Wow this job really sucks!!!! Blog #16

Now, that I’ve got your attention, let me explain. Wed. wasn’t so busy for me. I walked into the Resto a couple of times just to see how things were going and to make sure the contractor and his staff was working. Things are looking good!  We’re fighting the weather now and getting the front façade finished is taking some time. Thurs was meeting day. I had one at 9am and then nothing till 13:00. 9 am meeting went well. It was looking at used kitchen equipment. The budget is starting to extend its boundaries so I need to start cutting elsewhere. I feel so bad starting to knock off kitchen stuff. As a Chef, I’ve been victim many times of the front of the house getting everything and the kitchen getting sloppy seconds. So being a Chef and owning my own Resto, I was going to make sure the Chefs were looked after. But this is where I need to separate the Chef from the business man. I’ll come back to money in a bit.

My meeting was done and I was standing around at the Resto thinking, I could be doing something. I asked the contractor what I could do to help and he gave me the glorious job of vacuuming up all the concrete dust from the floor and corners of the wall. Seems easy enough I though. Wow what a hard job! (Hence the title) But I did it and it took me from 9:30 till 13:00. At said 13:00, I met with the Pepsi rep to discuss changing the lines and moving them as the bar will be in a different place. Then the 14:00 meeting…. duhn Duhn DUHN…..

So at 14:00 the engineer showed up with a partner. I had also arranged for my contractor to be there, the hood installation guy as well as the guy I’ll be buying the hood from.  We talked and discussed and chatted and surmised as well as himmed and hawed. Now I have had some big meetings in the past. I’ve even had an interview panel where 7 ppl interviewed me at once. But this meeting was intense. Don’t get me wrong it was great but my brain was fried when it was all over. The up shot of it was, we’re in really good shape. We don’t have to move a lot around. We can use an existing window for the air return and we get to put the hood were I wanted to in the first place. I am very happy and proud of myself for getting all these guys together at the same time. I mean what do I know? So watching these guys feed off each other and such, we saved a lot of time and money. Now with that was done, the engineers left and Paul (the kitchen appliance guy) and I, got to organize the kitchen. It is so much easier when we know where the hood and thus the hot side will be.

Now back to the money situation. This hood is going to cost upwards of $25,000.00. This is not a surprise as I’m very lucky if the fact that I have a brother who is a Fire Prevention Officer down south. So months ago, he told me what I needed to have and what they inspect and what it would cost approximately. I built this into my budget. I think this is where a lot of restaurateurs run into trouble.  Plan for the worst and hope for the best. That’s my motto. Jake says I’m pessimistic. I say I’m a realist.

Today I popped in. I had a meeting at noon. Met with Louise for a budget summery and we’re still a little high. But the outside is done, save a paint job. Hopefully we get at least one warm day next week. Otherwise, I’ll have to wait till spring to put the final coat of paint on the outside.

Next week we paint the ceiling and then we glaze the floors. Jacques did a small test patch today and I got to say I’m in love with it. I’ll put the pics on my FB page tonight. click here so you can get a sneak preview. Tomorrow I’m picking up some equipment I got second hand and then Sunday off. Have a good weekend everyone,

Le Commis Glenn