Great Time Tasting Herbs

Most every day I walk into the restaurant, one of the first things I try to reconcile is what the day's "x-factor" may be. The truth of the matter is no restaurant/business/corporation/friendship/relationship is perfect. When the variables in the equation are people there is an expectation that issues will arise from time to time. In that same vein, when you deal with food sometimes the product just isn't satifactory. Since I am rarely behind the line, it is my job to identify this "x-factor" as quickly as I enter the restaurant. That involves asking many questions: "Did the hostess get out late from her other job," "Who's grandfather died," "How could your dog eat your anti-depressants for the third time this week?" Thankfully, I don't get the last one all too often, but as the expression goes it's always something.
Then, there are the days where service elevates to a skilled dance. Sunday evening was one of those evening. I often call them my "renew your faith in humanity" evenings. The restaurant was host to an event that I had brainstormed with a friend over dinner several weeks ago and I actualized it this past Sunday night. I invited an online group of junior food critics in for what I feel might have been one of my better conceived events.
Our UpStairs Herb Tasting started with myself and Mary-Catherine greeting guests at the front door of the Soiree Room with either a cocktail or a glass of wine. Generally a good way to start, well ... anything! After registering, guests were invited to mingle with their drinks while Steve's beautiful array of herb-infused appetizers floated around the room, beautifully trayed and excitedly explained by servers. Lino's herbaceous cocktails were definite crowd pleasers (our Aprile - an mixture of Aperol, fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice and garnished with rosemary - as well as a Lavender Kir Royale with a lavender-infused simple, creme de cassis and Champagne).
The main event, as it were, for the evening was a blind tasting of herb picked from both our local purveyors as well as from Deborah's own garden. Impressively enough, some of the contestants were able to pick out such obscurities as Thai basil and nesterium.
That night there was no "x-factor," simply a good feeling. I like that.