Restaurant Envy

I’ve been having restaurant envy for about a year and I haven’t decided what to do about it.  I’m not romanticizing it; I waited tables for a byob trattoria for years and at other places in grad school in the late ’90s. I realize it’s tough work.  At the time, I was just doing it to earn money at to learn a little something, rather than waiting tables as a springboard for something else in the business.

Now, I’d love to go back to learn more and to satiate this craving for a kitchen, the buzz of the night’s rush, late hours (as opposed to my 5:30am wakeup call), people watching, and learning about food and wine every day.  As much as I enjoy home cooking, reading and interviewing people about food and restaurants, I sometimes feel the equivalent of attempting to learn to ski from reading books and by watching people do it on tv.  I need more experience. 

Aside from eating out, reading blogs like Charleston’s McCrady’s from the people behind the scenes definitely fuels my restaurant envy.  Though there are some entries I’m not crazy about — the reconstructed butternut squash and the lack of romance that is the sous vide machine–I love so many of the photos– the barrels of liquor, truffles, bacon delivery, kobe beef (first shipment of the real thing?), big fish, and of course, drumstick girl.

I have a soft spot for McCrady’s since it reminds me of sitting at the bar for a drink with my parents in high school when we’d go down to visit.  Once, when I was there with an acquaintence, we were making our way through the narrow brick alley walk and were stopped behind a wedding reception receiving line.  Someone grabbed us, shoved rice in our hands, and swept us up for the rest of the night. Considering that we were underdressed and didn’t know anyone, we had a great time partying with a bunch of people who literally pulled us off the street. But really, half the fun was the food and McCrady’s.