Beaujolais in My Blood by Eric Neil Pitsenbarger

Against the backdrop of immense cultural shift in the late-1960s, in the unique setting of Mendocino, California, here is a poignant telling of what it was like for a closeted gay kid working and living in a family-run French restaurant.

Frequented by eccentric locals, tourists, and movie stars, Cafe Beaujolais became a local landmark. And though it has seen several incarnations, it remains the standard for fine dining on the Northern California coast.

Beaujolais in My Blood spans from the inception of the restaurant by Eric's parents to its eventual sale. While he witnesses the evolution of his parents' dream-moving away from TV dinners, and toward an appreciation of well-prepared food-he is all the while a young man discovering his true nature and the meaning of service through hard work and self-discovery. The result is a coming of age (and coming out) story told with grit and humor. Finally, here is the story of Cafe Beaujolais' colorful origin.