Just Cured - Experience Fine Foods

This weekend I received further evidence that joy breeds more joy and spreads to those nearby. My recent exposure to this phenomenon came in the form of a church group on an evening outing.

My friend Joe Tucker received a midweek call from the pastor of a church located in a town about 45 minutes from here. His church was arranging an outing for members to attend a weekend gospel music concert at Music Hall that was to begin at 6 pm. They wanted to have a bite to eat nearby before the concert, and they insisted on a non-chain restaurant. They found Tucker’s on the internet. The group would total around 55 guests. Joe explained that he closed at 3 pm, but would reopen for the group. The pastor called back later and said they would love to visit — they would arrive around 3:45.

When I arrived for breakfast that morning, Joe was a bit nervous about the size of the party. He borrowed extra chairs, plates and silverware from the Catholic church next door. The Franciscan Brothers even offered their dining room for the group. Joe was also worried about getting killed after a busy Saturday and before opening for their first Sunday (10 am to 2 pm) the next day after many years of being closed Sundays. Finally, he was worried about being short handed as one server was out of town for the weekend.

I had no plans for the afternoon, so I volunteered to pitch in. Prior to the arrival of the party, I prepped some food, cleaned a bit, fetched borrowed items from next door, and did my side work.

The group arrived just before 4:15. A party of 53, consisting of families from grade school children to their grandparents (and maybe a few great-grandparents). It was a tight squeeze; Tucker’s is normally configured for just under 40 guests.

This group’s joy suffused the restaurant. They were excited about the concert they were attending; they were belatedly celebrating one child’s birthday; they were thrilled to be dining together as a group. The six of us working were immediately caught up in their joy. Our apprehension melted away in an instant. The restaurant was filled with 59 big smiles.

I was assigned a section of four booths, plus served the food to three more. Take drink orders, recite the specials (shrimp and grits, huevos rancheros and vegetarian huevos, oatmeal, grits, only two orders of biscuits and gravy left). Not a single person ordered a special; they had studied the menu on the bus and all knew what they wanted when they arrived. Take orders. A dozen tickets hit the pass within 5 minutes. Coffees, waters, soft drinks, fill, re-fill. The food starts to come to the pass. Several guests have switched tables; no problem, it’s a small restaurant. Everyone loved it all; the smiles got yet broader, the conversation more animated.

“And how would you like your check at this table?” I asked at table 1. Single. Single. Couple. Single plus child at the next table, a child at the counter, the pastor over there and the bus driver. Every table was like that. Their joy was contagious; I couldn’t have cared less how they wanted their checks. I just re-wrote every dup for every table in the restaurant (someone else did the counters) into as many checks as they wanted.

Exactly 75 minutes after arrival, the bus pulled out from the parking lot. 53, very full, very happy guests to go, please. Their joy kept me smiling for the remainder of the weekend and into this morning. I only hope the concert exceeded their expectations by the margin that Joe, Carla and their team did so.