Isn'tit amazing that everyday is a new day?
A new day to be better than the day before. Thank goodness, too, because sometimes we need it more than others.
Today is that day for me. Not to say that I didn't like yesterday, it was just one of those days.
(You know those days, when it seems like the planets align to allow for all sorts of mishaps.)
I honestly, truly appreciate the challenging days; the days with real life examples of how we could always be improving.
And here we are, with a brand new day to put these very lessons to work. Being stronger, better, faster.
For me, it's to offer the best of myself to my staff and to my guests. To see all of us provide our best hospitality, our best service, our best dishes, to offer the best of ourselves to each other. So, when those challenging days arrive, and arrive they will, we'll be ready. Hey, they might even be fun. Because- we got this. Because we've seen it, been there, done that.
Someone set their menu on fire? Pleeease, I got this. One of our servers went into labor and half our scheduled staff are the aunts?! We've got that too! When every table seems to have some new and exciting allergy? It's our pleasure to make it work!
I don't know if this is even a half glass full approach because I don't even see it that way. When a day isn't perfect I learn from it, we learn from it. And we are given today. My glass isn't just half full, it runneth over!
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Thursday, March 24, 2011
TLC for LLK
So. We painted! It's amazing what a difference it is. Even though the colors are exactly the same...still! It feels fresh and clean and bright! We'll also be sprucing up the outside facade as well as some rickety tables, redoing the fabric on our bar stools, etc etc. It may seem small but these tasks have been on my post it note to do lists forEVER. You all must know how that feels. All these little things that add up into piles and piles of to do's. After awhile it becomes something more of a wish list than a task list. You find yourself saying things like..."if I won the lottery, I'd get table 11 fixed!" instead of, oh, I don't know, getting your pilots license, a private jet, and flying around the world.
But then spring rolls around, the days seem longer, the lists get shorter, and you are just one more step closer to accomplishing something, anything! which is refreshing after the north fork winters.
We've also successfully followed through with our staff development program and hosted classes such as our intro to wine class, love lane cocktail class, service and hospitality class AND even had an Advanced wine class. (Thanks again, Kareem! You totally rock!) The advanced wine class was a huge hit. With a tour at Paumanok Vineyards of the vineyard, tank room, a glance at the cellar and bottling line, the world of wine starts to look a little less mysterious and a lot more interesting once you start peeling back the layers. And Kareems passion and knowledge translates in every explanation, in every question he answers. And, lucky for us, to the wine he makes. It's hard not to recognize the incredible attention to every last detail and consideration happening at Paumanok. Hanging out there with the staff only confirms that for some people wine is life. It also happens to be really fun to drink. With friends. And food. Ok, I'll get carried away here if I don't stop...
There is just something about getting it done that really feels good. A little TLC for the LLK goes a long way, and look at that, it even makes me feel a little brighter, too...One post it note at a time!
But then spring rolls around, the days seem longer, the lists get shorter, and you are just one more step closer to accomplishing something, anything! which is refreshing after the north fork winters.
We've also successfully followed through with our staff development program and hosted classes such as our intro to wine class, love lane cocktail class, service and hospitality class AND even had an Advanced wine class. (Thanks again, Kareem! You totally rock!) The advanced wine class was a huge hit. With a tour at Paumanok Vineyards of the vineyard, tank room, a glance at the cellar and bottling line, the world of wine starts to look a little less mysterious and a lot more interesting once you start peeling back the layers. And Kareems passion and knowledge translates in every explanation, in every question he answers. And, lucky for us, to the wine he makes. It's hard not to recognize the incredible attention to every last detail and consideration happening at Paumanok. Hanging out there with the staff only confirms that for some people wine is life. It also happens to be really fun to drink. With friends. And food. Ok, I'll get carried away here if I don't stop...
There is just something about getting it done that really feels good. A little TLC for the LLK goes a long way, and look at that, it even makes me feel a little brighter, too...One post it note at a time!
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
For the Love of the Game
Sometimes you have to be your own biggest fan. When there's no one else to help you up, dust you off, and tell you good game, you have to do it yourself. Or sometimes that's how it seems.
So here I am reminding myself of why I am here in the first place. Because sometimes the hardest part about having a goal, is remembering it.
Eat, drink, travel, write and get paid for it. Once I realized that everything in my life pointed to this very destiny, I knew, I just KNEW I was destined to do anything and everything that had to do with eating, drinking, traveling, and if I had time...writing.
So picture this...I'm in a small town in a small restaurant at a small table on a small island in Greece with a small group of people. One of them being my best friend but the others are a very odd, very eclectic mix of people who don't necessarily follow the same rules or believe the same beliefs or hell, I don't even think we all spoke the same language. But there we were. Sharing a meal. Drinking some local wine. And cheersing for today. Because at that moment, it didn't matter where we came from, what we believed in or what language we spoke. Because food (and wine) is a universal language. And it almost always translates.
And that's it. Sometimes that's all it takes to remind me that it's not about where you are or where your going but who's plate your eating off of! As I watch this restaurant work, with the love and the pride that goes into every dish and every pour, it's then that it all makes sense for me to be right here, right now, managing Love Lane Kitchen. While it's not always easy, it's always worth it. And I feel thankful. And I realize it's not about being dusted off or told good job, but to be here for the love of the game.
