WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

That's how I feel about a new idea.  Some of you may feel that way about roller coaster rides, or winning the lottery, or, uh, moments in the bedroom maybe (just don't vocalize it, kay?  I don't care who your partner is, that's weird).  That's how I feel about a REALLY good idea.  I have many of them, and I freak out when someone else has a good one - try me; it's veeeeeeeeeeery interesting.

Enter my trip to Green Bay/Chicago/Gillette last week (yes, I did hit all those in one week, and no it's not as cool as it sounds).  This time my blog post is brought to you by Hemispheres Magazine provided by United Airlines (secretly I'm hoping the CEO frequents my blog and will send me a free flight for plugging them...maniacal laugh...).

As much as I complain about traveling, some of the best ideas are discovered on the road either by my own hand or the genius of another.  In this case, the genius's name is Blaine Wetzel.  It was on my way to Gillette, WY from Denver that this article caught my attention.  It intrigued me with it's Page One photo of a cereal bowl filled with...uh, well rocks...and oysters...and I think some seaweed?  And the picture was situated right underneath the category title: "Food and Drink". Ok, Mr. Wetzel, you got me, no need to put a gun to my head, I'll read the damn article!!

http://www.hemispheresmagazine.com/2012/05/01/so-far-so-good/

Mr. Wetzel is the owner and chef of an amazing restaurant called Willows Inn that serves fresh seafood in amazingly original recipes.  Like all restaurants that want to, you know, make money, this one is located in the middle of a metropolis with plenty of foot traffic to furnish a solid base clientele.  Just like everyone else.

Wait, no it's not.

Actually, it's located 90 miles outside of Seattle.  On a remote island where no people live.  And you have to take a ferry to get there.

"Blaine, what's wrong with you?!  You build restaurants near people, you don't make them come to you!!  You're crazy, this will NEVER WORK!".

PFFFFFFFT

Blaine's restaurant is thriving.  It is completely unique and completely brilliant.  People come from all over the world to eat his fine cuisine, dine in a one-of-a-kind location, and enjoy freshness that can't be found anywhere else.  Why?  Because Blaine did something DIFFERENT.  He took restauranting in a whole new direction, made his own kool-aid and then drank it, thought "outside the box" if you want to be cheesy about it...  Who says that people wouldn't drive 90 miles to take a ferry to eat at a restaurant that offers complete solice, a one-of-a-kind dining experience, the freshest seafood available, recipes that trump the finest of the finest, and a soft cool breeze unencumbered by smog and egos?

No, you're right, I'd rather squeeze into a tiny table at a crowded eatery in New York, trying to have a conversation over top of the lame music piping in through a cheap stereo system, the gridlock on the highway outside, the wining and moaning of the relentlessly unhappy couple at the next table, and the overwhelming smell of vanilla from the raunchy over-applied perfume of the lady behind me.

Not to mention, the unbelievably creative set-up of the dishes.  I cannot get over how cool it is that he puts rocks and seaweed in his recipes.  Want to show your customers how fresh your seafood is?    MAKE THEM FEEL LIKE THEY'RE EATING IT DIRECTLY FROM THE OCEAN.

Brilliant.

Why not?  Why hasn't anyone ever put rocks in a food bowl before?  Are they afraid people won't be able to figure out what is rocks and what is food??? 

By the way, here is the litmus test for a truly brilliant idea:  You find yourself thinking, Why hasn't anyone ever done this before?  You literally feel dumber for having not thought of this idea yourself.  Huh.  Maybe that's why I like coming up with new ideas.  It minimizes the amount of time I spend feeling stupid, lol?

Oh, and the final sector of my amazement is this: Blaine is only 26.  26.  That's 5 years ago for me.  At 26 he is running a completely unique, completely independent, completely successful restaurant that is revolutionizing the way restauranting is done (yes, I KNOW that's not a word.  Suck it up). 

I need to get on the God Damn ball.