Friends,
The goodbyes are almost over. I’ve said those words too many times the past weeks. In protest, I think I’ll turn my back on the next car-carrier leaving town; that ritual is inevitable and one of the surest signs of summer’s arrival. A more fun signal is welcoming back many year-round guests who simply stay away during the seasonal crush. I’ve seen many faces smiling as they reclaim their beloved village of Naples. I miss the crowds, but fully appreciate the sentiment and am thrilled to see our long-term supporters returning in good numbers. As a restaurant that achieves much of its success from a large base of loyal and long-term customers, I had been talking about names that had formed that very base several decades ago. Wow was I surprised this past Monday evening. Friends who had been frequents guests from years ago were everywhere. It was great fun for them and me too, as we both had the opportunity to socialize with friends whom we had not seen in some time. Wynne and I were out of town the last week of April. We had dinner with my daughter Caroline in Philadelphia at Talula’s Garden on Washington Square. The food was terrific, with lots of local fresh vegetables beautifully and flavorfully prepared. We dined there twice within a week and pretty much ate our way through the menu. It was a truly wonderful experience and reminded me of why I love what I do. I love listening to our guests discuss their dining experiences. They love our menu and wine programs knowing that our quality of food, level of service and ambiance and level of consistency have a very high standard. Someone once said, “I love your restaurant because your performance in the restaurant generally exceeds my expectations.” I aspire to doing that for you every day. I am going to work on new menu items this summer rather than wait until the fall. It works better logistically for me and will keep my mind and hands active, energize the kitchen staff and more important, give our local supporters a first look at the new items; with mid June being the goal for the first new tastes. We purchase a lot of beautiful greens from a local farmer who delivers several times a week. His growing season ended a few weeks ago and he thanked us for our business by not charging us for our last order! Can’t with until next fall to see him. With the heat of summer coming soon, we are launching new summer discounts at both Ridgway Bar & Grill & Bayside Seafood Grill & Bar.
Your Friend,
Tony
