2008 Woodie Awards
Charlie's grill is home to an overlooked standout
Lauren Ruffing
Issue date: 4/16/04 Section: Viewpoint
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When I saw the ten Red Sox hats, ranging in color from the traditional red and blue shades to more feminine pastels, lining the grill counter in early October, I was bewildered, to say the least. How did they get there and why? As I noticed the return to blank counters for dinnertime, I knew that Rosie could be the only suspect. During the nail-biting playoffs, her attire never ceased to reveal her support.
As the sports seasons changed, the displays did too. Rosie proved that she doesn't discriminate; she isn't just a baseball fan.
Late first semester, the holiday air circulated around Charlie's, but most intoxicatingly at the grill, where a mini Christmas tree and a bowl of tiny ornaments found its home. Rosie insisted that each grill-ordering student decorate the tree. As the tree began to overflow, she even brought in a second, wanting to make sure everyone could partake in the festivities.
Did Rosie forget about finals? Of course not. She was ready with Smarties in hand, individually wishing everyone good luck.
Lately, the displays have been changing on a daily basis. From David Ortiz to Cat in the Hat figurines, there's always something new, something with a personal touch, to observe while waiting for that grilled cheese or grilled chicken wrap. "It's all in good fun," Rosie will remark.
Rosie isn't just creative; she's nice, extremely nice, a kind of nice you don't encounter too much anymore. She knows my "usual" and now even my name. She certainly has no responsibility to know either, but I think that she enjoys it. It's evident that she exerts effort and takes pleasure in getting to know Assumption students.
Rosie doesn't have to do what she does. She doesn't have to conserve warmth by covering sandwiches with another plate until the owner picks the order up. She doesn't have to recall whose order is whose. She doesn't have to smile. She doesn't even have to say "hello." But she does, and she does it all with such genuine sentiment.
Some other members of the college food service staff can be less than polite. Some mumble, avert eye contact, and never lift their impatient-scaring gestures. You better know exactly what you want when you're in the on-deck position, and you better spit it out in three seconds flat when you're up because there's no time to mess around. Oh, and make sure you've mastered what's served on what day, because that arena is likely to cause trouble.
It's not to say that there should be guidelines to follow and attitudes to adopt when making and serving food. It's not to say that a customer should expect anything. The point here is that there are some, like Rosie, who go above and beyond in both their work and their interactions with acquaintances and strangers, probably because that's simply who they are. I'm not criticizing the impersonal or even the impolite. I'm just thanking one of the very personal and very polite. Rosie is definitely noticed and certainly appreciated here at Assumption.