Casa Italia and the Espresso Machine

I have a nemesis. My nemesis is an espresso machine. Now I don't even know if an inanimate object can be a nemesis but for the sake of arguement (and this post) let's say it can. Now there isn't anything actually wrong with this espresso machine, it makes perfectly fine coffee. The problem is that they've put this machine in my winebar. That's right, MY winebar. Why is this a problem you ask? Well, I'll tell you. Everytime I'm back there trying to get anything done ( and in the last few days there were many things to get done) I'm constantly interrupted by someone wanting a coffee. And, even though I politely explain that I'm not responsible, I get attitude. Major attitude. I'm a Sommelier, not a barista.

On Saturday night, Casa Italia hosted a dinner for various members of the local Italian community and other guests. There were over 140 people seated for dinner. It was established prior to the evening that myself and my wonderful wine assistant Jana, would be responsible for the winebar then wine service at dinner. We would not have to deal with Mr Espresso. Fine. After being run off our feet trying to provide very excellent wine service, we went back to the winebar area to collect our things. At this point, the crowd present was then expecting us to make coffee. Again we politely explained that we were not baristas. The next morning, upon my return, I encountered one of the ladies who is present daily at Casa Italia. I have no idea who she is or what she does. She is making herself a coffee when I arrived and after I cheerfully said good morning, she turns to me and gives me this major attitude about the fact that I didn't make coffee for her last night. Pardon? First off, I don't even remember speaking to her, secondly, it wasn't my responsibility to make the damn coffee. And lady, if you're that irritable, perhaps you should be cutting back anyway. And while you're at it, get rid of the menstrual red runners, they're not attractive.

Now I'm really pissed. I've had enough of this nonsense and take matters into my own hands. I head out to resolve this espresso issue once and for all. I will not be spoken to in such a manner when I have done absolutely nothing to deserve it. I let the powers at be know that there needs to be an official espresso person present during the day. They agreee but make no motions to find one and just tell me to because apparently I'm also a walking classified section. Fortunately, I did have a lead on someone and made the call. I'm happy to report that within an hour, I had found our new barista and she starts this morning. I will no longer have to deal with Mr Espresso, at least during the day. After dinner, I will turn into a barista.

The wine bar area isn't very big and between the wine glasses and all the damn coffee cups, it was impossible to handle. Executive decision #2 of the day, get rid of the coffee cups, saucers and spoons. They can drink their coffee in the small paper Illy cups provided of which we have large quantities of and use stir sticks. Perfect. I move all the coffee cups into storage. The sun is starting shine again over my wine bar. The actual owners of the machine arrive and agree that this is a good idea and that they will send a person to train our new barista. We all agree to not have any milk handy so cappuccinos are not going to be available. This shouldn't be a problem as I didn't have any requests for any. Spoke to soon. There was one gentleman yesterday who kept asking for milk, just a drop for his coffee as he wanted a macchiato. I told him politely that we did not have milk and we weren't getting any. No good enough obviously because he came back not even an hour later with the same request. He didn't look mentally challenged but I guess looks can be deceiving. I even had one gentleman on the Saturday night ask me for a package of coffee. I told him all we have is large tins of beans which then get ground. He then asked if I could give him a bag of ground coffee so he could make coffee in the morning. Buddy, you're in Vancouver. There is a coffee shop every 10 feet (I think it may be a city ordinance, but I'm not sure). There are more coffee places side by side here than in Italy. You don't need to make coffee in your room. I told him if he found a bag I'd give him coffee. Never saw him again.

The deal with the after dinner coffee is that the guests go to the bar and get it themselves. Last night, one of the dinner guests was the head of the Italian sports federation. One of his minions came over asking us to bring him coffee to the dining room. Really now. And, it was determined that a paper cup was just unacceptable. Well, guess what, the cups are locked in the storage room and I don't have a key. So, since I couldn't find anyone to unlock the door, (I did try), Mr Important got his coffee in a paper cup. Which I delivered on a tray, and apologized for it being in a paper cup. He was actually very nice and from what I could figure out later, it wasn't him that wanted the super special service, it's whoever's kissing his butt that wanted to get princess points.

And then there's the person that wanted camomille tea. I won't even go there.

Update: Less than 30 minutes after posting this entry I got a call saying that the girl we hired as barista showed up and left after 30 minutes. This proves that an inanimate object can be a nemesis.

