Recently, a loyal patron and good friend asked me if I would set aside some time to speak to his daughter about the restaurant business as she had expressed some interest in the field.

“I would be more than happy to do so,” I said.

I thought back to all the converstaions I had with people in the business as I was a young(er) pup, and recalled all the warnings, cautionary tales and words of discouragement.

And so I said to myself, I’m not going to extinguish her flame. I’m going to give her air…

Last night, said conversation took place amidst what I hope was a fantastic dinner.

I could hear the words coming out of my mouth but had not control to stop them.

The urge to nay, boo and discourage were too overwhelming.

I was like every other person before me.

I think my last words were, “Reason number ###, to not enter into the restaurant business, because your 100 Gallon water heater might burst open in the middle of dinner on Friday night and flood your prep kitchen, and then all that hard earned money & I’m talking 4-5 cents on the dollar, maybe, down the drain paying plumbers time and a half to replace it. Oh, and by the way, my Lutron lighting system died on me last Friday rendering us dark in the patio for about an hour and a half. So, what else can I tell you…”

I said it with a big smile on my face as I have always understood that this business like so many others require a strong sense of humor.

Yet this morning, I regret having said what I said, and have since then e-mailed this young girl and set the record straight.

This business is GREAT. The best even.

Never a dull day, and even when I go home pulling my hair out, or those days I want to pour scalding hot coffee on my face so I can go home, I always wake up the next morning wanting to get back in the saddle.

So, for all those of you reading this who are considering joining this business, ante up!!

You will not regret it.

Your’s Truly,

Arturo Kassel