Father’s Day
In the last 3 or 4 years, Father’s Day has become as big as Mother’s Day, usually with a more adult crowd. Yes, we have some well behaved little ones, but mostly grown children taking their dad out....
View ArticleFire.
A small fire broke out in the kitchen when my sous chefs and I were working on a new menu earlier this week. The stove top was full with French Onion Soup, Basque Sauce and Beef Bourguignon. I didn’t...
View ArticleToday.
Called my heating and air guy about reconfiguring the thermostats on the new heaters on back porch. Did this while still in my pajamas at home, watching last week’s TV shows on On Demand. (The...
View ArticleDay Off…
Pasta man, Mark, called my cell phone to leave a message about my order. I happened to be up reading and grabbed it in a panic. It was 4:53 am. I had no idea his day started at 3:30 am. … Continue...
View ArticleSaying Goodbye.
Julian and Jim moved to Maine last Wednesday. I thought of them during the closing for the sale of their house here in Atlanta on Tuesday. I thought of them during their 1200 mile drive with two cats...
View ArticleAm I confusing you?
Standing in the wait station having coffee at 3:00 pm on Friday: Me: So pancakes on Sunday… We have espresso butter, a little bit of hazelnuts. Didn’t know we would have so many figs come in....
View ArticleNo Shows.
def:/ someone who does not show up for a reservation at a restaurant. I am a huge Robert Altman fan. (deceased movie director for you young people) I must have seen “Nashville” 20 times. In his...
View ArticleFriday at 4:45pm
Why oh why does the heating and air conditioning system always go out on Friday afternoon at 4:45? Reservation sheet is full, service people on overtime and only if you can get them. Chilliest day of...
View ArticleBuying New Equipment!
I got to buy a new convection oven last month. It’s very exciting. When the one you bought 20 years ago dies with a dramatic clunk on Sunday evening, and it is one of your most important pieces of...
View ArticleThis week’s to do list
I haven’t had time to blog….this is why. My current to do list for this week New Door Handle for walk-in cooler Reorder outside lights Call landscape guy to clean up beds Spray for Mosquitos Order from...
View ArticleTwenty-one Years at Babette’s Cafe
On October 13, 1992, I opened Babette’s Café. Makes you feel kind of old doesn’t it?Many of you have been with me since the beginning. Some of you were in grade school. I’ve married, raised a daughter...
View ArticleShopping for Chairs
My friend Julia, is always nagging me to blog more. It’s hard to find the time and mental space. I showed her the new chairs I purchased for the deck at Babette’s. ”Well, you should blog about...
View ArticleEmbrace your inner valet.
Some people love valet parking…..Drive up, toss your keys to the guy in the logo shirt and go on in. They are right. Some people hate valet parking. They think it is an extra expense, an invasion of...
View ArticleChef Knives
Seems there is a trend for young cooks to buy a Japanese santoku style knife as their main tool of choice. They have an almost flat bottom to the blade The blade is also very thin and very, very...
View ArticleAn intimate moment….
Today my sous chef came to me with a personal problem. He had a tight knot in his chef pant and couldn’t undo them himself. I looked at the situation and said, “Well the first thing is, I need my …...
View ArticleSaying Goodbye.
Julian and Jim moved to Maine last Wednesday. I thought of them during the closing for the sale of their house here in Atlanta on Tuesday. I thought of them during their 1200 mile drive with two cats...
View ArticleThe Close of Sunday Brunch
It is with great trepidation and the utmost respect for all of you who been my champions over the years, that I announce I am bringing our Sunday Brunch to a close. Our last brunch will be October 26,...
View ArticleRules for operating a restaurant. Part 1
* Know how to cut fish. If you can’t do that, you can’t cook. * Know how to clean. Really, really clean…like scrubbing the faucet handles on the hand sink in the kitchen. * Know how to do basic...
View ArticleLight bulbs, and don’t even mention Christmas Lights.
Last weekend I realized that we had 3 different light bulbs in the lanterns on the back porch. When I went to dim them for service, it looked like a laser show. Light was blasting into one guest’s...
View ArticleThermostat Emergency at a Restaurant in Atlanta
The glamorous life of a restaurant chef/owner… Sunday: A thermostat for our heaters on the back deck was not working very well. The heaters were clicking on and off. We’re a restaurant in Atlanta, in...
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