Even though it should be evident that many of Bend’s restaurants are struggling, there never seems to be a shortage of entrepreneurs ready to jump into the fray. Today I read a very good article in the New York Times that should be required reading.
A Deschutes Brew I'm Sure
The most recent issue of Forbes magazine has ranked American cities on how much their citizens drink and how often they drink. The West Coast was well represented with San Francisco in second place (Austin, Texas got first), Seattle tied for eighth, and Portland in the thirteenth spot. Portland has more microbreweries per capita than anyplace else in the USA, or so I’m told. With the addition of the fine wines now being produced in Oregon, the ranking of Portland in the Nation’s top 15 is probably well deserved.
On a related note, I ran across a blog “Beer for Chicks,” written by Christina Perozzi. Christina Perozzi is considered by many to be one of the top female beer experts on the West Coast. She is also an industry consultant and beer sommelier. When asked what her favorite alcoholic beverage was, she replied, “I always answer the question, but I always preface it with what I’m about to say to you now: I refuse to be bound by this choice, and I reserve the right to change or modify this favorite beer choice at any point in the future, including five minutes from now. That being said, my favorite beer right now is Deschutes Black Butte Porter from Bend, Ore.” Score one for the home team!
Every so often, someone will say the have a son, daughter, or acquaintance who is interested in a job in the culinary field. Often the advice I give is very simple. “Do they like long hours and hard work?” But recently I came a cross a good article in the New York Daily News. I particlarly liked Marcus Samuelsson’s comment: “In the beginning, it’s as simple as life skills: Showing up on time or early, making sure you dress properly, addressing people that you work for properly. You’re an assistant in that kitchen, so really what matters is for you to have a great attitude. Somebody’s going to take notice of that and give you a chance.” Read more here.