be seated. (There is ALWAYS a line of people waiting to get into Barbara Jean's Restaurants.)

"We're thinking of adding this item to our menu," Jim said to the first couple waiting in line. "Would you like to sample it? We'd be very interested in what you think of it."

The couple looked at each other as big grins spread over their faces. Hesitantly, they reached over to help themselves to several of the mini-shrimp burgers Jim proffered.

"You'll be the first ones to try it," Jim said.

The man raised his eyebrows and said, "Guinea pigs, eh?"

"No, no, no, no, no," Barbara Jean's quick-witted husband replied. "Not pigs. It's shrimp! Caught fresh this morning by a little old lady from Ludiwici."