Thought maybe someone could relate...
I am very grateful to do what I love for a living, and part of that success has to do with the Napa Valley, an economic bubble oft referred to as "Disneyland." The dichotomy between my gratitude of being able to make a living here and my dismay with being subject to the following displays of ignorance, arrogance, and just everyday desperation, grows greater and greater everyday, reassuring me that the name "Bewildered" is completely apropos.
Here was my day today:
I went to a couple winery site visits this morning to taste the wines for menu planning. While tasting the very generous pours of fabulous wine and daydreaming about the tantalizing dishes I could create for them, an elderly couple walked in to taste wine. The tasting room associate explained to them that the tasting fee was $75 PER PERSON! My heart sank as they left. I wanted to give them the left over wines in my glass that would subsequently be poured down the drain. While I am fully aware that there are many wineries charging exorbitant amounts for tastings, I could not help but feel embarrassed that I was there drinking in front of them, leading them to think I might be someone able to afford such extravagance. Even if I could, I don't think I would. (While in the Anderson Valley yesterday at our studio, a friend and I stopped at 3 of my favorite wineries and had full tastings of ALL of their wines, at no charge. Just sayin')
Then, I scooted into a local restaurant for a quick bite. In the parking lot full of high dollar cars, a powder blue Bentley (or something like that) convertible rolled up to park right in front, coming in to eat. Out came a 60+ of age woman with bleach blond long hair, an unnaturally tanned and surgically tucked body, wrapped in one of the tightest, tiniest dresses I've ever seen-and it was bright yellow and black to boot. For a moment, I was sure I was in Orange County or LA (no offense), and NOT an "agricultural" area in Northern California, a place I moved to smell the dirt and drink the wine.
While in Napa filing business paperwork, I was reminded of the recent devastation, and how we all work, work, work, to buy stuff that can be destroyed in 30 seconds if and when Mother Nature so chooses to wield her wand of ultimate power.
While filing said paperwork, I received a phone message from the BOE (Board of Equalization, for those of you who do not have the pleasure of collecting and paying sales tax), that I missed my second quarter filing. I was working over 100 hours a week at that time, and I guess I forgot. Ironic, as I've been going through a BOE audit for the last 8 months!
While driving north, I had a conversation with a girlfriend who overheard a chef and his non-chef but apparently extremely knowledgeable "culinarian" friends having a very matter of fact conversation, vehemently stating that the caprese salad is totally out of date. I guess the restaurant was not very busy at that particular moment, as they had a lot of time to discuss the topic. I served a lovely, albeit updated version of caprese just the other night, and I practically live on it all summer. I guess I am a very outdated chef. ;-) (Ironically, these were "laid back" and humble Anderson Valley residents!!!)
3 friends and a family member have been "downsized" from their jobs this month.
I hurriedly drove home, deciding not to continue on to St. Helena to forage quince this afternoon, as I had reached beyond my capacity in the patience department. Besides, traffic was gridlocked both coming in and going out of Napa.
I arrived home to bus tubs full of yet-to-be-unloaded catering supplies, a laundry full of stinky towels, an unmade bed, and piles of paper and unopened mail (6 inches worth) on my desk unattended to because I've been so busy trying to make a living in this crazy world.
Feeling a bit Bewildered, I do believe I shall go for a hike and see what the birds and wind have to say....or perhaps, and much more likely, I'll pour myself a glass of modest wine...
What's going on in this world?
