I am officially back at the helm of the stoves at M.H. Bread & Butter. And stoked! When I heard that my replacements had put in their notice, I had no other single thought in my mind: I must go back. It seemed impossible to ask customers to stomach yet another menu change, not to mention the stress that another chef change puts on the front of house staff, the cooks, and the huge strain it would put on the owners. I am very happy that Devon and Nathan felt the same way.
In order to keep up my budding catering business, as well as continue to have time for all of the household work I have embraced and really enjoyed in the past five months, we agreed that I would come back as consulting chef. How this would ever work kept me up at night...staffing! training! ordering! I couldn't imagine how I would not be there over 40 hours a week. But I am proud and happy to report that three weeks in, it worked! I have a strong, kick ass crew. Some days I am there, some days I just check in. We streamlined a lot of systems that were not efficient. Turns out coming back with fresh eyes really does work.
Four months ago I would never have seen this coming. Now I am so happy that it did. There has been a special joy to seeing old customers again, getting big hugs, hearing how happy they are to see me. I love that I get to see some of my favorite people almost every day - Nathan, Devon and Josephine. And I really love the daily contact with my cooks. They are happy to be held to a strict standard, no matter how often I correct and re-correct, always pushing to inch closer to perfection. Hard work is easier with purpose and a cheerleader. That's how I like to think of myself sometimes. A "real" chef encompasses many things beyond putting fancy dishes on the menu. Teamwork makes the dream work! I love that one - thanks Wilcox.
So come down and say hi! If you've never been, now's a great time to visit. I may be there, and I may not, but either way the experience should be grand. And please do yourself a favor and get a chocolate chip cookie or a piece of basque cake for dessert. It will make your day.