Write on, Tim

Perfect timing. Sometimes you get an idea at just the right moment. Last week we had a houseguest from Oslo. She was only in California for a week and my husband and I were working so we didn't get to do a lot of traveling with her. We wanted her to have at least one really special evening in Fresno, so we splurged on a dinner at Echo.

I knew Tim Woods and his expert crew would make it a night to remember. I'm so glad we did. It was a lovely experience, from the wine in the sweet glasses to those unbelievable desserts. That night, Tim told me he was tiring of the restaurant business. I didn't take him seriously. I thought he was talking about taking on another side business, which didn't surprise me. When you are energetic and talented in so many fields (food, art, design, gardening, writing, architecture), it's hard for one enterprise to keep your interest. My response was quite selfish: "Good, then you can have time to write again."

In Echo's early years, Tim wrote a food column for The Bee, a very good one. He stopped writing when the restaurant became so demanding that he no longer had time. I hope he'll find a way to get to the computer again to share his expertise and insights, even if it's just a blog. Let's encourage him. Send him a message