National Waiters and Waitresses Day
May 21
The next time you dine out, beside leaving a gratuity, say a few nice words of appreciation to you waiter or waitress. It’s a really tough job. But, every once in a while, there is a great story to tell. Like, in 1984, when waitress Phyllis Penzo was tipped with half share of a lottery ticket. Penzo worked at Sal’s Pizzeria in Yonkers, New York, and was waiting on regular Robert Cunningham, a police detective. Cunningham offered to tip her half of a lottery ticket. The two picked three numbers each, and on March 30, Cunningham walked to a store across the street to purchase the ticket. Unbelievably, the ticket won $6 million dollars. When Cunningham called Penzo the next morning to share the good news, she didn’t believe him at first. After all, it was April Fool’s Day.
Chardonnay Day
May 21
Chardonnay achieved its reputation for greatness in the Burgundy region of France over 1200 years ago. Around 800 A.D. the wife of the Emperor Charlemagne, disgusted by the red wine that stained her husband’s white beard, ordered that white grapes be planted in their Burgundy vineyard, which is now called Corton-Charlemagne. Chardonnay takes its name from the village of Chardonnay in the Mâcon region of Burgundy. In the 1940’s, there wasn’t very much Chardonnay planted in California. A 1941 census showed less than 100 acres statewide. Today, Chardonnay vineyards are planted on more than 100,000 acres. Chardonnay is the most widely distributed white wine grape in the world. Americans consume over 840,000 bottles per year.
Today’s Birthdays of Note….
Raymond Burr – Actor Perry Mason – born in New Westminster, British Columbia
Mr. T– Actor A-Team – born in Chicago, Illinois
