Happy New Year from Coho Restaurant. It seems like yesterday that I was sending out 2009 Holiday greetings amidst the snow and ice. Mother Nature has been quite cooperative affording us moderate weather so that we can showcase wonderful winter greens and vegetables from the local farms for our holiday dinners.

While we miss our personal holiday and family traditions, we get an immense sense of satisfaction sharing the holidays with our guests. While we are in the giving business, many times it is our guests who give us the most important gifts. On Christmas Eve, I received a call from an elderly gentlemen who asked if we were serving Christmas Day. I said, "Unfortunately, we are fully booked. May I put you on our wait list?" Throughout the course of our conversation, he apologized for stuttering. He told me he had recently suffered a stroke. "What other restaurants are open?" he asked. I replied, "I believe we are the only one open on Christmas. I am happy to put you on our wait list, but I can't promise a table." He said, "My wife passed last month and my son is coming for a visit. I am not much of a cook, but I guess we can have sandwiches." "Merry Christmas, Mr. Webb. I hope we can accommodate you." When I got off the phone, Erin, one of our innkeepers said, "What's wrong?" This is really sad. How can they stay at home and eat sandwiches for Christmas? He is already alone without his wife. We figured out a way to add a table so that we could accommodate them. I felt a great deal of gratitude and satisfaction picking up the phone and saying, "Mr. Webb, we can accommodate you for Christmas dinner." To us, this is what Christmas is all about.

Tonight as Dave and I sit down to our Christmas dinner, we will remember Mr. Webb and the countless other guests who have given us wonderful gifts throughout the year.

Our wishes to you and yours for 2010.

Looking forward to having you for dinner,