So today was a big day in the life of Executive Chef Nico Romo. He turned 30 and probably lost a couple years off the end of his life due to a very successful b-day prank that Managing Partner/good friend Randall Goldman played on him this afternoon. Here is the play-by-play:
11:45 am – I go upstairs to say hello to Nico and wish him a happy birthday. His desk has been decorated and his spirits are high. He’s joking about turning 30, laughing, enjoying his new shades…
11:50 am – Nico’s phone rings. “What? Something has gone terribly wrong? I have to go to the HR office immediately?”
12:00 pm – I run into Nico in the back of Fish. He is all the way up a tree, very nervously shooing people away from the back door leading to the parking lot. Turns out, his Chef de Cuisine and longtime friend, Charron, is being arrested and loaded into a cop car. Charron, if you remember, is the most genuine, kind and unlikely man to be arrested. We were all very upset and confused by what we were witnessing. Who could arrest this face?
12:05 pm – Nico is visably shaken, kitchen staff is confused and no one knows what is going on until… GOTCHA! After doing a lap around the block the cop car returns and everyone explains that the whole thing was a practical joke for Chef’s birthday. He was not amused.
Great job to Officer Barfield, Elizabeth and Charron for keeping a straight face through it all. I would say congratulations to Randall for coming up with such a scheme, but he is going to get it when his birthday rolls around next year…
Happy Birthday Nico. We appreciate all that you do and your wonderful sense of humor. You’ll never forget your 30th birthday surprise!
Thu, Aug 13, 2009
Uncategorized