Major Misanthropy

Would be my name if I were in the military or could describe my state of mind this mid-August. Not long after I posted how great this summer was going and how the annoying people were noticeably absent, they started to appear. The GM had to throw someone out of the restaurant, I had a confrontation with a customer over seating, and we're not alone. The GM had a conversation with a shopkeeper who told her everyone has the same complaint. I keep telling myself I am as happy as I decide I am.

It doesn't help that I have the flu at the moment. This is quite bizarre as I never get sick. I left work early Monday which I haven't done due to illness for more than 7 years. It's been lingering for a few days which is also bizarre. On the extreme rare occasions I do succumb, it's over in a day.

Fortunately there are a couple of bright spots. We were scheduled to get a pig delivery today, but that has been pushed back to Friday. So, I'll a chance to recover, have a day off with the GM, who poor thing, worked 12 days in a row while I was gallivanting at the BBQ and enjoying rock and roll. Thank you sweetie.

I love working with the pig. I'll try to document the process for any who would like to see it. In a couple weeks, we'll have fresh ham, coppa di testa, crispy trotters, rillettes and other goodies. I'd still like to get a place for hanging long-term cured hams but I haven't found a good solution yet. I will make some more soppressata although it took forever to sell last batch. Perhaps I won't make quite as much.

Another bright light is that a former cook who moved away is returning to the area and I hope will be coming back to work for us. He has a gentle disposition and is a thoughtful, attentive cook, the only one I've had in recent memory who participates in menu development and who actually reads cookbooks and magazines. I left a message for him yesterday. One of our waiters saw his wife at the pizza place across the street, so she's in town but I don't know if he is.

He had moved away because his girlfriend (now wife) was going to go to nursing school. She didn't get accepted to the program and changed her plans. She is from here, her sister and husband live here as well so my sense is they will be putting down roots here. I sure hope so. In fact I'm going to go call him now.

Comments

[Dr. Biggles]

Document the piggy!
Or can you get a web cam up so we can see everything blow by blow?

Biggles

[Kudzu]

Dear Major: Glad to hear the news about the cook. That will lighten your spirit, I'm sure, if not cure your misanthropy.

Pig news is always exciting. Please do document, but don't expect me to watch the grisly parts (or eat the gristly parts).

Hope the gm is taking some well deserved rest.