49 years is a long time to be with someone but it went fast,
in spite of deaths, illness, and schisms that have evolved over the years. The
joy and rewards of being with my wife far exceed anything else. So, how to make
an anniversary festive, if it is already meaningful? I brave the new world of
COVID-19 and adjust to the new normal. I make a reservation for a favorite
restaurant that is seating outside as it fights to come back to the reality
that it needs to be working to survive.
In the sleepy little village of Bellport, NY, the home of
some celebrities and my home town, there sits on Main Street near the four
corners an old building. It was once called the White Horse Inn, and as a young
man, I often fantasized about dining there. I got married and we did, then,
over the years the ownership and name changed. It is now known as Avino’s
Italian Table, and it has on the past visits, either lunch or dinners been
spectacular, so, off we went.
Our reservation was for 5:00 PM on a perfect sunny afternoon
under a tent. The sun shone brightly, the sky was clear blue and a gentle
breeze made our stay exhilarating as we sipped cocktails and talked, mostly
about anything except our children since this was a night off.
Dining outside can be a pleasure as we experienced that
evening. It was the first time under the restrictions and we wore our masks to
the hostess and remove them once we were seated. The staff however wore theirs
and did a tremendous job of seeing to it that we were happy, which we were. The
only thing I found disheartening was the main course as my wife and I
experienced disappointment. Their usual fare at Avino’s was sub-par. It taste4d
like they are resorting to what many restaurants that go out of business do cut
corners, and it tasted like it.
I hope they can clean up their act and make everything fresh
as it should be. I don’t know if the chef had a bad night or the pressure of
serving food under new conditions it the reason.
No comments:
Post a Comment