Feels like weeks since I unburdened myself on here. Hope you don’t feel like I’m ignoring you. I’m not. Well, not any more.
January is the quietest month but I’m not complaining. We closed for the first few days to give everyone a rest and do some cleaning. When we reopened it was predictably quieter compared with December. I heard from a few people that when they saw us put paper in the windows during the closure they thought we were done. Yikes! We aren’t “rolling in it” but its not dire either. The paper was simply so people would know we were closed during the staff party that I was too cheap to pay someone else to host.
We’re starting to look deeper into how we do what we do to find efficiencies and ways to improve service. We’ve decided to start smoking our own salmon for example. At the same time, the furnace failed last week and I must apologise to everyone who shivered with us as the technician got it working properly. Someone emailed me that I should have closed but closing is a last resort. We comp’ed lots of coffee and tea and did lots of explaining but when the meat is as good as it is now, closing would be lose/lose.
I wish we could achieve a level of consistency where the meat was always as it is now but I know thats unlikely (due to the dry-rub method we use to cure meat). I continue to get emails from people telling me my food is “drek” and others who fine it “awesome”. At least they felt something, right? I just know when my nephew Max siddled up to the bar for a fresser and a root beer that he loved every bite and I loved watching him eat it. Great kid.
Happily, we’ve been doing more and more catering events. The live slicing was a big hit last night before the TJFF Cinefile “Anvil” doc event at the Varsity VIP theatre and also Saturday night at Mio Adilman’s 40th birthday. Not to sound like I’m trying to sell the idea that my smoked meat is fabulous but when its this good I love to stand behind it and watch people’s faces as they discover it for the first time. And then come back for seconds.
On the personal front, my bachelor pad (do people still say that?) is almost ready for a house warming party. I’ve got so much booze left from the staff party that it should be fun. Bought a funky vintage (that means ‘used but still expensive’) ceiling lamp for my living room that needs to be installed as well as a dimmer switch. You’ll see it at the party or the pics of the party. I also need a kitchen table. Friend and designer Jenny Armour used to have a Danish set that I loved. Round teak table. I’ll find something – just no more Ikea.
