This certainly has been one crazy summer. The Cable area weather in May and early June wasn't great to begin with. And then in early July we had the horrific storm with flash flooding that killed several people and washed out roads all over northwest Wisconsin. All of the main highways have since reopened, some still with detours, but many secondary and forest roads remain closed.

Then just two weeks later the area was pounded once again with high winds that knocked out power for several days in some areas. The Rookery remained open throughout, but after running for nearly a full day our backup generator for unknown reasons apparently overheated and burned up. Fortunately, it appears our insurance will cover most of the loss and we expect to have a replacement generator installed shortly. 

Overall it has been a very difficult summer thus far for tourism-based businesses throughout the Cable area. Numerous vacationers have stayed away on account of all the press coverage surrounding the flooding and storms. Even many folks with seasonal residences here have been so busy recovering docks and boats that floated away, and repairing other storm-related damage, that they haven't dined out and enjoyed other leisure activities as much as they normally would.

On top of all this, here at the Rookery we've experienced our biggest challenge ever in terms of staffing, especially when it came to finding a permanent chef of the caliber we were searching for. The stories I could tell about chef candidates who didn't appear for scheduled interviews. Three of 'em, to be exact. Or about the two chefs I thought I had hired, both of whom showed up once and never came back. And didn't even bother to call. Really??? Someday I should write a book!

In the meantime, I am very pleased to report that with a week now under his belt, Chef Tim Bennett is fitting in oh so very nicely here at the Rookery. Granted things started out a little rocky when, on just his second day on the job and not enough backup help in the kitchen, we experienced our busiest dinner rush of the summer. And on a weeknight no less. It wasn't really fair for a new chef working off a menu inherited from a two month temporary replacement. But Chef Tim took it all in stride. Despite telling me it was his worst night in 30 years in the restaurant business, he bounced back the next day with a great attitude and things have been humming along nicely ever since.

This weekend Chef Tim will begin introducing some recipes of his own creation. In addition we'll gradually be bringing back a few items our guests have missed seeing on our menu. Things like pheasant. And risotto. Edamame. Northern pike. Fennel crusted pork loin. And probably our signature Rookery salad, among others.

I fully realize that in the eyes of many of our guests the Rookery has fallen a bit short this summer in terms of what you've come to expect. Please come back soon and give us another opportunity to earn your support and commendation.