Make My Day
Published in Widowism by chefswidow
Today, an old friend made my day. Thank you Andrea.
Today, I got the wind knocked out me.
Today, I sobbed like a baby for two hours straight with a grin on my face.
Today, I wrote rewrote erased deleted wrote finished published this post 19 times.
Today, I reflect.
Today, I threw up from overwhelming joy. Seriously. Ask C-Money.
Today, there are no worries.
Today, changes tomorrow.
Today, my pride is bursting at the seams.
Today, I think about the past but am finally able to see our future.
Today, all of the Chef’s blisters disappeared (at least for a moment).
Today, I took my children to our restaurant and smiled while I watched the people come and go.
Today, I read that our restaurant is going to be named ONE of the TEN BEST RESTAURANTS in America by Bon Apetit Magazine.
Today, I googled Bon Appetit’s circulation.
Today, I drank pounded a bottle of wine after I googled Bon Appetit’s circulation. Holy mother.
Today, I said thank you to people who have been with us since day one as well as the people who became part of our family last week. It’s your victory as well.
Toady, I saw tomorrow.
Today, I made out with a Chef.
Today, I am overwhelmed with pure happiness.
I want to share my happiness and my gratitude with all of you. I would love to hear your stories of utter happiness. A defining moment when you knew your life had changed. My life changed today and I am so lucky that I have all of you to be by my side. You have been a part of our journey and I would love to be able to show how much I appreciate your support. Please leave me comments (regarding the above) and I will bestow upon one random person some badass widow swag. I will randomly choose a winner on Friday August 7th, Noon (eastern time).
Beach Bag from the Gap filled with the following goodies:
The Greenhouse Tavern’s Reidel Glassware (2 logo wine glasses)
The Greenhouse Tavern Tee (signed by the Chef’s)
A Pair of Crocs Flip Flips
An original Catcher Sawyer painting
Bottle of Delicious Red Wine
Funky Memory Stick from BlogHer ’09
The keys to my blog (if you are so inclined I would love for the winner to do a guest post about your happy moment!)
Bonne Chance bitches.
Clap
Woot!!! Congrats! Thank you for all your hard work and continuing to keep Cleveland in the food spotlight!
I am truely happy to see someone in Cleveland doing well! Keep it going and I hope to come for dinner soon, but not until my new baby is born!
What amazing news! I kept reading and reading wondering what could make you so happy you’d throw up. That’s REALLY happy! I’m so excited for you and for you family!
I’m remembering the day I got the letter saying I was accepted into college as a transfer student. It was the most elated I have ever felt. I’d declined going straight from high school even though I was accepted to multiple schools because I wanted to stay near my family because of my dad’s poor health. My father had passed away about a month prior to me getting accepted to UCSC. It was a pivotal moment for me where everything came together and my life felt full of promise.
I’m swelling with pride at the Greenhouse being named one of the top 10 restaraunts by Bon Apetit – I can’t even imagine how you’re feeling. I’m just lucky enough to live here so that I can eat there whenever I want. And I can’t wait for my friends from Philly to come into town so I can take them there and show it off!
I knew my life had changed the day my daughter was born. As soon as we made eye contact I realized something had been missing and from that point on I felt whole in a way I never had before.
Congrats again on the Greenhouse’s success. You make us proud!
That’s wonderful! Many congratulations!!!!
My happiest moment is my wedding. Cliche probably, but true.
My Dear Amelia, Missed you last night when I stopped in at the hotspot. I have had many of those moments in my life so I can’t really claim one was “the” defining one. But sitting on my little deck attached to my little house one day, I truly felt that it was my little piece of paradise. Also recently I have actually felt at home in Cleveland, even though I’m not originally from here. Hope to see you soon. And all of the Bon Appetit stuff is really well deserved.
Woot! Congratulations to both of you. That is truly exciting, and I can’t wait to eat there next June when we’ll be in town again. Did you throw up before or after the bottle of wine?
