busboy (Charles Sweeney) Steps Down

[Chris Amirault]

Charles Sweeney, aka busboy, has stepped down to spend more time with his family. Honest! He said so!

His service as a host will be missed tremendously, as will his behind-the-scenes work on the reorgs and other projects.

You can thank him for his service in this topic. Here's my two cents.

Charles and I disagreed repeatedly, with good humor and no regrets throughout his time as a host. I can't ask for more than blunt honesty in a person, and Charles has that in spades. (Hard to figure, given he lives in DC, but no matter....)

I learned a lot from his gregarious approach to food and drink, and one of my favorite eG Forums posts of all time is his his paean to washing dishes. He's a one-off, Mr. Sweeney, and we all benefited from his tenure.

Thanks, Charles. You can carry my dishes to the sink any time.

[docsconz]

I very much enjoyed hosting alongside busboy, especially in the Restaurant Life Forum. One of the highlights of my many wonderful interpersonal experiences drawn from eGullet was the time my wife and I had lunch with Charles and his lovely wife at Vidalia in D.C. Both are completely charming.

Charles, I hope to continue to see you around here and over meals in your new, civilian capacity!

[maggiethecat]

I learned a lot from his gregarious approach to food and drink, and one of my favorite eG Forums posts of all time is his his paean to washing dishes. He's a one-off, Mr. Sweeney, and we all benefited from his tenure.

Charles, you are Mr. Gregarious. Have fun with your family.

And if you're ever in Chicago, we can ferry dishes together. Bonne chance.

[Rich Pawlak]

An endlessly curious and gregarious host and colleague indeed! Good luck in anything you do Chuck!

[JPW]

I am sure that he will continue to speak truth to power from his new job as chief speechwriter to the Ron Paul campaign!

(kidding, just kidding)

[gfron1]

Ditto - a wonderful host to the capital and good-minded host. Thanks for all you've done.

[hjshorter]

Thank you Charles - you are an awesome host & partner in crime, both online and in person.

Heather

[racheld]

Thank you for all the bright, interesting things you’ve done and posted and said during the time I’ve been associated with eGullet. I still think of you in the after-party mullings and setting-to-rights of the house, the kitchen, the musings and the memories, the careful little jottings into the book of the tastes and the conversation, and yes---you’ve outed me—the CLEANUP.

I liked the rituals and the patterns even before your evocative words turned it into a seductive art, and now the steam of the dishpan---the scent of Apple Dawn . . .

Thank you, our kind, funny, smart wordsmith friend, for all of it.

Edited October 8, 2008 by racheld (log)

[Busboy]

It was a wonderful experience, both in the people I met and the things I learned. I hope that just because I'm not a power broker any more people like Doc and Rob and Rich won't stop coming around when they're in DC.

I leave with a tremendous respect for all of the hosts and managers who have put passion, creativity and an immense amount of time into making this site the best food site on the web. I look forward to continuing to contribute to it and to being a part of the community we have here.

Interestingly, my new "free time" endeavor is also food-related, though on a less exalted level: as a leader-apparent of the Elizabeth Seton High School Rowing Team Boosters, I will be managing a snack bar during University of Maryland football and basketball games, with a crew of teenage girls as my FOH and gang of parents "on the line" in back. My first goal -- teaching them how to fry the frites twice, just like the bistros do.

Sadly, my suggestion to expanded the offerings beyond frozen burger patties and brutally brined chicken breasts to include Terrapin Maryland has been shot down.

[robert40]

Always helpful and quick to offer valuable suggestions was Charles trademark.

You certainly will be missed and best of luck to you!

[C. sapidus]

I hope that Charles can occasionally tear himself away from the bosom of his family to compose his typically witty and erudite posts. Also, props to Busboy (and Mrs. Busboy) for graciously hosting What makes a perfect crabcake? (click), a delicious and delightful evening. My favorite line from his write-up:

Note: if one of the crab cakes collapses like an Italian governing coalition, let the pieces fry until crisp, scoop them out with a slotted spoon and eat them yourself without telling anyone.

Such writing should not be wasted on politicians.

[John Talbott]

Charles

My thanks for your work and advice to me.

John

[Sukie]

Good Luck!

[Mayhaw Man]

Be up there at the end o' the month. Lunch? Commonwealth? for a number of reasons, I've become a fan.