In regular fashion I need a little time to reflect on the year, all it has brought, and how to weave a tale out of it. I am returning to the format of stream of consciousness with copious editing and embellishment so let's go for a ride.
January 2011- Oh how long ago. Naive, idealistic, headstrong, and socked in with snow banks so high and sidewalks so narrow we have to abandon the Cadillac stroller, force Olive to walk it out, and buy something new for twin transport. Of course it is a GREAT time to be negotiating a restaurant of my own. I went to this space 6 years previous, never forgot it, and now it has a dying business in it waiting for someone to swoop in. Why not?
February- Give notice, turn it up! finish strong, you are always remembered by your last days at a job, unless you get fired. Not that that has ever happened to ME?!
March- Painting, tiling, buying, selling, trading, writing, anything but cooking. Will this place ever take shape? Of course but how soon? Money's wasting, every day costs, how far before it is go time? Trip to the Law Room for some cocktail research ( word up!), encounter a lawyer that I actually trust and respect. Kids growing up fast. Running, playing, singing, ahhh childhood, ...pushing, shoving, biting, ahhhh....parenting.
April- Opening looming. Bring it together, come on! I need a cook who can handle the hot line? No experience but you REALLY want it? Sureee. Lots of ifs, especially with wine. Why is all this product showing up? No time right now but I really should look into these invoices tomorrow...Friends and family night! Who knew we were so popular! Not me, but the new cook who decided to not come in did. A classic SHIT SHOW! KJ steps to the mike and owns her first hot station, Sandy runs the expo like only your brother can, Antonio shows in one night just how valuable he is going be to RnR, and my General Manager? Houston, we have a problem.
May- General Manager fired, chef now also GM. Waitstaff incompetent and sinking the ship. Fire, fire, fire! Send back the $100 sparkling, get me some fucking Malbec! Blankets and pillow are sent to the restaurant by my loving wife along with a note that she has to travel with to Uganda in a week. Oh my god this is going to hurt.
June- Starting to come together but the food still is solid. At least we have this going for us. "This place is great!", "Wow, this is really GOOD!", "What a surprise. And you got the veges from where? Hell, yeah!"finally got some damn Malbec and a server who can handle their own.
July- 4th. Kids are gone to Cranberry Lake and I'm still here. Head down, work through it, go see the fireworks with Sandy and a road soda. The Charles never looked so good. Patio poppin, weather is perfect, I think we are getting the hang of this thing, review from the Globe coming, I wonder what would happen if when the review came out I wrote a letter to the reviewer giving her my "two cents" about the reviewing process? And hence forth Chef Delicious will be known as "the guy who wrote the letter"
Chapter one, my letter
http://reddsinrozzie.com/blog/open-letter-boston-globe-restaurant-critic-devra-first
Chapter two, review
http://www.boston.com/ae/food/restaurants/articles/2011/07/27/redds_in_rozzie_has_genuine_fun_with_eclectic_comfort_food_in_roslindale/
Chapter three, her letter
http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/food/dishing/2011/07/getting_reviewe.html
Home Run, except for all the shit I could have prevented but didn't I need more less better smarter oversight get them going push push push....Oh hell just keep on and actually live what you wrote.
August- New GM on the hook, finally taking off one of the hats. Damn that was heavy. Trip to NYC, 11MP w CDB. PIMP! Trip to the beach with the Mitch,Swift, Erik, wives, kids, and all that comes with it. How is it possible that four people can stay so similar,convince such wonderful women to marry us, and have kids with us? Escapes me but I am grateful. Gin fizz, sparkle this, skinny dip, baby splash pool, who knew you could talk so much shit over shuffle board? Big ups to the old school. Wave on. Website goes up. Computers, how I loath and love thee.
September- Busy, busy busier. Finally becoming a real restaurant. Cornhole set arrives, now we're popping! Weather stays warm, tomatoes still coming, two months solid! Hell yeah. Whole pigs coming in the back door, charcuterie, curing, sawing, cutting, youtubing, tweeeeeeeeting, who is this guy Delicious?
October- Cool it down and shut the patio. Get that record player but where is the automatic spindle? In the toy box?! Arghhhhh! Time to get my hands dirty again. Cook, cook, cook. Putting in 100+ miles on bike, who knew a commute could be so good? Gotta keep it tight for my girl.
November- Farms are still cranking and things are coming together. Even with the Commonwealth breathing down my neck and the City of Boston's gangsters hitting me up for thousands to renew my golden liquor license that is from prohibition we are still head up and looking good. Family, work, car, health, hitting the gym to get some weight on ( that damn bike is melting me away!), still no sign on the door and the city has no money for me. Still can't be stopped. But it sure is tight! Thanksgiving includes a blast up to Maine, warm relaxing dinner lake side, good wine, and a swift return to Boston.
December- Just let this year end with a bang, please? Best of 2011 from Boston Globe, Phantom Gourmet running a piece all month, doors still swinging. It;s a good thing I run my mouth and have no shame. Wrestling masks, talking shit, I've lost my mind....but people love it! Check out the link below of a tv spot, but please don't recite any of these lines to me...please. It's embarrassing enough being me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbiUMGvCLGs
To 2012- Prosperity, Peace, Security, and more sleep.
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