Last night we all took Andy's bookkeeper out for dinner to celebrate her impending retirement. We chose a location easily accessible for the entire group, the Capital Grille in Burlington. I'd been to the one in Chestnut Hill, so I knew what to expect from the menu, but I was unprepared for the dining room itself. It's huge and beautiful, and you don't get that instant "men's club" feeling that there are cigars and brandy snifters just out of view. It had just the right mix of "special feeling" for such an occasion. I had an extraordinarily good steak, the Porcini-Rubbed Delmonico with 8-Year Aged Balsamic. OMG, WTF, ETC. I'm still very much at sea with all the bookkeeping stuff I need to learn, but I was glad we could give her a memorable send-off.
When I got home, I found an email from the author of these two cookbooks I'm editing. She'd received the first manuscript and—drumroll, please—was pleased with my work! Phew! I was concerned because she's known to be very persnickety. Now I feel much more confident as I plow ahead into the second manuscript. I'm still nervous about making the deadlines, but at least I know I'm on the right track.
Men's club feel? Like there are cigars and brandy just out of view?
Sign me up! Where does one go for that?
Posted by: scott | July 10, 2008 at 10:01 PM
That's great news about the cookbook. There were no prices on that menu; was it expensive? I notice that they have a restaurant in Seattle as well.
Posted by: Margaret | July 11, 2008 at 12:44 AM
It's obscenely expensive (e.g., $40 entrees!). It's most definitely a place to keep in mind for a very special occasion -- for carnivores, especially, although I'm sure their seafood is top-notch too.
Posted by: Karen | July 11, 2008 at 08:05 AM
Capitol Grille is my brother and new (third) wife's FAVORITE place. They eat there at least 2x a month. I don't get that at all, if I am going to spend that kind of $$ regularly on going out to dinner, there are 100s of places to try...most with more variety.
I like it okay, and the food is definitely good, but the steaks are just too damned big for us, we don't eat huge portions of meat at one meal. Even the "petite ladies portion" (whatever) is like 8 or 10 ounces! Last time we both ordered the tuna, which was TDF good, but also a Fred Flintstone sized portion.
Posted by: Risottogirl | July 11, 2008 at 09:47 AM
You'll get the hang of the bookkeeping, I am sure. It's not all that different that editing. There are rules to follow, and everything has its place. :)
Bet you are relieved to know you are making the *persnickity* author pleased.
Posted by: Kelly | July 11, 2008 at 10:40 AM
I totally forgot about this: the last time I ate at Capital Grille was with one of the previous owners of our company. That was the night I told her she was a crazy bitch.
It's a fond memory.
Posted by: steve | July 11, 2008 at 11:31 AM
I was very excited because the first piece of marketing writing I submitted for my new job was followed by an e-mail to Sales copying me saying, "This is great. Run with it!"
Posted by: Di | July 11, 2008 at 05:25 PM
First off, congrats on the good word from the author -- what a great and reassuring piece of feedback. Secondly, I'm glad to hear you had such a good time at the Burlington Capital Grille. We had lunch there on New Year's Eve, which ended up lasting 2+ hours, costing... well, a lot more than I think I've ever spent on a lunch before, encompassing a lot of red meat and red wine, and ultimately constituting what may have been the best damned lunch I've ever had.
Aaaaaand now I'm drooling all over myself.
Posted by: TwoBusy | July 15, 2008 at 10:04 AM