chapter 532

8/4/2019

Chef Greg

cooking up a storm

Took a little trip to Tampa to use up some airline miles. We met boyfriend of Colleen's daughter, the executive chef at Pier 22 in Bradenton. He and his partner have created a culinary empire here including catering, special events, a bakery, an ice cream shop, theTwin Dolphin Marina and recently the Grove Restaurant in Lakewood Ranch.

After getting a private tour of the facilities, banquet hall, kitchen, and walk in freezers we chose the Manatee River waterside outdoor patio for lunch. I trusted the chef's choice of Potato Crusted Hog Snapper on rice. Delish.

You can have Elan Musk's Tesla model S all electric 0-60mph in 3 second wondercar after you have busted your fanny for years and years working your way up in the culinary business from nothing, 16 hour days/ months at a time if you are so inclined. Successful people have a driving passion for their job and their lives.

There is a plug in charger at both prime restaurant facilities. As we rode through the busy Florida traffic there wasn't much opportunity however to open it up. Made the mistake of showing him my Tesla, now he wants one.

The following evening we got another grand tour, this time at the Grove Restaurant at nearby Lakewood Ranch. After a full on around the clock construction job they were able to get it up and running about 6 months ago. All the details had to be carefully laid out while wearing his General Manager's hat. This upscale neighborhood welcomed us with a full house on this night.

Chef chose appetizers for us Marinated Mussels, some King Crab concoction, and a bacon thingy with specialty cocktails and smoked bourbon. Rolls from his bakery with honey butter. Colleen and I took the chef's recommendation of Scallops Benedict and Filet Mignon. Best meal of our lives.

When we say executive chef, it doesn't mean cook anymore. He supervises a staff of hundreds making sure things function with the thousands of moving parts if you can imagine. It's massive.

Some remnants after a night of merry making till 2 or 3 am, can't remember- he kept insisting I have another Stella. The Woodstock candle from Candlestock in that village. I had been the winner of a new game concept where each participant would stream a youtube music video to the wall TV. After hours of this, my choice of Bad Romance by Gaga received top honors and everyone voted I should be honored as king of the event and receive a cooked meal of my choice. Sorry Greg, but some of his redneck songs just didn't make the cut.

As punishment he was the chef made a swordfish meal for all of us.

Chef Greg is more or less part of our family already as he and Uncle Greg, we'll call him (on the right Colleen's brother) to differentiate between them. They lit up cuban style cigars to top the evening. I just can't stomach cigars after a bad experience in Montana eons ago.

Continuing the culinary theme, we decided to have lunch at the oldest restaurant in Florida, the Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City. This Spanish/Cuban style restaurant has received numerous national awards. I chose the famous Cuban Sandwich with Gazpacho soup with Sangria followed by Key Lime Pie and and espresso cafe con leche from my Navier Coffee house. All is not as rosy as it appears, however. Yes, the ambience was grade A, but I prefer the Cuban sandwich at our Dinosaur restaurants in NY and the Sangria was pedestrian.

Wanted to hit the La Segunda Bakery from which cuban bread originated but a torrent of rain dissuaded us.

Another bucket list item fulfilled was to feed Flamingos. I had them eating out of my hand at the Sarasota Jungle Gardens. Very cool. Very gentle birds. I'll try to enter this in the Sarasota Herald Tribune photo contest to see if I can win $100.

A quick visit to the number #1 best beach in the US (they say- I guess it's nice), the Siesta Key Beach below Sarasota. Yes, pretty nice white soft sand that is never hot to walk on. Yes pretty emerald water on this Emerald Coast, just not in the mood for a beach when it's hot. Did walk a mile or two just for the exercise. Could not believe there was no beach house, but a crude restroom in which to change.

The famous Ringling Museum was just a joyous hop and skip and a jump away so we toured the thousands of boring paintings and sculptures.

We had a ton of fun. You may think I am over glamorizing, embellishing, or even faking some of these events. That it is all a some superficial trendy way of getting attention. No, all of life has many great sufferings. We don't get through life without being wounded. I'll omit the private details, but I can say that many of the characters in this chapter have faced drama, trauma, life threatening situations and death. Through perseverance they have found light at the end of the tunnel. That is the poignant beauty of this story: below the surface there may be hurt but you savor the good when you have it.

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