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So this is my first blog post, which sounds like it might be the "dark and stormy night" of the blogosphere, but whatevs. For those of you who do not know, I have moved to Rome (Italy, not Georgia) for the next few months. On Monday I begin a 3 month pastry course at the Italian Chef Academy. After I complete my studies of custards, cakes, cookies, and cupcakes, I will go to Naples (Italy, not Florida) for a month to study Neapolitan pizza. And yes, there will be restaurant openings at The Beaches.

During the early part of the pandemic, there was a bit of a coup at Cruisers Grill. My entire staff sat me down to tell me that they love working at Cruisers, they love what I built for them and the community, and most days they love me. The members of my staff did not feel however, that they performed at peak level when I was in the store because they were too nervous...or more accurately, I made them nervous. I sat there and listened to their grievances and they told me in no uncertain terms that they'd prefer that I did not run shifts anymore.

At first, I was hurt...of course I was. Over the next day or two, I reflected on the exchange in its entirety, including my behavior prompting the summit. I learned a long time ago to manage without shaming and that earning respect is preferable to instilling fear. I tried to feel and understand what my employees felt; to wit, a desire to please the boss with the unsettling knowledge, the nagging anxiousness of knowing that they never could. I understood that although I had established a standard of excellence, precision, and consistency requisite for a quarter century of success in one of the toughest industries with one of the highest failure rates, I was failing miserably at fostering an atmosphere in which my employees felt successful. Yes, they made good money, business was brisk, and there was good esprit d'corps, but the secret sauce was missing. I had an epiphany and I realized this was a blessing on many levels. First, I, and Shayla Stone Lovett, (the best general manager/friend/workwife who ever lived, periodendofstory) had successfully built an environment that fostered camaraderie, loyalty, and honesty; instead of saying f*** the old man, we're finding a new gig, my colleagues felt comfortable and safe enough to have a reasonable conversation about something that wasn't working for them. I have always taught my children that the keys to long term relationships are:

1. conflict,

2. resolution and

3. grow closer.

I must have read that in a book or something because I've only been really good at the "conflict" part. Second, I realized that I have to let my managers be the awesome and talented operators I trained them to be and that the world wasn't going to end if a hostess called two senior women "guys". or they pointed with one finger. Third, I had to figure out whiskey tango foxtrot I was gonna do. So this is it.

I have spent my career in the restaurant and food industry but I have never been a very good baker. In the culinary world, pastry chefs (why isn't it cheves?) refer to recipes as "formulas". Baking is an exact science and one can't add more baking soda, or sugar or eggs willy-nilly; one must understand how one ingredient will affect the others and what is happening on a molecular level. Cooking is forgiving and as a result gives us extraordinary latitude. Stew too salty? Add a potato and the salt will "stick" to the starch in the potato. Too spicy? Add some lime or lemon juice and the acidity of the citrus will neutralize the heat. Baking? Not so much. Add too many eggs? It will taste too eggy and the mouthfeel will be off-putting. Fail to add a pinch of salt? It ain't gonna taste as good and the flavors will be dull. So I said to myself, "Self, time to learn how to bake". I also knew I had to get out of The States. I'm not one of those guys who bashes the US; I love my country and all that it offers and provides. At the same time, I am not emotionally equipped to stay above the divisive, negative, party-before-country attitude of most politicians from both political parties. I knew that the best thing for me would be to leave before, well before, the election. So on a whim, I applied for this program and I didn't expect to be one of the 10 chosen to participate. Yet, here I am and in the immortal words on John Y. Brown, Jr. on his 85th birthday, "I ain't done yet. I still got a couple of big ones left in me"

To be candid, this is all a bit surreal. I scored a super sweet inexpensive flat that is a 20 minute walk from school. I hate to sound like everyone's Dad but it really is uphill the whole way to school, like the elevation rises almost 300 feet within the 2 kilometer walk. I'm glad that's my worst problem. Anyway, I arrived in Rome on Monday afternoon. The journey was not without issue. It started at the airport in Jacksonville when the baggage lady refused to check my bags because of "The Covid". She blurted "that there was no way, no how, I was goin-de-yurp; no way, no how, no sir." She didn't care that I had a plane ticket or a student visa already plastered in my passport. After consulting her computer screen (do you know of any machine that takes more abuse than a keyboard in an airport? Man they bang on those things like Whack-A-Mole) she asked if I had any documentation (other than the visa) proving that I had business in Italy. Because I am Mr. Super Organized (see Shayla Lovett above) I had my invitation from the dean of students at the ready. I deftly, yet defiantly, provided said evidence of the authentic and genuine reception I would receive upon landing in Roma. What happened next was as scary as it was funny....she looked me dead in the eye with that death stare thing, squinted her eyes and asked "if I was tryin' to be smart?!?!?" I retorted "No Ma'am" to which she raised her voice and said "This letter is in eye-tal-yun! How you speck me to understand it?!?" Ultimately, I got myself to Italy..my luggage not so much. That was an ordeal in and of itself. There were like 4 Alitalia agents working on my bags. Lots a yellin, screamin, name callin' and hand gesturin' but I got the feeling like nothing was really happening...kinda like a presidential debate. Anyhow, I got my bags a few days later...no problemo.

I have spent my first few days here getting acclimated and settled. Rome is a beautiful city and its inhabitants are friendly and helpful. I committed to my kids that I would blog and share my experience. This will be a place where I will share personal thoughts and feelings, pictures, videos and anecdotes. I have been blessed with one of the most amazing opportunities on the planet and I want to share it with anyone who cares to listen.

Thanks very much and I hope you like your time here.