Life, on the Line by Grant Achatz (book club reads .txt) 📕

on the third page down is the description “bacon, butterscotch, apple.” The three menus are tabbed and simply labeled “one” “two” “three”—with no mention of degustation, or chef’s menu, etc. The entire package is bound by a single piece of stainless steel on the left. Martin did a great job with this, and ultimately we hope to reflect the menu with a large art piece in the stair area based on the same appearance of the flavor circles in glass and light.

HAZELNUT YOGURT, CURRY SAFFRON, FREEZE-DRIED CORN IN EDIBLE TUBE

HONEYDEW, CUCUMBER, MASTIC

Martin Kastner continues to create collateral material and design service pieces. The menus and wine list are done and they are interesting, elegant, functional, and fit very well with the overall aesthetic of the restaurant. In addition, Martin has created a cork presenter (see below) and several prototypes for new pieces. We have also settled on an art-piece concept that he is creating for the end of the entrance hall. Called “the swarm” in concept, it will be a kinetic piece that greets diners at the end of the long entrance wedge.

THIS WILL APPEAR ON OUR WEBSITE.

Finally, Achatz LLC has put Joe Catterson, our GM, on payroll early. Joe is beginning to work four days a week interviewing potential staff, helping to create the employee manual, choosing and sourcing service pieces, and researching potential POS systems. Joe is also returning calls and e-mails from patrons requesting reservations. The investor group does not absorb Joe’s payroll costs.

“JOE, LOOK NATURAL!”

FROM METROMIX.COM—THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE WEBSITE—GRANT AND CURTIS DUFFY IN THE FB OFFICES.

INTERIOR DESIGN

The interior design budget was originally estimated at $175k. Currently, the actual cost is roughly $189k. Given that the decorative lighting budget is included in these numbers, I feel good about how much we are getting for the money. Tom has done an excellent job of sourcing furniture, then redesigning it and having it made at more modest prices.

For example, our first two prototypes for the custom tables were of generally poor quality with a bad base, ugly finish, and just didn’t look luxurious. This is the most recent iteration. SEE FIGURE 27

The table is mahogany and mahogany veneer. We are making adjustments to the size of the top and the material of the base to create more leg room. But the look and feel is amazing. A room full of these will look very elegant, especially when set with stainless steel accents, china, stemware, etc. SEE FIGURE 28

In addition, that is our fifth prototype chair. The only change from this to the final chair is that we are sloping the back an

extra inch to increase the lumbar support. The chairs have been ordered and are in production. SEE FIGURE 29

The contrast of the chair materials is not as pronounced in person as it is in this picture. The back is black and tan houndstooth in a material that looks like silk, but in fact is a highly durable (500k double rubs) material that can be washed with soap and water. The chairs are costing, all in, roundly $400 each—which is an incredible price/quality ratio given the junk we looked at for more money.

We have ordered 50+ silk accent pillows in four different materials that will alternate seasonally.

The LED lighting system is in production. It will consist of 50+ tubes varying in width and height from 6” diameter and 3 feet high to 16” diameter and nearly 8 feet high. These will be supported by a hidden system behind the banquettes in each dining room and will be placed in groups of three. The color and intensity of the light can then be computer controlled and varied throughout the year, or even subtly throughout the evening. For example, you could program them to change from light green to pale orange over the course of five hours.

The banquettes will be in a solid black material that feels like velour or velvet. The neat thing is that the material has the color bound to each fiber before it is woven at the molecular level . . . and therefore even though it is black and very soft, it can be scrubbed with soap or even bleach without the color fading.

Finally, we have eliminated for budget and design reasons the mechanical doors between the kitchen and the front of the house on the first floor. Instead, that entire wall will consist of glass panels akin to the ones used for the front entrance stairway. Since this does not border any dining room, we have decided to eliminate the kitchen door altogether, giving guests a glimpse into the kitchen from the front gallery, the coat room area, and the first floor restroom. It should be very dramatic.

SCHEDULE, PERMITS, INSPECTIONS

We were finally able to pay for our liquor license, which means that the 45-day mandatory posting period began on January 14th. That is very good news. All of the local investors who have already been contacted are going on the 24th for fingerprinting. We should have the conditional permit in hand well before necessary.

The schedule appears to look something like this:

• 1st week of March—Conditional Liquor License Granted

• End of March—Construction finished

• First week of April—Carpets installed, furniture placed, art hung

• Next 1-2 weeks—Buffer period for permits, liquor task force, COO and health inspection

• Concurrently—Kitchen staff and front-of-house training

• First week of May—Investors and creative team dinner. 1-2 friends’ dinners.

COST SAVINGS

In the midst of an update that will ultimately ask for a greater commitment from investors it may seem odd to mention cost savings! But we have received some good news on that front lately.

First, Ermenegildo Zegna USA has notified us that they do indeed wish to move forward and work with us on cross marketing. Zegna will be presenting three options to us