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Four Seasons Beaumont Breeze November 2023

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FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | NOVEMBER 2023 13 When the pandemic hit, thousands of restaurants closed in California including Michael "Mike" Miller's Woody's 1950s-style Grill in Grand Terrace. But Mike didn't let that stop him from feeding people who were hungry. "I hated letting my employees go, but we were closed to the public during that time," said Mike. He did however feel a calling to feed the homeless. He began with 30 people, and it grew to more than 100. Even though the pandemic is over, he still feeds about 30 needy people at his Woody's location. Mike has the Four Seasons Bistro contract and provides a large menu at The Lodge seven days a week. He said that things are going well, especially during the special-activities meals, but he would like to reach out to the rest of the community. "We have about 400 regular guests, but we would like to add more from the approximately 3,000 people who live here," he said. He is a native Californian who grew up traveling in a Marine family. He began his career in food service and has done all the jobs from dishwasher to owner. His biggest learning experience was with the three-year Black Angus training program. Mike is quite philanthropic, and donates to several charities including Carol's Kitchen with which he hopes to become more involved since they also feed the homeless. "I am blessed with a great staff," he said and feels that three locations are enough at present. He also owns Pizza Q in Colton. "It's a tough business," he said, and he keeps quite busy running all three. If Joslyn Elsass were asked, "How many people are there in your family?" she would probably answer, "Dozens." Joslyn, manager of the Four Seasons Bistro, loves her job managing and waitressing. "I honestly feel that you (her customers) are all part of my family," she said while taking a few minutes from her very busy morning's jobs. She arranges schedules, replaces people who are sick, does some ordering and generally oversees the running of The Bistro. She is often seen zipping from place to place in The Bistro in her familiar khaki jeans with her blond hair pulled up in accordance with the Board of Health rules. Her colorful tattooed arms are the product of her upbringing. "My mom has the same tattoo on her chest that I do," she said. She watched horror movies in her youth and has several immortalized on her body. She is a "horse person" and has spent hours riding her horse at dawn through some of the beautiful canyons in the area. At present, her horse was moved to Arizona with her grandma and she only gets to ride occasionally. She would like to go back to college with hopes of a career in forensics. For now, she is very happy with her great job and big Bistro family. ~ Andrea Henderson At Your Service Spotlight on e Bistro's Mike Miller and Joslyn Elsass Mike Miller, Owner at The Bistro Joslyn Elsass, Manager

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