Hospitality

                                                       Gifts Abound

It’s the little things…  The hospitality industry is filled with generous people who go beyond what is necessary to demonstrate kindness.  Those that excel do much more than provide food and shelter, they touch your humanity with generosity.

Malibu Beach Inn

If you are looking for a real taste of this perfect little town, this is the place for you.  It is away from the tourist center in the quiet south end.  A block from the spectacular Carmel beach it is the ideal small Inn.  Aside from the expected amenities of a well-appointed room, parking and other conveniences this hotel offers you a staff that is not only kind and attentive but super gracious and they all clearly enjoy working at this beautiful small hotel.

It wasn’t an on-line travel platform that brought me here – no, it was the gracious invitation of Mike Freed and the Post Ranch Inn of Big Sur, which is California’s hospitality treasure.  It was Mike’s effort and the Malibu Beach Inn owner’s generosity that provided a wonderful room on a busy night.

Bar Le Côté

This is the sister restaurant to the Michelin Star Restaurant, Bells of Los Alamos.  Brad Mathews creates a warm atmosphere with a beautiful creative menu which is prepared with extreme care and served by warm and knowledgeable staff.  Now I have been to this restaurant many times and on this occasion was having dinner by myself.  It was a lovely evening and then at the end I was informed that my dinner had been paid for – a totally unexpected act of kindness ---- Daisy and Greg had taken a rare night off to take their son to a basketball game in Los Angeles.  I was unable to see them and yet they took time from a rare break from their schedule to extend this gracious gift of hospitality to me.

Scribe

This is a wonderful vineyard and winery developed on an old 1800 vineyard in Sonoma.    On the way to the exit, a young man and his daughter approached me.  I recognized him as Andrew Mariani, he along with his brother Adam have recreated this pre-prohibition Sonoma Valley winemaking gem into one of the most pleasant places to try their amazing assortment of well-crafted wines.  It was he who recognized me which given the number of people he has to interact with was amazing in and of itself. But for my ego it was the fact that he said he continues to read this very blog that I am writing.

 The point ---- I have interacted with all of these people along my personal journey but it is their individual generosity and hospitality that is unique in a world overrun by massive hotel chains, large corporate wineries and impossible to get a reservation restaurants.  These are individuals that are operating finely crafted and curated businesses that continue to offer hospitality in small and big ways.  Reminding us that relationships are built on the little things and that good businesses are fragile and are strengthen by the small acts of kindness and the remembrance that their clients are also fragile.  Their kindness strengthens the bonds that bring loyalty and appreciation.  Pay close attention and consider the events of your day and you will find that the gift of kindness is abound, especially from the amazing people of hospitality.

……Could I have the dressing on the side?