And then all of a sudden there they are, the people around me, who were there all along just waiting to tell me, "thanks." Whether it's a customer, or a staff member, or even, yes, believe it, my boss- Someone, somewhere had a "Thank You" when I was least expecting it.
That's when it becomes clear that's it all a matter of awareness, of attitude and most of all, of gratitude.
So here I am reminding myself of why I am here in the first place. Because sometimes the hardest part about having a goal, is remembering it.
Eat, drink, travel, write and get paid for it. Once I realized that everything in my life pointed to this very destiny, I knew, I just KNEW I was destined to do anything and everything that had to do with eating, drinking, traveling, and if I had time...writing.
So picture this...I'm in a small town in a small restaurant at a small table on a small island in Greece with a small group of people. One of them being my best friend but the others are a very odd, very eclectic mix of people who don't necessarily follow the same rules or believe the same beliefs or hell, I don't even think we all spoke the same language. But there we were. Sharing a meal. Drinking some local wine. And cheersing for today. Because at that moment, it didn't matter where we came from, what we believed in or what language we spoke. Because food (and wine) is a universal language. And it almost always translates.
And that's it. Sometimes that's all it takes to remind me that it's not about where you are or where your going but who's plate your eating off of! As I watch this restaurant work, with the love and the pride that goes into every dish and every pour, it's then that it all makes sense for me to be right here, right now, managing Love Lane Kitchen. While it's not always easy, it's always worth it. And I feel thankful. And I realize it's not about being dusted off or told good job, but to be here for the love of the game.
And then all of a sudden there they are, the people around me, who were there all along just waiting to tell me, "thanks." Whether it's a customer, or a staff member, or even, yes, believe it, my boss- Someone, somewhere had a "Thank You" when I was least expecting it.
That's when it becomes clear that's it all a matter of awareness, of attitude and most of all, of gratitude.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Lost Love
Do I really need to start this off with "I know it's been awhile but (insert lame excuses here)"
Now that that's out of the way...I'm happy and sad all at the same time to say that the restaurant I blogged about months ago (nine to be exact but who's counting) is, well, to say its not the same would be an understatement. To say I am not entirely happy about the changes would be a lie, but let's face it, change sometimes sucks.
Only because you get cozy and comfy and wrapped up in your little world that goes around and around smoothly, seamlessly. Unfortunately, that also means your not necessarily growing or coming or going. And while you may be doing your best on this lovely, joyous little merry go round, eventually, something has to give. Because really, although that path is pretty, it is after all, a path. To somewhere. Right?
So, while I'm still very much on mine, so are all my fellow (and former) co-workers. Miss Jennilee Morris has accomplished maybe one of her biggest goals she has set for herself yet...maybe. She's got some pretty bad ass goals. This past November she became the new owner of Country Corner Cafe. Her own place. Kind of like Oprah having her own network. It's that big. And awesome. I can fill an entire blog about how proud and happy I am for Jenni. Maybe I will... And once that gets cozy and comfy they'll be even bigger things. Always. And she's taking Kim with her. Punks.
Chef Ben decided to sail away to the USVIs but was ultimately grounded due to complications of a previous matter. That sounded good right? Anyway, he never went. And since he already had his mind wrapped around leaving, he did. You can find him at Bahia, where the hot sauce is hot and the cheese is melty and gooey.
Cory moved to Florida to be closer to family. He's probably fishing right now, or playing video games. Or playing a fishing video game.
So, while moving is sometimes moving up, moving over, or moving on, it almost always leaves those in the original place feeling a little nostalgic for what was. For me, it's the ease of working with my friends who made work fun, who encouraged me to do my best (and who was there for me with a beer or 6 when you need it). And who happen to all be an awesome team of managers and chefs.
Now that that's out of the way...I'm happy and sad all at the same time to say that the restaurant I blogged about months ago (nine to be exact but who's counting) is, well, to say its not the same would be an understatement. To say I am not entirely happy about the changes would be a lie, but let's face it, change sometimes sucks.
Only because you get cozy and comfy and wrapped up in your little world that goes around and around smoothly, seamlessly. Unfortunately, that also means your not necessarily growing or coming or going. And while you may be doing your best on this lovely, joyous little merry go round, eventually, something has to give. Because really, although that path is pretty, it is after all, a path. To somewhere. Right?
So, while I'm still very much on mine, so are all my fellow (and former) co-workers. Miss Jennilee Morris has accomplished maybe one of her biggest goals she has set for herself yet...maybe. She's got some pretty bad ass goals. This past November she became the new owner of Country Corner Cafe. Her own place. Kind of like Oprah having her own network. It's that big. And awesome. I can fill an entire blog about how proud and happy I am for Jenni. Maybe I will... And once that gets cozy and comfy they'll be even bigger things. Always. And she's taking Kim with her. Punks.
Chef Ben decided to sail away to the USVIs but was ultimately grounded due to complications of a previous matter. That sounded good right? Anyway, he never went. And since he already had his mind wrapped around leaving, he did. You can find him at Bahia, where the hot sauce is hot and the cheese is melty and gooey.
Cory moved to Florida to be closer to family. He's probably fishing right now, or playing video games. Or playing a fishing video game.
So, while moving is sometimes moving up, moving over, or moving on, it almost always leaves those in the original place feeling a little nostalgic for what was. For me, it's the ease of working with my friends who made work fun, who encouraged me to do my best (and who was there for me with a beer or 6 when you need it). And who happen to all be an awesome team of managers and chefs.
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