I have been mostly working lunches at Taste these days
during the Gauguin exhibit. To be
expected, I’ve overheard a few stories and been a part of a few memorable
ones. So far some of the things that
will stick with me from these walls include:
Table 31. A two top,
one elderly woman and man. They paid
separately and she stayed a little longer than he did. As I was checking back on her to refill her
coffee she inquired if I was single or dating or married. I let her know that I was single and taking
applications. She told me the man she was with is her ex and what a pain the
ass he is. She encouraged me to take my
time and really know what I was getting into.
I thanked her for the advice, it certainly made me smile.
Table 32. Three
generations of women sit down in my section and the hostess has already rolled
her eyes at their commentary as she seats them and gives me a “good luck” as I
approach. I try to ignore those comments
and form my own thoughts. Seated is the
granddaughter, her mother (I come to find out is born and raised in NYC) and
her mother born in Ireland. They fussed
over trying to understand the menu and picking out something they might enjoy. They weren’t mean, maybe a touch snarky but
pretty funny and certainly direct. I
just kept my cool, smiling and explaining the menu and coming back to check on
them. They liked me. I liked them.
The daughter explained that despite her mother’s tough exterior, she’s a
softy at heart. We joked, the
grandmother told me a few stories and her daughter often interrupted. The granddaughter looked on with mild
curiosity. In the end, the daughter
expressed that she just wished people were okay being direct, happy, sad,
pissed off, whatever they needed to be and that others wouldn’t be so caught up
in it. Everything passes she says and if
people weren’t so worried about having to be “this or that”, I think we’d all
get along just fine. I can’t argue. I happen to like knowing where I stand with
people, where ever that might be.
My time is limited in this restaurant due to the show
wrapping up at the end of April and I’m looking for the next learning
opportunity. I am thinking of another restaurant or a beer
focus, any ideas?