One of the most satisfying aspects of my 20 plus years in the restaurant, was influencing and guiding an employee in their career path. During my first Head Chef position, at Conestoga Country Club, I was fortunate to have a young man who would continue his education at The Culinary Institute of America, (The CIA).
Dino started as a dishwasher, but his enthusiasm and ability to learn, saw him progressing to prep and line cook. He approached me with his desire to attend The CIA and become a chef. Part of the application process included a letter of recommendation from a food professional. I was happy to provide this letter, he was subsequently accepted and on his culinary way.
Upon his graduation, Dino, my wife and I went out to dinner, where he described his different job options. Counseling him to follow the path where he could learn more about the business and grow his knowledge, he accepted a position in Washington DC.
A few years later we received an invitation from The Baron and Baroness XXXX, cordially inviting us to the wedding of their daughter, Princess Katrina and Dino. Duly impressed we quickly responded, accepting the invitation to the May, “Black Tie” affair.
One of Dino’s first jobs was at the Sheraton in Crystal City, in Washington DC. There he had met Katrina, who was the banquet coordinator. Her family still held their royal titles from an European country, of the particulars I never learned. Due to their association with the Sheraton, discounted rooms were available to out of town attendees.
The weekend was beautiful and Linda looked gorgeous in her fancy dress and I quite handsome in my tuxedo when we arrived at Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral. An imposing structure, containing an ornate and beautiful interior.
The ceremony was done in Greek and repeated in English. The couple following the incense carrying priest around the chancel several times, reciting prayers and benedictions in both languages.
The attendees were required to stand for the majority of the ceremony and it was a very long ceremony. The May sun was warming the building to the point were many, myself for sure, were becoming a trifle uncomfortable.
Before anyone had reached the point of fleeing for fresh air, the ceremony concluded. Exiting the church, I for one, was impressed to see eight Rolls Royce Phantoms lined on the curb for the wedding party. Sparkling and shiny in the sun. Linda and I were to ride in our own car to the reception, a practically brand new, Isuzu I-Mark RS. A sharp little car, but really, a Rolls Royce? The Isuzu would have it’s place in Eichmann family lore. Leaving Ocean City MD on a 90+ degree day after a weeks vacation, a 4 year old Jared Eichmann, seated directly behind me, started crying. Inconsolable, we tried everything possible to determine his problem. No matter what we tried or suggested he continued to cry for three and a half hours. Finally in Gap, 40 minutes from home, I had enough, pulling over into a parking lot, I demanded to know what was wrong. “Take off my shoes,” he sobbed. Removing the offending sneakers, he was dead asleep before I could get back into the drivers seat. Lord knows why he couldn’t have mentioned that three hours earlier, kids!
The reception was held at The Ristorante Da Vinci, where Dino was now Sous Chef. the restaurant had closed for the Saturday evening dinner. Located overlooking the Potomac in the infamous Watergate Complex. The dinner, of which I recall nothing, other than it was excellent, was a very elegant 5 courses. Dino and The Princess introduced us to the Chef/Owner and to the Baron and Baroness. After dinner, in retribution I suppose, for the attendees not being able to arrive by Rolls, the Baron distributed Cuban cigars to the men.
After a few dances to the combo, we were making our way to the balcony overlooking the river, to have my cigar. The band leader announced that the sister to the bride, Princess II, I guess, was going to sing a song in honor of the newly married couple. She introduced herself and the song, “You Light Up My Life“, a number one song from a few years earlier by Debby Boone. Not a bad song, a bit of a tear jerker, lip synched by Didi Conn in the movie of the same name.
In respect to Dino, The Princess and Princess II, a crowd gathered in a semi-circle in front of the band. Princess II started singing, and within moments, over come with happiness, tears were streaming down her face. Unfortunately and not because of her high emotional state, Princess II could not carry a tune if you gave her a bucket. Ear splitting, voice cracking, she soldiered on, confusing the audience’s hands over their mouths, bowed heads and slack jawed response as indicative of their copacetic emotion. This god awful rendition seemed to continue for hours, with her not approaching a correct note. There are not words to describe how awfully bad her singing was. Mixed emotions coursed through my mind, foremost was embarrassment. There was also respect and admiration for someone who could put themselves out there emotionally, with no regard for there own shortcomings, all for the love she felt for her sister. Or perhaps, no one every told her she couldn’t sing, she was Princess II after all.
She finished the song, much to the relief of all present, saving the Princess, who rushed to embrace Princess II, both sobbing. We turned away afraid to engage anyone else, either by eye contact or verbally, made our way to the balcony to decompress and have a cigar.
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