From the age of 16 until about a year and a half ago, I worked either full time or part time in the restaurant industry. I took a sabbatical from the profession since I had a full time job and a second full time job as a dad since 2011. Nonetheless, tonight was always a night of greatness in my restaurant recollection.

Pies. Lots of pies. 

The smell of turkey roasting in the oven in the restaurant kitchen. 

Setting tables up for reservations.. Making certain enough seating was available..

The magical ‘setup’ hours were fun times, in my memory.

Not like Mother’s Day. I despised worked Mother’s Day for a number of reasons—not because I hate Mother’s Day itself but more because I can’t stand the notion that so many kids see their moms once a year and their choice on that productive day is to take Mother to a busy restaurant with bad service and cold food. How lame.

But Thanksgiving? I always loved waiting tables on Thanksgiving. There was something fun about it.. something ‘holidayish’.. 

I am jealous of those who get to smell the wafting aroma of pies in restaurant kitchens across the United States tonight.

Panera cares.. but to what end? Panera Bread is expanding restaurants that allow people to pay what they can afford.. Some now complain that the pay what you want style restaurants are bringing in less than desirable people..

Panera cares.. but to what end? Panera Bread is expanding restaurants that allow people to pay what they can afford.. Some now complain that the pay what you want style restaurants are bringing in less than desirable people..

You might be a smoker if...

You’re a miner, construction worker, or…that’s right, a food handler. 


This comes from an official government study.. A study I doubt few needed to predict the trades where smoking happened most.

Olive Garden intoxication

Just when you thought only Applebees was capable of serving children alcohol, here comes Olive Garden:

Olive Garden restaurants are making changes after a toddler was served alcoholic sangria instead of orange juice at a Florida location.

Eatin' good in the neighborhood.. but maybe not for kids

There was some news lately about an Applebees making a pretty big mistake: They served alcohol to an underage kid .. How young? A toddler! They gave liquor to a child, mistaking a margariti for juice.. And now the staff is going to be trained all over again.. According to a report on Reuters tonight: The company that owns the Applebee’s restaurant chain said on Monday it was immediately retraining its workers nationwide after a server at a suburban Detroit location accidentally served alcohol to a toddler..