Feb 27, 202140 minutes across town, no problem!It’s fascinating how the nature of time evolves with age. As a kid, I used to think the 15 minute drive to the next town was eternity, as a university student I could rarely make it through a lecture without checking the clock 50 times. …Restaurants3 min readRestaurants3 min read
Feb 27, 2021Oh my, are these hand made?It is often said that you can discern the quality of a restaurant by their steak knives. I believe this to be true, albeit in an age where steakhouses are just as rare as vegan restaurants once were, that statement has taken on a new form with the changing times. …Restaurant4 min readRestaurant4 min read
Feb 25, 2021Sure, let’s… go for a walk?I am just going to come out and say it: walk dates suck! With the pandemic, they resemble some painful reenactment of the first date between Apollonia and Michael from the Godfather. Conversation feels forced and instead of a large Italian family following and judging you if you make physical…Restaurant3 min readRestaurant3 min read
Feb 25, 2021Tell me more about this cold burger…said no one ever!I have no formal culinary training as a chef, but I love cooking at home. There is something very satisfying when attempting to prepare a sophisticated meal, pulling it off with half of the cool kitchen tools needed, and then basking in the admiration of your friends or family. Psssst….the…Restaurants4 min readRestaurants4 min read
Feb 25, 2021Your kids need to talk to the server.For those parents out there with young children, this one is especially for you. Then again, I am sure many might agree with the greater message I am about to propose. Between online learning, Minecraft, TikTok (and is Frozen still a thing?) I am sure your children are maxed out…Restaurants5 min readRestaurants5 min read
Feb 23, 2021Restaurant Economics 101Part 1: A Flawed Model — Ever wonder why your favourite restaurant, that was always packed, and where you could never get a table, suddenly closes its doors due to financial reasons? You don’t need to be an economist to understand that something just doesn’t add up. Every so often, you cross paths with a headline…Restaurants3 min readRestaurants3 min read
Feb 23, 2021Restaurant Economics 101Part 2: A Revised Model — As a server paying my way through a degree in economics, I’ve observed many guests compete for the best tables by trying to slip a bill at the host stand. Meanwhile my owners were struggling to make more than 3% margins. …Restaurants3 min readRestaurants3 min read
Feb 23, 2021Restaurant Economics 101Part 3: A Brighter Future — Before Covid, there was a general thought that restaurateurs were wealthy. Although some are, many of those made their money before becoming restaurateurs. Most restaurants are actually owned by individuals who worked their way up through the industry and scraped together enough money to start their own place. Oddly, despite…Restaurants4 min readRestaurants4 min read
Feb 17, 2021A Year Since Covid…March 15, 2020 will be a day synonymous with a systemic change. Although Covid had been making headlines for a couple months, here in North America, reality was finally setting in as every major jurisdiction went quiet. …Restaurant2 min readRestaurant2 min read
Feb 17, 2021The Story of Mr. BoulangerA few years ago, I read a story in National Geographic titled “Who Invented the First Modern Restaurant?” Unsurprisingly, it was a Parisian chef known as Mr. Boulanger. His infamous dish of sheeps feet simmering in white sauce caught the attention of the growing French upper and middle class. Mr…Restaurant4 min readRestaurant4 min read
