By Glenda Cadogan

If you are a child of the 70's you would readily know how to respond if someone told you "Catch you on the flip side," "Keep on trucking" or "Peace, love and granola." Or maybe they asked you emphatically, "Can you dig it?" You may not be too pleased however, if they called you a "jive turkey." But, in this era of iPods and hybrids, say "jive turkey" and it immediately brings a smile to the face whether you are 15 or 50, or from Harlem or Houston. This is the same kind of effect that seems to come over customers as they walk into Jive Turkey Restaurant, a cozy eatery that has added more than flavor to its Brooklyn neighborhood.

Jive Turkey is owned and operated by Aricka Westbrooks, a savvy businesswoman with what the down south folks would call, "a sweet hand" (good cook). Its speciality is whole fried turkey served up with a special blend of spices and available in 15 different flavors. Westbrooks opened the restaurant about four and a half years ago after her cooking was repeatedly endorsed by family members and friends. "I basically started frying turkeys in my backyard for my own enjoyment," she said. "But then family and friends started putting in orders and I realized that I was on to a good thing."

For seven years prior to opening the business, Westbrooks, a native of Chicago , worked in the fashion industry in New York City . Once convinced that she had a great business idea with the potential of being the first of its kind in the city, she took a job in the restaurant industry to gain hands on experience and knowledge."I did that for six months while I conducted researched and looked for funding," she said.

Westbrooks chose her own neighborhood of Fort Greene/Clinton Hill and then the name Jive Turkey came to her like a light of inspiration. "I was comfortable with the name because I know that the expression resonates with everyone, of every age," she said. "In fact, it does bring a smile to the face," she added smiling.

Serving whole turkeys as well as smaller portions, Jive Turkey has built up quite a reputation all over the country after being featured on the Food Network and Eyewitness News. "We ship nationwide and have established a customer base in quite a number of states," she said. "And of course we have our neighborhood customers who are so regular that they are like family." The freshly prepared and packaged meals include Cajun catfish, slow cooked ribs, turkey meatloaf and fried turkey wings.

During the holidays, Jive Turkey "takes it to the max" with specially prepared packages of whole fried turkeys and staples like mashed potatoes, candied yams, green beans and corn bread. The portions are designed to serve 6-10 people. The Thanksgiving holiday, previously one of Westbrooks’ favorite times of the year, is now her busiest. "I used to love Thanksgiving," she said. "But now, it is more than my staff of four can handle and so I fly my mom in from Chicago to help out."

And this is no jive. Church communities looking for a great fundraising idea may want to take a look at a jive turkey. "We offer church organizations an opportunity to partner with us by buying whole fried turkeys or complete meals for resale," Westbrooks said. "With our specially discounted prices on this promotion, church clubs or auxiliaries can save resources, time and money and earn as much a 20% profit margin on each sale." Now that is "Far out!"

For you turkey lovers all over the country, there are numerous ways that you can be part of the Jive Turkey experience. And of course, if ever you are visiting Brooklyn , you can always pop into the Myrtle Avenue eatery and Grab! Gobble! And Go!

Can ya dig it dude? Right on!