autumn
October 1st
Today is our first day.
We open to the public:
All of you. Some of you.
You.
I have my plated dessert component par sheets in Excel.
I am armed with a pastry department schedule which has a vision in mind. For training, production, grooming, teaching, testing, and
even having a day or a night or a morning off soon.
{to do laundry. and see my father off.}
The Chefwear trousers came in. My ramekins arrived. The ice cream machine is in transit. Stainless steel ring-molds are ordered. Our first plated dessert mis en place inventory was made. {On Saturday night, by my crew, after our opening party.}
Open Table sports text/ copy in a voice you might recognize. {!!!!!}
Are we ready?
A resounding yes. Or, a resounding,
"Well we have to be don't we?"
The velvet curtain opens. Aprons are cinched tight.
here we go, yo.
Machines whir. Knives tap cutting boards. Expediters fire tickets. Cooks call back. Saute pans sear and sizzle. Herbs are snipped by razor sharp scissors. Sheet pans glide onto speed racks. Cooks feel frazzled, climb down into the warren hole/ the weeds; then they climb out and feel like heroes.
We bond.
Plates are scraped. Floors are swept. Soap dispensers filled. Art is hung. Lights are tilted like necks on cranes. Bartenders banter. Hosts purr.
Chairs move like choreographed mushrooms in a Chinese dance on the stage of Fantasia.
We are a ballet and a mosh pit.
A platoon and an Olympic team.
Tournament and Be In.
Welcome to my home. Allow me to feed you delectable elixirs
and sublime flavors tinged with evocative perfumes?
H a p p y O c t o b e r !
Shuna, congratulations! The restaurant will be on my must-do list for my next trip to your area. And, though I usually don't have it, I will be sure to have dessert!
Posted by: Lydia | 01 October 2007 at 10:29 AM
Chef D. was kind enough to let me intern with him @ Evvia. So glad to see him back in action.
Posted by: Dave L | 01 October 2007 at 01:21 PM
congrats!
Posted by: friedapplepie | 01 October 2007 at 01:46 PM
We're still talking about the tastes we had this weekend. Oh, my... (And thank you!)
We're definitely making plans to return once I'm home from my trip.
Posted by: Anita | 01 October 2007 at 02:55 PM
Fantastic! Best of luck...I will definitely be there soon (may not even wait to round up some guests) - the menu looks AMAZING.
Posted by: Diane | 01 October 2007 at 03:04 PM
Stunning piece of writing...really, just beautiful.
Posted by: Aaron | 01 October 2007 at 03:25 PM
Wow again, good luck! Hope the bumps get ironed out really quickly and its plain sailing and nice and busy. I looked at your flickr set yesterday and it is just gorgeous, really cosy.
Lovely japanese anenome pictures, remind me of home. I rarely see them here in socal.
Posted by: jennywenny | 01 October 2007 at 03:37 PM
Shuna,
Congratulations !! I hope to make a trip to your restaurant and also would love to meet you in person, you're writing and you are an inspiration to me. Flower pics are beautiful. Happy October to you too.
Posted by: sreelu | 01 October 2007 at 04:41 PM
well now i HAVE to come to san fran!
Posted by: robert | 01 October 2007 at 05:34 PM
hell yeah we're ready.
Posted by: | 01 October 2007 at 06:44 PM
You and your crew will be fantastic!! Big congrats to you.
Posted by: Laurie | 01 October 2007 at 07:02 PM
Good luck, good luck, good luck! And a Happy October to *you*.
Posted by: devon | 01 October 2007 at 10:37 PM
COngratualations to Shuna and everyone else at this wonderful new restaurant!SO wish I could be there....
Posted by: tbtam | 01 October 2007 at 11:44 PM
Congratulations! My only regret is that the Fancy Food Show is in SAn Diego this year. I always came to SF for the show. I had hoped to visit your place at that time. Maybe a trip is in store anyway.
Posted by: chronicler | 02 October 2007 at 02:45 AM
Congratulations to you and your partners in crime, Shuna! I wish I could be in San Francisco this evening. Break a leg!
Posted by: Tommy | 02 October 2007 at 04:34 AM
how do you like the pants?
SWI
F
Posted by: Joe Fish | 02 October 2007 at 05:15 AM
JOE FISH!! you finally surfaced from the Black Lagoon! And then you made me laugh really hard, when I finally got your joke. {I am really tired.}
nice to hear from you!
I lurve my new trousers, thanks for inquiring.
xo
Posted by: shuna fish lydon | 02 October 2007 at 06:11 AM
good luck, and may the force be with you!!!
congrats!
Posted by: steamy kitchen | 02 October 2007 at 07:37 AM
Congrats! I can't wait to eat there!
Posted by: Lisa (Homesick Texan) | 02 October 2007 at 01:40 PM
Woo! Congrats, and good work!
Posted by: Jim | 02 October 2007 at 06:07 PM
Hooray!!
Posted by: andrea scher | 02 October 2007 at 11:09 PM
YAY! Can't wait to try your desserts... and... oh yeah... the other stuff too! Congrats to you!
Posted by: wendygee | 02 October 2007 at 11:13 PM
man...i really need to eat at this place. way too many interesting places opening up lately!
Posted by: Richie | 03 October 2007 at 09:38 AM
YAY! Congrats!
Posted by: shelly | 04 October 2007 at 04:32 PM
Shuna, I am so happy for you. You must feel exhausted yet happy and relieved.
And that first picture is absolutely stunning.
xxx
Posted by: fanny | 05 October 2007 at 08:41 PM