Author: Restaurant Gal
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Fields of Grain and Memories
Dining out for this gal, as ridiculous as it may seem, is a literal quagmire of never fully answered questions: Should I eat this? Should I forgo that? Is the chef absolutely sure no flour is in that dish–not even a dusting? Did the server really ask? Do they even believe that my allergy to…
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Working Gal’s Holiday
It’s true, I had to work today, Thanksgiving. It is also true, I felt like I had the day off, for part of the day, anyway. I slept in. I got dressed when I felt like it, and I then went for a long, long run along the sidewalk that stretches forever along the beach.…
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Thanksgiving Wonder
My first call of the morning: “Hi, are you open on Thanksgiving?” “Yes, we are.” “Oh, can I order a cooked turkey–whole please–to pick up, and with all the sides?” You mean, like we are the local grocery store? “No ma’am, we don’t provide that kind of service on Thanksgiving, but I am sure Whole…
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Psychic Fear
Hope is the go-to charm, the point of it all, the reason to get up and do it all again. Hope, however, in reality, can be fleeting. It often caves in to fear. Fear, on the other hand, is a powerful force. It sticks around, even when you are ready to shove it very far…
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South Floridians–The Weather is PERFECT
South Florida readers, don’t hate me for this, but I have to enlighten you on one thing, and it is not about clothing styles, because I am kind of loving the freedom to wear whatever I please down here. No, I want to counsel you, instead, on this whole “I would love to live where…
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Manager Gal, Sort Of
Suddenly, I find myself working Monday through Friday, 10 to 5 or 6 or 7 p.m. I should be thrilled, right? This is every restaurant worker’s dream job, hours-wise. Ex-Restaurant Manger, please, close your eyes and ears to this post from this point on! Shhh. Don’t tell my GM. Don’t tell anyone. Everyone will think…
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You Gotta Try…
“RG, are those your friends sitting on 72?” asked one of the servers. “Yep, in from Philly for the weekend,” I said, shoving menus into the slots behind the podium. We have hired two hosts, and my multiple weekly doubles are numbered, but not quite over. “Are you getting off early to be with them?”…
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One Potato, Two Potato
This could have been the post about the lunch shift from hell–the shift when a loaded tray of beverages gets dumped on the most easy-going of our regulars, who tells you and everyone that he is fine and almost jokes about it, then cancels his large dinner “because of the incident.” This could have been…
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Florida Resident Perks
With a discounted annual pass in my wallet, a wad of cash from tips, and my first two full days off in a while, I decided to take myself to the “happiest place on earth.” You know, to be happy. Mostly, I ate, because as those who know me know, I am a grazing fool…
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Why, RG, Why?
“I don’t get why you are doing this.” “Of all the other jobs you could have taken, with your writing and editing skills, why a restaurant job?” “…it’s time for you to stop thinking about yourself, get off your ass, and redirect your focus.” Welcome to the whacky world of RG comments and email: the…