I experience utter happiness whenever I’m surrounded by the people, food, drink and music that I love, especially when it’s just the right temperature out and I’m feeling pretty.
Cheers!!
Awesome news! Congrats!
amazing news. i look forward to my issue in the mail. i’m not surprised by the accolades, though. amazing food coupled with your knack for creating a buzz – well done!
Congratulations on the incredible news!
Congrats! How very exciting for you guys!! Cheers to you, your hubby and everyone involved in the whole beautiful thing!
OH WOW!!!! Congrats to you both!
wow. that is awesome. I haven’t been to GHT yet (I live about 2 hours away) but hope to soon. Although I’ve had a few major defining moments over the past 8 years, most were not of utter happiness. but led up to that moment. The utter happiness moment came when i was alone on an island canoeing in Minnesota and realized that gosh darn it – I was in LOVE and it was OK and that is what I wanted. (which is a big step after going through a divorce and all the aforementioned defining moments, which were not so happy) So I’m still with the guy and happy as ever.
follow your dreams!
YESSSSSSSSSSS!
high fucking five amelia!!
congrats to you, jonathan and your families.
enjoy the ride….
xo
Congratulations!! What a wonderful honor that I’m sure normal words can’t even describe!
I can honestly say that GHT is hands-down my favorite restaurant, anywhere. Just did a trip to SF and Seattle and while I had some fabulous experiences, none could *truly* hold a candle to my stints at GHT. I’ve shared your place with all the loves of my life and constantly re-fall in awe each time I visit (Kevin has been an amazing bartender/recommender each time). So, live it up! Be Proud! Drink some more! Yay Team Sawyer!!
I already told Jonathan and the fabulous crew of The Greenhouse Tavern that my proudest life moment was ten years ago when I won my wife with my culinary prowess. I lost her on July 3rd when our experience @ the GHT was by far one of our most memorable dining pleasures. I’ve ramped up my skills; but NOTHING will compare to the Clams w/ Foie or the Chocolate Flight w/ Grappa, or any of the other five items we enjoyed that night.
You guys deserve it ! Congrats to the enire Greenhouse Family ……… We will make the trip from Y-town many more times ………… (expect us in two weeks !)
Congratulations to you Amelia and your family!!! enjoy the ride!!
My utter happiness moment was when I got out of my own way, and realized I can do whatever I want, be whoever I want and ride my own wave of sucess. It is liberating to know I hold my own keys to happiness!
Congratulations on such a fantastic achievement! If the Earth Muffin clan is ever in Cleveland, the Greenhouse Tavern will be on our itinerary, fo shizzle.
One of my happiest moments was on March 3rd, 2000, when Big M. was born. Mr. EM placed him in my arms and the little guy immediately started nursing. Mr. EM, with tears in his eyes, said, “Wow…I just watched your mothering instinct kick in. Cool!” And, yes, it was “cool”.
Today I sat with Little M. while he labored over writing his alphabet. Today I watched Big M. play “Nature Jeopardy” at his day camp presentation. Today one of his counselors, whom I know from community theater, said, “That’s your mom? I LOVE her!” Today I had enough money to buy groceries for my family while others go hungry. Today I’m doing a mountain of laundry because we are blessed enough to have lots of clothing while others have none. Today may not be the best day of my life, but every day I spend doing things with and for my family is a good day.
Much love to The Greenhouse Tavern! I heard this morning and I was about to write a post of my own. I wanted to see if you wrote anything yet to link and here it is!
…Hey, I didn’t finish my comment! (silly macs) My happiest moment ….wow this is a lot harder to write than I thought. I don’t think about this moment too often, but I think I felt the happiest when I was offered my first (and current) teaching job. I never knew how difficult it would be at the time, but the moment I was offered to teach gave me such a feeling of accomplishment.
Again, love to the Widow, the chef, and Ohio in general!
Wow! Congratulations! What an amazing accomplishment! After everything you guys have put into the restaurant, to be recognized at that level must be outrageously gratifying! I might cry while smiling on your behalf!!
