April 12, 2007

We are here and we are ready for the convention. So far, we tried to eat at the restaurant downstairs, no go. Bring sandwiches kids or do as we are doing and order their room service. We waited and watched as 6 tables were seated and then orders taken as we just sat there. (It was like we had an invisible shield. No one even made eye contact.) I had to beg the busboy for water and for bread. Finally got that. (Good thing I speaked Spanish.) Gracias Antonio.

At least they thanked us for eating there. I guess our waiter was slow or something and prone to mistakes. But he did take orders from two parties in our section. We barely got the water. Bad.

I said thanks for the water and bread. Look. I’m a Chef. I know running a restaurant is hard. But I think that I could have put those milling people (I counted 9) to work. (Why have five people seating if your waiters can’t handle the crowd.?) You know I could have. This should be the gold standard of service. I don’t think they’ll even make bronze. Maybe nickle. Nah. Pewter? Nope. I was itching to get in there and straighten them out. I would have employed runners and waiters that can see and told the seating ladies to get the water for the people they were seating. I would also make sure that when a customer complains, even as nicely as I did, to the busboy that they report it.

Oh, one more big boo hoo. They got rid of the coffee house that was here. Boo hoo. Kim will go crazy without her latte in the morning.

Other than that, we’re just having a blast. Happy to be in Chicago. Nice room, though you know I am partial to our rooms. Nice view of the airport and grounds, though, what can I say?

It’ll be a great convention. Though to tell the truth, I miss the Four Seasons in Huston. Boo hoo.