4 Life Lessons from Behind the Bar
No, not namby-pamby lessons like the importance of teamwork or communication. I mean, I did learn those things during my years as a server and bartender, but I’m talking actual life lessons here. These are hard-earned, sometimes painful truths gleaned from deep within the bowels of this wild industry. The kind you remember after the tears have dried and you’ve moved on to a completely different stage of life. I haven’t stepped behind the bar in about six years, but there are some lessons you just don’t forget. 1. It’s okay to ask for help The hardest shift I ever worked was an AM shift at a neighborhood bar in…
Restaurants: A Love Letter
Restaurants, I miss you. I miss the anticipation of a night out. Putting on real clothes instead of my “daytime pajamas.” Swiping on some lipstick and mascara. Looking through my jewelry to pick the right earrings, even though I almost always settle on the same pair. I miss cocktail menus, full of delicious elixirs I could make myself, but won’t. At home, it’s always red wine, bourbon on the rocks, dirty martinis, or White Claws (pink grapefruit only!). But at a restaurant, it could be a frosé, icy and refreshing. Or an Old Fashioned with fancy bitters and rich syrupy Luxardo cherries. Or something herbal with an infused simple syrup…
What Will Make Restaurant Guests Feel Safe During COVID-19?
About two weeks ago, my husband and I went out to lunch. It was only the second time we’d gone out for a meal since March. We chose a local restaurant that we like with plenty of outdoor seating, so it felt like a pretty safe option. When we went to the bar to place our order, the bartender was serving another customer. She took the customer’s card, swiped it on the POS, and returned it. She then rang in our orders and ran our credit card, before getting our drinks. I ordered an iced tea, and the bartender used her (unwashed) hand to add a lemon. She also passed…