Will be getting my ass to Cleveland. And maybe that of my husband too. If he’s very, very nice to me. Hope I can get a reservation….
(I knew I should have hidden in Sarah and Devra’s trunk.)
Congratulations to the entire Greenhouse Tavern Team! We are so proud of you!!!
Happiest/ life changing moment: getting off the plane in NYC and seeing Jerel’s face.
This will come across incredibly cheesy, especially since I don’t know you personally, but reading about the greenhouse tavern and its newest accolade, i was crying happy tears for you and the chef. what an accomplishment for the entire team. thank you for making cleveland a better place to be. as for my own moment of utter happiness, i think it was probably when i went to slovenia with my grandmother over ten years ago. we stood together in front of the house she was born in almost 80 years prior, and attended mass in the church she was baptized in. these are moments i will never forget or trade for anything in the world… understanding where one truly comes from is so rare and special anymore.
cheers to you, the chef and the entire team at the greenhouse tavern!
I am so fucking happy for you guys. I’ve been reading since we moved here and I know how much you have put into the restaurant and it makes me smile to see you get this recognition. GHT has, in it’s short lifespan, already given so much back to the community and serve up some awesome food in a fantastic space. You’ve brought together an amazing team, worked your asses off and created your vision. This is awesome news and it couldn’t have happened to better people.
What awesome news! I am so happy for you, Chef, your whole family, and Cleveland!
I am bursting at the seams with pride because of my love of the GHT and heck, I am only a patron so I can only imagine that you guys are walking on air.
What a great day! Enjoy it! Enjoy every moment of it!
That is awesome and well deserved news. We are so happy/blessed to have you here in Cleveland. I just thought to myself today, that tomorrow is my BDay and I wanna go to Greenhouse!
What a great honor for the whole team! Freakin’ YAY!
Congrats! You and the Chef deserve it! We love Greenhouse Tavern and I’m glad that people who write important lists in magazines do too!
Another comment! I have to say that the Lime Away martini from the GHT just might be my favrorite thing ever. Yum and yum again.
I (and my family) were very touched that your chef offered to make some buttered noodles for my baby girl last night so she wouldn’t miss out on the good eats. Nice!
This is such exciting news! GHT is #1 on my list of 10 best restaurants fo sho!!!!! Best meal I’ve ever had, and atmosphere was outstanding. Bon Apetit is lucky to have you on their list; it makes them look very good!!
What a wonderful acknowledgement of the work and love you’ve invested.
THAT”S sooooo awesome A. Congrats. Many many congrats.
Wow, this deserves a BIG congratulations! It is well deserved!
Congratulations! All the best to you! How great for Cleveland and THANK YOU!
My life changed the day that I decided to leave my lame but safe M-F, 9-5 job and took a pay cut to work in a field that I was passionate about… less than 2 years later, I have doubled my income and am in love with my life!
That is such fantastic news! Whatever you do, just keep those pommes frites on the menu!
That is simply amazing! Many, many congrats to you, the Chef and everyone involved in making the GHT a wonderful, cool, fun, hip, and outstanding place to dine and hang. Our friends are coming from TX in the fall and the first place they want to try is GHT! Can’t wait to come again.
Today, someone will receive a second chance at life. I volunteered at the Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk (800 walkers just finished walking 60 miles over the past 3 days and each had to raise $2300 for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation). Their motto is: “Everyone deserves a lifetime” and isn’t that the truth!
CONGRATS, again!
Congrats to the chef family! I am so excited the GHT is receiving the accolades it deserves!!
Wonderful news! I know it hasn’t been easy and the two of you have poured your hearts and sould into the restaurant. It’s well deserved.
The city of Cleveland and the surrounding areas have such a gem in your restaurant! Congrats.
My defining moment was when I started my first graduate class. I had put it off to get married, have children, live my life! But seeing my name as a student again recharged me in ways I never expected. Fast-forward two years, graduation was in July and I am so proud to have received my Master’s for my husband and my children!
