NY Trip - Reunion!

This is what I'd been looking forward to all year. It's was what I was planning. I had quite a few people saying they would be attending. I was on a roll, getting things in order and the reunion looked as if it would be a success. Then, I took the job in Indiana...rrrrccccchhhhh! The brakes went on for the planning and I wasn't as available to take phone calls or answer emails. People started thinking it wasn't going to happen and then there were 5...

Yup, five of us showed up. Myself, Danny, Alan, James Gasper and Brian. It was still tons of fun and really great to see everyone. I had a surprise guest coming and was able to keep it a secret from the five. Corky Clark, Seafood instructor, lives in Tivoli where the reunion was held so he walked over to see us. It was so great to see him, I had seen him just recently in January but, most of them hadn't seen him since we graduated.

Here's what everyone was doing as of 5 years out of the CIA:

Alan Simmerman - Executive Chef for Bloomingfoods. An organic co-op in Bloomington, IN.



Danny Amend - Working at Franny's in Brooklyn, after five years of high-end (Ducasse, Per Se) he was now in more casual dining.



James Gasper - Front of the House Manager at the Hotel Bethlehem. He's been brewing a lot of his own beer, grows his own hops and other ingredients. He talks of opening his own brewery in the next couple of years.



Brian Kaywork - Executive Chef at Madalin's Table in Hotel Madalin in Tivoli.



Myself - Sous Chef at Restaurant Tallent in Bloomington, IN.


We spent the night drinking wine, eating good food. Then, in Hyde Park, went to what used to be Gafney's. Brian's wife, Tara, came over after she got done with work. Alan's wife, Emily, came with him from Indiana. It was really good to see everyone.

After the dinner I walked Corky Clark home and he took me in to meet his wife. We talked for a long time and he told me that I should be back in Oregon, focusing on my granola. He's never told me that, always thought I should be off working in some fancy restaurant. He finally saw what I need. It was really good to talk to him.

Here are some pictures from the night.