Casa Italia - The Drama Diary - Part 1

Ok, I realize this blog hasn't been the most active lately but I believe in quality and not quantity.

So, with this whole Casa Italia experience there was absolutely no way that it could run efficiently. Italy as a whole doesn't so why should one pocket in a foreign land be any different.

This Drama Diary is subtitled Part 1 because there is no way we're going to get through the rest of the month without a Part 2.

Here goes.

Today I picked up Alessandro the Enoteca Italiana rep. He had a very long flight day with several delays but was still very upbeat and excited about this experience. I took him from the airport to Casa Italia as he wanted to check in and meet the fellow who had arranged his accomodation for the next couple of weeks. His name was Stu.

We get to Casa Italia and it is chaos. I'm really not surprised by this. I've lived in Italy long enough to know how things work. Here's how Casa Italia is structured. The company Assistigroup is running the main show. Toni group is in charge of the restaurant and Enoteca Italiana the wine bar. While most of the other countries 'houses' are setting up in established restaurants and bars, Casa Italia is setting up in a community center. So they are essentially creating a restaurant and bar from scratch. So, this means, getting all the necessary permits. One of the first things I have to hear is that how ridiculous it is here and that being as Vancouver has invited the world, they should be a little more elastic with their rules. It wasn't this difficult in Beijing.

Really? Imagine that. The Chinese not following the rules. Nothing left to say on this subject.

So, after meeting various people and trying to figure out how this whole thing is going to work, along comes Stu.

Stu is about 25 and a realtor. He has forged an agreement to rent a 2 bedroom apartment to Assistigroup for the Toni Group for $11,000 for the month of February. He thinks he's renting to Casa Italia which as a corporation does not exist. This is also his own personal apartment that he's renting. And it's in North Vancouver. About an hour from the Casa Italia site on a good transit day. With a 6 block uphill walk from the sea-bus terminal. So for you non-Vancouverites, the people staying there would have to take the subway, then a boat, then walk a good 10 minutes uphill. All this after working until midnight. Good luck making the transit connections as Vancouver's transit does not run all night. Completely impractical.

In all fairness to Stu, and this is the only part he gets some fairness, he made this clear however, he's selling to someone from out-of-town who doesn't understand the city's logistics and who never took the time to see the property.

Ok. You now have background.

Stu arrived at Casa Italia to take Alessandro to the apartment (his apartment) where he is supposed to be staying during his time in Vancouver. Alessandro asked me to join him so we could go for dinner afterwards. With us was the lady from Toni Group who's staff was also supposed to be staying in this same apartment.

After a very interesting drive with Stu (he drives worse than Italians) we get to our destination. The apartment is lovely however it is completely inappropriate for their needs. Stu, sensing a problem, starts getting pissy. Well, pissy is being kind. He starts copping a major Tude. I pull him aside and start to explain the clients' concerns. Tude gets larger. I then tell him to get the Tude in check as it's not professional. Stu is now not listening to anything as the Tude has obviously impaired his hearing. He now starts behaving like the 25 year old spoiled brat that he is.

Well, it's all downhill from there. Stu, only has a verbal agreement with a rep from Assistigroup. He desperately wants someone to sign the contract but the person with us doesn't have the authorization to do so nor will she as the place does not meet their needs. Stu gets even more childlike. I am trying to get him to behave professionally and chill. But Stu just grabs the shovel and starts digging the hole that he will never be able to emerge from.

Like an episode of the Jersey Shore, Stu calls us names, and kicks us out of his apartment. Very dramatically by the way. I tell him that he is behaving unprofessionally and that he will not have success as a realtor if he doesn't change his behavior. I am told (by Stu) that he is already successful.

Right

So, down the hill we walk, to the seabus, then the skytrain to the Moda hotel where we found accomodation for poor Alessandro (who still has his suitcase in tow). Accomodations are still to be determined for the select Casa Italia staff but there was a 2 bedroom apartment available 2 blocks away from the Casa Italia site for $8,000 for the month. A bargain compared to Stu's offering and in contradiction to Stu's claims of not being able to find any other accomodation in the city at this late date.

This accomodation drama is yet from over. I was happy to have been there, as were my new Italian friends. They got to let me handle Stu (which I was told I handled more tactfully than they would have) and Stu can't claim that he didn't understand what the concerns were.

And I finally got something worthy to blog about.

Stay tuned.