The service industry is ultimately about hospitality, but the true crux of it is nourishment. We nourish you via a plate of food or a conversation across a bar, all while nourishing our passion for said food or conversation—that trade is what makes it worth it. The folks in our industry obviously count on the money from their jobs to stay afloat; right now, beyond financial security, we’re also losing nourishment in its many forms.
Take family meal. Family meal varies from place to place, but usually consists of simply prepared pasta or sandwiches for the staff before service begins. One place I used to work had a chicken-strip day on Thursdays, adding credence to that whole “Thursday is the best day” theory.
During a run for pasta and veggies to feed some of my industry family a couple weeks back, I stopped to pick up some beer in an early search for normalcy. At Holy Mountain Brewing, I was able to grab a couple crowlers of Black Beer, a beautiful dark ale that falls somewhere between a Dark Mild, a Porter, and a Schwarzbier. The people there have helped make Holy Mountain one of my favorite places since moving to Seattle—they work with such care and intention, and have become fast friends in my short time here.
The conversation I had during my pickup was more valuable to me than the beer I was taking home. Abby and Marie commiserated about all that’s happening, and asked about my restaurant, where Abby had worked as the GM prior to me. We talked about how we were holding up, and reveled in the brief instant of togetherness.
This small moment felt a little like a family meal. It nourished me, and brought hope and joy during a time of great uncertainty. Serving up family meal for friends in need later that day gave me the opportunity to pay it forward. All of this is nourishment in action—and if we keep putting good back into the world, we’re damn sure going to get some in return.