My life changed when I married my life last year. Before I met her in 2005, I was in a pretty dark stage in my life. She turned my whole world upside down and restored my faith in people.
Jennie is my best friend, and she saved my life.
Congratulations to the entire Greenhouse Tavern Team and thank you for sharing your story with all of us.
Day that changed my life;
One day, a dumb college guy came back to see his old high school’s fall play. Turning the corner to go back stage I saw her. She had been my friend for years, we had talked, been out with friends, and just hung out. We hadn’t talked for a couple months, but at that moment I knew I was in love with her. I can still picture her smile, her hair, and her dress like it was yesterday. That was 23 years ago and we had our 21st wedding anniversary this year. Without her I would not be the man I am today.
Amazing! I love your blog, and I am waiting quite impatiently for our babysitter to come back from her summer travels so that my hubby and I can have a date night at Greenhouse Tavern.
This year has been life changing for me. One instance alone does not mark the change, but all happenings bundled together have changed me. One of my friends lost her baby girl to cancer in May. In March, her daughter asked for one last family vacation together. The family had endured so many financial hardships because of the years of medical bills. They were incapable of paying for such a trip. My heart broke. My family has just begun taking our vacations together. I cannot imagine knowing I was about to take my last. I planned a spaghetti dinner called Amber’s Magical Memories, in hopes of helping this beautiful angel have her last wish. The outpouring of support was overwhelming. (we raised over 20,000 in just 4 weeks)
In my life I have never had much faith in man kind. I have always seen the worst in people. Known them to be so flawed. This March, however…I saw the beauty in strangers. I saw a beauty in people that I have never seen before. My life is changed forever. I no longer see people (even mean, ever so cranky people) as the “mood” that they are in. I see them as the 5 year old they used to be (begging their mommy for one more kiss at bed time), I see the mother who hasn’t slept in weeks, the waiter who just got stiffed. I never “saw” those people before. I believe it was my own selfishness that prohibited me from seeing “them” . That is how my life has changed… Like I said, it was not one moment, looking around knowing that it will always be different, it was collections of stories, generosity of strangers, hugs from a little girl who knew her time was short.
I know my life changed and when I knew that I was really “happy” was (insert cheesy cliche here), I met my one and only. It was not very long after I had brain surgery for a ruptured aneurysm, that I met this wonderful man who has supported all of health issues and anxiety and who has been there to pick me up when I fall. I can honestly say I have never been “this happy” in my entire life. I thank him everyday for being him and for finding me, and I am continuously grateful that I overcame such a traumatic and life changing experience that lead me in the direction to find the love of my life.
I also cannot be more proud of you guys. you and your family deserve nothing but the best and I am honored to have been by your side to watch your dreams come true. I love you.
My life changed forever when I had a sonogram and saw TWO heartbeats.
That is awesome, congrats to everyone involved with the Greenhouse Tavern. Thanks for all you do and for investing in our city.
Yesterday my husband, who was reading in the restroom (sorry honey), yelled out, “Greenhouse is named one of top ten new restaurants in Bon Appetit!” I was so flippin happy for you and your husband. It’s amazing to see someone rewarded in such a big way for all of their blood, sweat and tears.
My moment of happiness occurred last week. I walked in to my son’s bedroom and found my husband, son (4) and daughter (almost 2) laying in bed reading a bedtime story. My heart swelled! They were content and happy. My kids are so lucky to have a dad that is loving, involved and present. I knew right then that despite the hard times (believe me, there are plenty of them), we are doing the right thing by our kids.
Congrats to you and your chef! It proves that all of your hard work really is paying off. Keep it up and ENJOY!
-Erin
Congrats! I love GHT and everyone in it! We’ll be taking our Indiana friends to Greenhouse in a couple weeks while they are in town.
