Eating out last night was an awakening within my soul. I felt something wake up, I took bites of food that made me smile, I heard conversations of joy and remembrance of how good things can be. It was a jovial atmosphere, a celebration of life, and a sign of good things to come in the future.
Not many settings can evoke such emotions. Restaurants can. It's time we recognize how special these environments are, and how you need to be supporting them. There's something about this art, this craft, and this passion, that just doesn't translate to everyone eating it. There's diners that sit and eat, get up, and leave. My dad for example is one that does this. Perfectly fine, they pay, they don't usually say a word about the food and they support the restaurant industry. The artistry doesn't usually connect to this type of diner. Maybe we should open the scope to everyone and tell them what exactly is happening in the bowl of food.
I wish everyone could sit down at a table in a restaurant and realize why that cheeseburger costs 20 dollars. It's truly sacrifice and love that you pay 20 dollars for. I'm talking artisanal cheeseburger now, not the double quarter pounder.
But, I don't want to harp on why things are expensive or not, I just want people to realize why they should appreciate these dining institutions. Isn't it everyone's dream to really escape reality once in a while and meld into something that just takes their breath away and transports them to another space. I took a bite of a cheeseburger last night and was transported into a movie theater when I was six years old watching something exciting and eating nachos that I never got to eat. I took a bite of a salad and it transported me to the first ever chef I had handing me a preserved lemon for the first time. I smelled the air of fermenting grapes and it was an instant flashback to preschool opening up a small box of sun maid raisins. Restaurant's have a powerful ability and sometimes responsibility to transport people out of the ridiculous world that we live in sometimes. We as the hospitality industry come into work everyday and try to give people a sense of wonder, a Willy Wonka effect, and evocation of excitement. When I think of food I try to blow my own mind and then try to think if anyone else gets my sense of illusion. Sometimes I feel crazy when I say this dish smells like watching Toy Story at my babysitters house. I want people to really sit down the next time you're at a restaurant and be transported. Release all of your troubles, let the staff take care of you, enjoy yourself and respect the time that it takes to come up with whatever you're eating. Stop comparing a 4 dollar quarter pounder from McDonalds, an international superpower, to a small business trying to survive without any help from anyone by selling their 20$ burger that can give you that wonderment you didn't know you needed.
I love this industry and we need help. Come and eat, let us serve you, let us transport you, and let us make you forget everything else. Go out and eat tonight, buy some takeout, for my upstate New York friends who need somewhere to eat tonight. Go to DP's in Albany, Slidin Dirty in Troy, pick up some bread from Bella Napolli, go to the farmer's market, everyone needs help in this industry.
* And a special shoutout to The Restaurant at Meadowood, and The Charter Oak for delivering meals that make me feel like I can be transported to any place and time in my life. You have a special gift of nostalgic dining that I truly appreciate and I am very lucky to have dined at Meadowood, one of the greatest restaurants in the world that unfortunately burned down a week ago. I know the team will bounce back and deliver an emotionally intense, extraordinary dining experience, but for now my heart hurts for you.
コメント