My love for hospitality began when I was ten years old and a giant ornate bar was delivered to our dining room complete with a crystal whiskey decanter and a set of brandy sniffers. I don’t think we had ever owned anything quite so nice and I was completely awestruck at the possibilities. My sister and I bartended for hours on end, with the likes of chocolate milk, apple juice, sweet tea, and some fancy swizzle sticks. Sometimes we would dress up in our snazziest clothes and pretend to be the patrons, holding our pinkies out just so while we sipped on beverages from dainty glasses. Apparently, this was an eat-in bar establishment because my favorite part was to set the tables and take the faux orders of a host of make believe (and very demanding) restaurant goers. I hustled. I was in it to win it. I took CARE of my customers. I hired my sister off and on but I didn’t hesitate to fire her if her enthusiasm waned. Now I’d give anything to work beside her everyday. She’d keep me organized and she’d make me laugh all day. Alas, I didn’t know how good I had it.
(Go ahead and take a minute with this photo. There’s a lot to study here.)
I perfected the art of running the home restaurant over the next few years until it all came crumbling down in 1983. [Read more…] about The 3 Secrets to Radical Hospitality