City Wide Pride
I love DC!!! Funny….this is a city, unlike, say…NYC, Philly or ChiTown…where, if you said something bad about it, folks would punch you in the nose. Freaky thing—too often, if you dissed DC, people here (even those BORN here) would often actually agree with you? Not me—I love this city and would drop you like a stone if you said something bad about us…or Mayor Barry, thank you very much.
Now, I have a lot of things that make me proud to be a Washingtonian—but it’s the hospitality people in this town that really make me proudest. I come from “the biz”—and I’ve spent my entire career in this industry. I heart service…making folk’s happy-welcome-comfortable-open-willing. It was what I learned running nightclubs—what service pro’s taught me as I studied at their knee–that I incorporated into what become the DC Central Kitchen, and I believe it’s what makes the Kitchen a truly remarkable, top drawer organization.
Anyway….last night was our annual event—The Capital Food Fight….and the food service folks in this town REALLY turned it out for DCCK.
We had some of the most “seasoned” culinary warhorses, the ORIGIONAL C’s actually working their own stations last night—Roberto Donna, Jeff Buben, Kazuhiro Okochi. Really….these guys (and EVERY chef in this city—or your city) get asked a billion times a year to donate a meal, attend an event or cook at somebody’s home in support of a good cause. And they just about always say yes….but we (the nonprofit sector) keep drawing water from that deep, seemingly bottomless well of love that is this city/country’s hospitality partners. And even with ALL this pressure to perform, donate, attend—these masters of their craft not only attended last night’s culinary tete-a-tete…they strapped on their aprons and rolled up their sleeves and helped us rock the city. In fact, ALL the chefs, restaurants, and purveyors turned it out last night. Serious…I’ve been to a gob of these events..and this one–last night–was THE BEST EVER.
The turnout last night…in these tough, uncertain times…the money people tossed at us…the jobs our 73rd class of trainees were offered…the industry partners who contributed. Damn…what a testament to our city.
I try to avoid pride (which is hard for a dumb-ass man like me)…but really…I’ve never been prouder—of our hospitality partners and the organization I am honored…yes, and proud to have founded almost 20 years ago—DC Central Kitchen.
But what made me proudest of all–being a Washingtonian.
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