Trumpets and Luncheon Caterer Chef Neal
One reading the nice blog comments by Eunice Bohannon concerning Chef Neal and "his" alleged proposal for Trumpets might get the wrong idea. In my formative years, I had pleasant memories of joining my colleagues for lunch at Jeff’s Sandwich Shop, a traditional counter service sandwich shop a mere two blocks walk from our office to delight in eating his tasty and hardy roast beef sandwiches and fries.
It would be a huge mistake to suggest that people who like Chef Neal run a lunch counter sandwich shop are engaged in the operation of a restaurant of the type we would like to consider for Trumpets. But that’s for others to decide.
For reasons long apparent to me, I have been troubled by Bob Frank’s dogged advocacy of Chef Neal as a prospective Trumpets operator. Why would Bob do so and in so doing place himself and his presumed impartiality in doubt in considering prospective candidates for Trumpets?
While the Women’s Club had initially denied allegations that their catering preferences likely affected the outcome of the Boulevard negotiations that ultimately failed, they are now demanding, as they did at the recent Board meeting, that their views be considered in the selection of any future restaurant operator. One gathers that the price of their support for an operator of Trumpets is the selection of Chef Neal, who also happens to be the Women’s Club caterer. Apparently as far as the Women’s Club is concerned, the certainty of Chef Neal’s luncheon treats greatly outweighs the uncertainty of an unknown and untested restaurateur.
It would be a very sad day for Sun City if the ultimate selection of a restaurant operator were allowed to be determined by the catering preferences of the Women’s Club in contrast to the needs of our dining Community, a view I suspect is not shared by Kay Frank and Kathy Matson, co-presidents of the Women’s Club.
Ron Johnson, 6 September 2008