Author Archives: Robert

I was the best man at my best friend’s wedding last weekend. It was a great event, and everyone who knows the bride and groom are extremely happy for both of them— chief among them, me. When my friend and his new bride departed for their car to head to the honeymoon, everyone lit sparklers,Continue reading “Wedding Throws”

My son eats too fast. He likely acquired that habit from his old man. I don’t know from whom I inherited my speed eating. It’s nothing I’m proud of, and in social settings I try my best to slow down. Though my son has one eating speed— full fork ahead. He has been that wayContinue reading “Speed Eating”

Some people are outdoors enthusiasts, some are hunters, others are fishermen. There are golfers, and skiers, and bird watchers. Some people are leg men, while others go for different parts of the anatomy. Those are all well and fine, and I can identify with several of them. But, to my core, I am a breakfastContinue reading “Breakfast Guys”

For over 20 years I have written this column sitting at my desk in our restaurant’s business office. Today is different. I am sitting at a booth in the Ward’s hamburger restaurant across the street from my office. I received a call earlier today that the owner and co-founder of Ward’s, Richard Ward, passed away.Continue reading “Ward’s”

I am a Methodist because my grandfather owned a pair of shoes. True story. Thomas St. John was the oldest of seven brothers who grew up in the small town of Brooksville, Mississippi around the turn of the previous century. His father was Methodist, and his mother— my great-grandmother— was Baptist. The Methodist church inContinue reading “Sunday Buffet Dash”

The restaurant business is a harsh mistress. She is brutal on your mental and physical health, and very demanding of your time and resources. Yet I couldn’t imagine myself doing anything else. I love what I do. We opened our first restaurant, The Purple Parrot, in 1987. I worked 90 hours a week in theContinue reading “Back In the Saddle”

“He was a brave man that first ate an oyster”— Jonathan Swift The “food firsts” in my life have all been memorable. I remember the first time I ever ate lamb. Actually, I remember the first time I was ever told that I was eating lamb. I had actually been eating it for years, butContinue reading “Oysters”

It’s school day picture season and I am nearing the end of a 12-year photographic adventure with my son. The next chapter of his life is set to begin after he graduates from high school in a few months. We just received his senior photos. His mother and I never know what we were goingContinue reading “School Day Photos”

Life is full of unexpected twists and turns. One of the most unforeseen and fascinating aspects of life is how— if one lives long enough— the things that seemed so trivial or laborious in our youth wind up becoming applicable and practical in everyday life. Even though I showed a little bit of promise earlyContinue reading “Lessons Learned”