Add a Little Love

Any good chef would tell you that cooking has to do with the relationships between different flavors and ingredients. Any great chef will tell you cooking has to do with the relationships between the people enjoying the food. Though I am not a great chef, I believe in the power of food to create relationships.

One of the hardest parts of moving from Chicago to Orlando after high school was losing my “regular” places. I lost my hairdresser, my dentist, my doctor and most important of all, I lost access to my favorite local restaurants. There is no pain quite like the pain of craving your favorite dish that used to be 5 miles away and now is over 500. Being the foodie that I am, finding a new spot to “be a regular” at was of utmost concern for me. Lucky for me, this goal ended in an incredible, personal relationship with not just one person but an entire establishment that makes me feel like I am home.

Located in Disney Springs, The Boathouse is one of the most popular restaurants to Disney tourists. Beyond the incredible fresh seafood offered, The Boathouse originally stuck out to my family and I due to the fact that it is owned by Gibson’s Steakhouse, a Chicago based steakhouse chain that decided to take a chance opening a seafood spot. However, some of my favorites beyond just their seafood include their pesto and vegetable pasta and their strawberry shortcake, pictured below.

To give more context to this story, I would like to note that my dad always said waiters and waitresses like my family because “we are fun!” aka my dad decides to interrogate and then proceed to share his life story with any waitress that seems even remotely receptive. In the case of The Boathouse, this trait worked in our favor. To make a long story short, the incredible relationship that developed between my family and The Boathouse, originally just our favorite waitress Tanya and Chef Ramos, resulted from my mother complaining. She complained about where we were sat, exclaiming “we never get good service in this spot!”, which in turn resulted in the best service and one of the now most important friendships of our lives.

After complaining about our spot, we were moved into Tanya’s area. Tanya is one of the most incredible women, as well as waitresses, I have had the pleasure of knowing. Already worked up over the seating, my mother then proceeded to complain that they had changed her favorite salad. The simple complaint about a salad is what began our friendship.

Tanya heard her concern and proceeded to go back into the kitchen and make sure it was

made exactly the old, original way. To make it even more special she had the chef, Chef Ramos, bring it out and present it to my mom. Though embarrassed, my mom was extremely gracious, and my dad launched into his “we are fun!” oversharing mode. Tanya and Ramos’ combined efforts were a simple, easy way to make a customer feel important and like they are being heard that so few other restaurants would simply overlook. The meal concluded with hugs, promises of a return and a generous tip.

Since our first interaction, our relationship with not only Tanya and Chef Ramos into a relationship with multiple members of the staff. Every time we come in, we are greeted by name and I am welcomed home from college and asked about my classes. Once sat, we are visited by any number of the managers asking how we are and checking in on other facts they remember about us. Before Tanya even visits the table initially, she grabs our regular drinks, sets them down and gets comfortable because she knows she will be getting a life update. Chef Ramos pays us a visit each time, and sometimes even brings us samples of the new dish he is concocting. My favorite part is how both nervous and proud Ramos is every time he gives us something to sample, almost giddy with excitement watching us taste it. The food is always delicious, but what I look forward to who I am going to see every time I go.

While these may all seem like simple, easy things a restaurant could do, The Boathouse and its people will always have a special place in my heart. Since meeting Tanya, she has come over for dinner with her daughter many times and it finally becomes our turn to serve her. Chef Ramos texts my mom weekly, updating her on his newest dish he’s perfect or asking about how I am doing at school. For both my mom and dad’s birthdays, he brought them in before the restaurant was even open and served them exactly what they had asked for plus much more. When I came back from my time in London, I made sure I had perfect gifts for them to show just how much I appreciate them and how much I missed them. Last

Christmas, my mother spent hours making, decorating and packing hundreds of Christmas cookies to give to the entire staff working during the holiday season.

A great tasting dish is great but knowing that the person who made it for you poured their heart and soul into it in hopes you’d enjoy just one bite transforms a dish. It took me a long time to even consider calling Florida my own, but The Boathouse was one of the pieces in the puzzle that helped me get to that point. As I said, the first act Tanya took by correcting my mom’s salad was not difficult, but it is one so many fail to do. Going that extra step and treating us like we were family is what keeps bringing us back. I love when all the flavors in a dish to create something delicious, but as grandmothers always say, a little love is what really makes all the difference.