RW 2011, Day 2

I'm definitely feeling a little tired after today, must be getting old.  Today started off much faster than yesterday and the sales show it.  We have served about twenty more guests than yesterday and again, made it until close without running out if food.  No complaints on food, but we did have one a**hole who reamed my wife out because he allegedly had a reservation for two people...we have been very clear (for weeks) that we are not taking any reservations for restaurant week.  Besides, we never take reservations for parties under five  anyway.  Nothing's worse than getting yelled at for no reason by a liar and not be able to do anything about it but smile and apologize.  My wife earned her glass of wine tonight, maybe even the whole bottle after that one...

RW 2011, Day 1

This is the best start to restaurant week we have had yet.  We made it all the way until close without running out of food.  That's 81 happy people and only 1 minor complaint, that the pork was dry (of course, I beg to differ).  I think I really like this menu, let's see if I am singing the same tune come Sunday...

Take a Deep Bread

Restaurant week starts tomorrow and it is a long, hard week. Tonight is all about rest and sleep so we can really put our all into work this week. I'm sure I will have a lot to say about Restaurant Week at some point, but tonight I just want to enjoy a good night with my wife...

Come a Long Way

Here is a special that my crew came up with and it was delicious.  This is the first special they have put together that I had no criticisms.  It's the first special that they have put together that really represents what our restaurant is.  I couldn't have done better myself.  It was so delicious and so Bistro Les Gras, I am putting on June's menu.  What is the special?   Parisian Gnocchi made with local wheat tossed in a turnip green pesto with hakuri turnips, fresh turnip greens, local cheese and a fresh egg.  Wow... 

Innocent Bystander

The recent tornadoes that tore through Western Mass on Wednesday caused some pretty amazing damage, as tornadoes tend to I suppose.  It's hard to understand exactly what anyone affected is going through.  We found out that the farm we get our beef from, River Rock Farm in Brimfield, came away from the storm in pretty bad shape.  I have a hard time with situations like this because I fell a little helpless.  I suppose that anything and everything we can do helps, but it never feels like enough.  I hope everyone that was affected gets the help that they need and are able to move forward.  Anything I can do...

A Little Surreal...

I have had almost four days off from the restaurant.  Monday we were closed.  Tuesday I made bread and took off.  Wednesday I was at the restaurant but did paperwork and such all night.  Today I went in to make bread then spent the rest of the day at the golf course.  It was completely surreal.  I have never taken that many days way, it shows how much trust I have for my kitchen crew.  At least the crew that has been with me for years now.  It has been a special break, much needed (due to restaurant week coming next week), and even more appreciated.  I am ready to be back to work and can't wait to get back to my crew...

Kryptonite

I tend to like summer the least of the seasons and it's not because of the heat. Sometimes I think allergies are my kryptonite. Not having the sense of smell as a cook is like spiderman not being able to shoot webs. I may be exagerating just a touch. None the less, for me cooking involves all of my senses and when one sense is off they all go off, making it harder to do my job. It turns something that is normally fun for into actual work. I am going to try a new allergy pill to tomorrow, hopefully it works better than the one I have been taking leaving only the spring tornadoes for me to worry about. Speaking of which, I hope everyone is ok and the damage is only cosmetic...