March is historically the quietest month at the bistro. So rather than let the winter blues and lull in business get the best of us, we seized the opportunity to do something we rarely get to do: step away, recharge, and celebrate with the people who keep this place running.

After 27 years of running this bistro, I’ve learned that success doesn’t come from great recipes alone – It comes from great people.

Every few years, I get to do something that brings me so much joy. I take those loyal team members that have been employed with us 5 years or more on a cruise. It’s called our Team Cruise and it’s my way of giving back to the people who give so much to me. 

This year seven team members plus Wes and myself embarked on a Caribbean cruise. But before the palm trees and Pina colodas, there was a 3am meet up at the bistro and a bleary eyed limo ride to Detroit metro, and one seriously chaotic TSA line. Still we made our 5:45 am flight to Miami without a minute to spare. 

Then came the shuttle to the cruise ship- a 20 minute trip that turned into a 2.5 hour  tour of….. well let’s just say we saw Miami from a whole different angle. A bomb threat closed down the port tunnel and blocked almost every road leading to the Port of Miami. We were rerouted through some interesting areas that made us a little wide-eyed. But hey-what’s a trip without a little drama? Oh well – gave us something to laugh about and a story to tell.

Once aboard the Royal Caribbean ship Independence of the Seas- I gave everyone free rein to do their own thing, except one rule: We all eat dinner together every night in the main dining room. No buffets for us! It’s important to me that they’re served and get a chance to enjoy a relaxing dinner. We serve others all day, every day. It’s a real pleasure to be on the receiving end for once. And yes, I sprung for the drink package. 

If you know me, you know my motto: work hard/play hard!

Our first stop was Coco Cay, a private island paradise. I couldn’t wait to swim in the ocean- the last time I was in the ocean was 2017 on our last team trip. The next day we were off to Nassau in search of conch chowder, conch fritters, and buckets of cold Kalik beer!  We had a blast and even did a little shopping. The last full day was a day at sea, we spent most of the day at the pool. 

The team hit the casino after dinner most nights and all came home winners! I even hit a slot machine for $50 with a $5 bill I found in the sand on Coco Cay!

These trips mean the world to me. They’re celebrations of dedication, kindness, and trust. We’ve created something rare in our industry- a workplace where people stay, grow, and care deeply for one another. I am incredibly proud of our hardworking loyal team. We’ve built something special together over the years and this is my way of saying thank you. 

I am already dreaming of our next adventure!