Recently, my friend Greg Randle, CWE sent me some personal photos from the Sommelier Journal Slovenian White Wine Tasting, which occurred in February 2011. I texted him back, “I look so old. Thank you. I owe you one.”
When you’re a kid, you don’t think about getting this old. My flash-forwarding-imagination went as far as my twenties, maybe thirty, but not a forty year old person. I’m not complaining; it’s just that I’m not quite used to the idea yet. I can still run around the floor with the best of them, but at Jeffrey’s Restaurant, I’m not the oldest. I work with Johnny Guffey and Marco Biancalana who have been there 30 and 20-plus years, respectively. Let’s say one day I’m in another market somewhere, attempting to work on the floor, would my age be a benefit or a detractor? Would you hire me?
Look at June Rodil [above], the hottest sommelier in Texas right now, working at the hottest restaurant CONGRESS, in the nationally acclaimed “Best City to Live In” Austin. She’s at the top of her game and just getting warmed up. Her press is well-deserved and well-earned. I’m always happy and impressed when I read about her. In this picture again courtesy of Greg, I look like the old feller and she looks like—well, she looks a little annoyed that Greg’s taking her picture—but she looks so young, fresh and capable. This sort of reminds me of the McCain/Obama Presidential debates. McCain looked like this incapable grandpa, next to Obama. I remember thinking, “that dude does not have a chance of winning the election.”
I recently hung out with the man who started my vinous career, here in Austin, 17 years ago, Rob Forman of Dalla Terra. He was my first mentor and even named my old restaurant “Tocai.” I haven’t hung out with Rob in years. A couple weeks ago, I was able to leave work a little early to join him and Greg at Paggi House. It was a blast. He told me your thirties are “vague” and I’ll like my forties. He always gave great advice. I guess it means that I’ll be becoming more defined in this decade. I can live with that.
