Sour Grapes

Today my friend stopped by the shop and was thoroughly pleased with the way we arranged our cafe. She thought it was just the place to keep her in Brooklyn. Being a Brooklynite, she thought there was a need to have more places like Homage.

She thought it was part of my sweet success story. Hmmm. Of course, its great to actualize a dream I told her, but I had to tell her my most recent sour grapes story...

600 Dollars. That's what the Judge said. At a recent hearing. Apparently the thermometers I used for cooking were not up to par with what the Department of Health required. Mind you, I had 3 thermometers in my kitchen that were quite functional and that I showed to the inspector after he came to inspect our restaurant. He thought I needed a digital thermometer of some sorts and told me I would have to attend a hearing and see an Administrative Judge.

I arrived at the Department of Health at 10am, because that was the time I was given for my hearing. At 12 noon, we were told to leave the building and return in an hour because the workers were on their lunch break. Great. At around 3pm this wiry woman ushered me, a 'Homage Representative' into a small office to attend my very first Hearing. Did I mention that I was a Lawyer?

Well on that particular day I was a Restaurant Owner who the Judge (wiry woman) thought was chop liver because she did not give me a chance to explain that I in fact had 3 thermometers in my restaurant that were up to par. She proceeded to read me different lines from the 'Health Code' for about 15 minutes. 

Of course the Inspector was present and mumbled incomprehensible things to the Judge after being questioned about my thermometers. I had even brought evidence in the form of receipts to show that the 3 thermometers I possessed were bought from a reputable restaurant wholesale store and that said receipts were dated before the actual inspection.

Moot. The Judge felt it necessary to punish me and fine me in the amount of $600 for not possessing a digital thermometer. Sour grapes.