Dustin
Thomasville is lucky enough to be called your home…how did you get here?
The sea was angry that day in the winter of 1986. The year was new and fresh, as the air during the winter months of South GA. Spring was months off and the cold was just setting in. The Maeno Family had recently celebrated Christmas and New Year. The 16th day of January, on the fourteenth hour, a pudgy bundle of flesh was born in Valdosta, an hour away from the family farm in Barwick. Almost ten pounds and with large feet, I was out of the womb and sticky. Dustin Taro Maeno has always lived near the Barwick/Thomasville area. My dad, Hiroshi, moved to the States in his twenties and partied his way down to South GA. He met my mom, Kay, at college and the rest is, as they say, “history.” We are the only part of my Dad’s family in the States. My mother’s family lives mostly within ten miles of our homestead in the 735 (Barwick).
Tell us about your name. Does it have any significance?
Dustin Taro Maeno. Maeno is an old Japanese name. I have researched it but not found out a decipherable meaning behind it. Dustin is an old Norse derived name. It means, “Loyal Father and Valient Fighter.” These are things I hope to be. Taro is short for Mitsutaro, which was my dad’s father’s name.
You’ve been given access to a time machine. Where would you travel and what Grassroots drink would you take for the warp?
The time machine would have to be a 1984 DeLorean DMC-12. I’d head to November 5th, 1955. That’s a Back to the Future reference. In all realness, I’d head to the Edo period of Japan and walk the streets of Feudal Japan during March. I would love to see the streets as they once were and experience the Peach Festival and see the cherry blossoms. Or I’d like to visit my deceased Grandfather for tea. Since it’s summer now, I’d take a nice 20oz Fruit Fusion Iced tea.
What thought or message would you want to put in a fortune cookie?
Life is like a baby, time to head out.
What is your favorite Grassroots drink to make and why?
I love to make cappuccinos. It is quite a feat to make the perfect foam for these drinks. It has to be almost the consistency of meringue. I’ve been making Caps for over five years and sometimes I still have to re make foam, because it isn’t perfect. It’s something that keeps me on my toes, is fun to make, and so tasty.
If you had to describe yourself using three words, they would be…
Foreign Romantic Comedy
Paper or plastic?
Paper always! It feels more classy.
Name 3 things that are always in your purse or pocket
Razor knife, chapstick, wallet… I know I’m boring. I could lie and say a gun, bubblegum, and the farmer’s almanac.
Tell us something funny and/or interesting that happened during a shift at Grassroots
Each and every shift at Grassroots has at least one point of humor. That’s because our crew is so much fun. One moment does stick out in my memory. We seem to always be trying to scare one another. One morning, Daniel (a.k.a. Dirty D) had come in at 5:30 to bake. I was rolling in around six, that morning, to open the register. I walk into the shop and can’t find Dirty D. I looked in the office, the prep room, and outside. I had no idea where he was. I was walking over to the register to clock in, when I hear someone giggling. Dirty D has a very recognizable laugh. It was coming from the storage shelf/ Crawl Space under the register. Daniel had wedged himself down there to scare me, but ended up giving himself away by laughing. It was pretty awesome dedication, because he is a tall guy and that was a small space.
Everyone has pet peeves. Name one of yours.
I hate it when people don’t use their blinkers, while driving. I hate people being late without a justifiable reason. It’s rude.
If you could trade places, for the day, with another barista in the coffee shop, who would it be? Why?
I’d have to trade with Heath. I mean, come on, who wouldn’t want triceps that big, even if just for a day! haha
Besides hanging out at grassroots, what else do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I’m a sucker for a good or horrible movie. I love to read and write. When it’s cool, you’ll find me and friends camping. My schedule is pretty crazy, so I don’t get to see my girl, Kristen, as much as I’d like. So I see her as much as I can in my spare time.
If you were stranded on a deserted island and could only eat 1 thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?
I’d have to say either Miso Soup and steamed rice with Tonkatsu (panko breaded Japanese Style pock cutlet) or the Biggest bags of Doritos they make. Cause I could fashion a huge raft out of hundreds of unopened Doritos bags! That’s cheating though…
What animal best describes you?
Kopi Luwak Civet, Paradoxurus hermaphroditus. These are the civets/cats that live in Indonesia and eat coffee berries. Their digestive tracts change the flavor of the coffee beans. It is said to be the BEST coffee in the world. I’d like to be responsible for that…
What do you want to be when you grow up?
I’m not sure I ever want to grow up. I think I’m having too much fun. I’d like to make movies that people want to see. I’d like to be a good husband and a great father. I’d like to be kind. I’d also like to have a wicked old man’s asian-y wispy beard, when I get older.
