Insane? We bought a Café

Insanity doesn’t even begin to describe our recent business decision. There was a movie made in 2011 called “We Bought a Zoo.” Based on a true story, it stars Matt Damon and Scarlett Johansson. It chronicles the trials and tribulations of a widowed journalist who buys and moves with his two children to an animal preserve/zoo in dire need of restoration. There are setbacks, victories (and lots of money) that eventually make it all work out by the end of the movie. Now if life were only like the movies.

Insanity? We bought the Weinhard Café and Bakery! What are we thinking? I really don’t know. I’d like to imagine that I am adventurous like the journalist, but with looks like Scarlett Johansson (hah). And Daniel, though handsome, charming, talented, and smart, is no Matt Damon. But we took the plunge, insane as it may be. Especially since I still have a full-time job as a corporate insurance broker, currently working remotely.

We are not youngsters; this should be the time in our lives for travel (post-COVID-19), gardening, entertaining friends and family who, now vaccinated, are planning to visit, in between servicing my clients. But not us; we’re suckers for a challenge.

I thought our home renovation was a money pit; I dread to see what the café brings! Daniel already has big plans for custom plates and equipment that is both fun and trendier than necessary. I can’t believe I am the one trying to rein him in since I’m usually the sucker for all things trendy.

Daniel recently established his Take & Bake business, “CounterFeat,” operating at the Blue Mountain Station in Dayton. His Friday offerings are frequently sold out; it’s always nice to build from success. To my surprise, he managed to remain sane in spite of a plethora of glitches with his website and the ordering/paying program. With a few tweaks, it’s nearly seamless now.

At the end of April, we were presented with the keys to our restaurant kingdom. The challenge now is to meld CounterFeat’s take-out service with the Weinhard’s dine-in operations. To make this happen, we have an agreement: His domain is in the kitchen, mine is the front of the house. He’s already tried to encroach on my territory, so in response, I am considering installing something akin to the tire destroyers they have in parking lots. He’s going to need steel soles on his shoes.

Even with the new restaurant, he has little to keep him busy. It’s not enough that he is planning menus, stuffing and curing salami, moving kitchen equipment, shopping and preparing his takeout orders, practicing the banjo, mowing our lawn; he has now started composting. His first dump into the compost bin was the rotting mystery pumpkins we had in the cellar from last year. I’m sure he will have all sorts of weird gourds growing in his side of the garden. I’ve wisely said “no” to his compost.

Since we are still involved in our garden competition this year, I have been diligent in planting, weeding, feeding, and watering. Now heading into my third spring in Waitsburg, I have had some successes and failures, learned some helpful gardening tips. First, arugula is the winter version of zucchini; it never stops. I’m not complaining; I haven’t bought a head of lettuce all winter! Radishes give you confidence; they handle frost, grow fast, and can be eaten raw, pickled, and even braised in butter. I planted a garden full just so I could feel like I’m ahead in our competition. Insanity, thy name is Rossi!