So, can I be sappy and admit that a recent happiness moment was when my bf told me he couldn’t wait to “fake marry” me. Yeah, it sounds super weird and cheesy on the outside, but to two people like us (and somewhat of an inside-the-relationship-only quirk), it was the world.
*mopping up the sap*
My life changed the moment I became a Mom… I became responsible for this 16 month old child who did not know me, could not understand my language and wanted nothing to do with me. Just learning to love, no matter what I got in return…. was the big lesson in being unselfish and the happiest moment of my life.
Congratulations!! I can only imagine the pride you must feel after the endless hours of hard work.
Defining moment of happiness for me…aside from the husband and kids, etc. Standing at the farm in the middle of a pepper/tomato field. It was a warm fall day, beautiful blue sky and perfectly sunny. Smell of fall in the air. Trees beginning to turn their colors. Harvesting gorgeous red peppers. Realizing that growing food for people…both those who could and could not afford to pay for it……was oh, so worth the hard labor.
I am so happy to see The Greenhouse getting the recognition it deserves.
I will never forget the first day that James and I had the Chef’s food: We were shopping at the West Side Market. It was a pretty gross day. We decided to try Bar Cento for lunch because we’d been eyeing it for some time. We had pizzas and a sliced tomato. And drinks. We stayed for like 5 hours, grocery bags and all, just enjoying our time there, chatting with our bartender Aren and the Chef, and watching the Cento crew cook. It was one of my favorite moments of my life in Cleveland, and immediately we were hooked.
I am so happy to see your dreams and hard work coming to fruition. We are huge supporters of you and the Chef, and the team you’ve put together at the Greenhouse is phenomenal. You create food, drinks and an environment that just make people happy. It seems so basic, but it’s just a great vibe that so many other restaurants miss. You are so deserving of this success.
(Sorry for gushing.)
And, as far as my “big moment” is concerned… I don’t think I’ve had it yet. I think the closest so far is the day that my boss offered me my job, because I had been wanting it for a couple of years. When I finally got it, I felt like my life was just beginning and the world was at my doorstep.
Hi there! I love this post. You and your family has given us all a reason to be proud of our city. For which I am very grateful. Unfortunately, I haven’t made it out to The Greenhouse yet, but I do enjoy your posts and tweets about your adventures.
Anyway, I wanted to share one of my recent happy, warm and fuzzy moment. This picture represtents that moment – http://twitpic.com/bjjjq My best friend, my boyfriend, and my baby sister. It’s rare that I can to spend time with all three of them at once. And here we are – all together happy, and ready to see my favorite Ohio grown band Red Wanting Blue. It was an awesome night and I was on top of the world.
Wow, what a rush! That’s awesome.
This is a silly happy moment, but it almost brought me to tears. About three years ago, when my son was 2 1/2, we were walking through a parking lot, hand-in-hand. He looked up at me and said, “Can I walk this way, Daddy?” and proceed to do a little skip. I said, “Sure.” He then proceeded to bend to the side, sway his arm in an exagerrated, gee-williker way, and swagger with a little Shaggy oomph. “Can I walk THIS way?” he asked.
“Yes,” I said, bubbling up with pride.
My boy was a goof, with a classic sense of slapstick humor.
In other words, in this blonde-haired, blue-eyed boy who looks just like my lovely wife, I finally saw me.
i am commenting again, because i could use some free stuff!!
MAke my day…. Hmm Well we love the GHT, and the other week we were sitting outside enjoying some apps and a drink waiting to go See lewis Black across the street on the 30th. It was a make my day moment to see Louisiana and Catcher jamiming to the music and you with the Tamoborene coaching them on outside with the Band. Kids are awesome. So happy and carefree. I wish we as adults can try a bit harder to do so.
Good meal at the GHT, Check
Watching Lou and Catch rock out to some good tunes, Priceless.
[...] hilarious, and her insight of what her husband’s success in the culinary world by being named Bon Appetite’s top 10 Restaurants in America. When she got her free stuff from Gap to give away, she threw a party for her restaurant. She gave [...]