A Waffle

I just love breakfast food.  Pancakes, waffles, omelets, hashbrowns.  Yum, yum, yum!  All of my first meals after competing were very planned out.  I knew breakfast the next morning would be a feast so I planned to go eat at the Rivue atop of Galt House.  And boy, did it not let me down.

If you’ve ever been to Rivue, you know that they have these amazing waffles that seem to melt in your mouth.  With the waffles you can also get these scrumptious made to order omelets.  When my friend and I arrived, we were told that the omelet chef had been working there for over 30 years – good old chef Henry.

My first trip through the omelet/waffle line, I could have cared less about conversation.  It was about me, my waffles and carbs, carbs, carbs.  So after I finished the omelet, the waffles, the fried shrimp, the chicken, the hashbrowns, the cheese quiche, the cheesecake, the peach cobbler and the chocolate cake – I figured I end up a high note and get one more waffle (I know, pity me for this one meal!)

So I walked up to Chef Henry and placed my order.  I told him I heard he’d been there almost 30 years.  He quickly corrected me and said, “No, it’ll be 25 years on March 11″. (Oh, excuse me!)  He went on to tell me that for every five years of service there is a ceremony.  For his 20th anniversary he chose a watch, but for 25 they can get a clock or something else from the catalogue.

He went on to tell me that his father got a clock after his 25th year as a chef and how that was one of the possessions he most treasured once his father passed away.  He thought about getting a clock, but regardless of what he selected, he wanted it to be something that could be passed down to his son (who is a freshman at UK)

Chef Henry then shared with me that he had to give the watch to his son because of the static electricity in his body.  When he wears watches, they either stop on him or start running backward.  It runs in his family and the same thing happened to his mother.

And then the timer went off – Chef Henry gave me two waffles with a smile.  I thanked him for his great conversation and wished him a happy 25th anniversary.  Each and every one of us has a wonderful story to share.  The next time you’re standing in line with someone, why not take the time to get to know just little bit about them.  Although my breakfast was simply wonderful, I left with a smile (and a full stomach) because I knew how special the person was that helped make my moment meaningful!

M.Y.  March 2010