A little over a year ago, a desperate and weary young man came into the restaurant looking for a job. He had just spent the last few hours filling out applications at every restaurant in the area, although he had no restaurant experience, and he had been told at each restaurant that “we aren’t looking for anyone right now, but we will give you a call if something opens up”. He was well aware that he would not be hearing from any of them, and as an incoming freshman at Bentley that fall he needed to find work to help cover the cost of school and commuting out to Western Massachusetts to see his family.

I’m not sure what it was about him that I liked. He was eager, and he reminded me of some of the men I had worked with in the Marine Corps; that could have been it. And then he said to me “I won’t disappoint you.” That was probably it. I needed someone to fill in a few shifts and to be open to pick up for people who needed a shift covered. I was slightly concerned with his lack of experience, but he was essentially a blank canvas; no bad habits.

Needless to say I have not been disappointed. Mike Taberski has done everything I have asked of him and more. He has volunteered his time this summer to work as an intern here in the office as we are preparing for an upcoming expansion, while still working full time as a server/bartender. He will be leaving for basic training in September after which he is off to Fort Sill, Oklahoma for several months of further training.

Thankfully, Mike has enlisted in the reserves, so we will be getting him back later next year, when he can get back behind the bar creating new drinks for us to feature. Speaking of which, this is his latest, which we have decided to call the “Sgt. Pepper”, to honor his upcoming service. Its ingredients are: house-made jalapeño-infused tequila, house-made cucumber & clove agave nectar, Combier orange liqueur, and fresh squeezed lime juice. It is incredibly refreshing, with a wonderful background layer of heat from the jalapeño tequila that will sneak up on you. I’m very excited about it, and I hope you will come by and try one.