February 9, 2020
A friend, Eli Dunn, has a charming little restaurant in Warren, Rhode Island.
I’m old…so I knew his mom who owned Phoebe’s Seafood…and remember Eli working in the kitchen with Phoebe.
The Kitchen is a ‘hot spot’… crowded and crowded in a wonderful way.
There is a small counter, tables, and a community table. The community table is generally a mix of different parties.
The servers are young, friendly, always ready to engage in talk, and able to accommodate a wide array of questions and requests…a loving crew.
This morning I sat with my friend Bill and one of his friends…at the community table.
I had gone by myself for a quick breakfast but ended up in a great conversation with the two of them.
This ALWAYS happened at Eli’s.
It is like he has figured out the magic sauce of community relations.
It’s even more intriguing because Eli has savant-like abilities to combine diverse ingredients.
The restaurant becomes a study in both interesting food and interesting human conversation.
As you can imagine, I’m a fan. Unfortunately it is the ‘wrong direction’ for most of my weekly travels.
One other thought…
Seldom in my community do I see large families out for meals…actually, seldom do I see large families.
Eli’s is a magnet for families.
Other than with my own children and grandchildren, some of my most memorable meals have been at the community table with young ones and their parents.
His Kitchen is a place where food and people share their common stories.
Richard Pace 