tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-256578742012-01-21T11:51:36.522-05:00The Creation of a Restaurant at the Radcliffe Mill... or... Time Passes No Matter What You Dobhsnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2151100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-56214523280634683402007-06-03T08:17:00.001-05:002007-06-03T10:03:41.873-05:00

What a time we have had these past two weeks. Sleep and food were low on the list of "things to do". But, we made it. On Tuesday - May 29th - we had our last health inspection at 3 PM, at 4:15 we had our licence and at 5:30 we opened. Whew! We had 9 customers our first night and felt great about it! Every night this week we've served a few more people, gotten a little more practice under

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-44213371107175217362007-06-03T08:15:00.000-05:002007-06-03T08:55:44.445-05:00

The soda man is installing the soft drink system in the kitchen in the top left picture; top right is the Ruby in the office where she is safely barricaded away from trouble. The bottom pics show Holly - our wonderful Holly - unpacking assorted dishes that we've had stored elsewhere for over two months...(thanks Roy and Molly!) and Brad washing said dishes.

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-40400965603068220472007-06-03T08:14:00.000-05:002007-06-03T11:03:48.571-05:00

I know, I know, you can carry things too far...but for us, the first ice dropping into the ice bin was a highlight. Now, however, that damned ice machine is so loud you can hear it from the host stand as it continues to drop ice and drop ice and drop ice. I think we'll be selling bagged ice soon this summer! And of course the new coffee machine was thrilling...now we could offer coffee to

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-84350757007668388192007-06-03T08:13:00.000-05:002007-06-03T09:09:32.443-05:00

We held several staff meetings prior to our weekend of practice runs. The crew gets a little talk from Kevin about the food on the left. On the right is our first delivery to the loading dock. Break out the champagne!

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-540709117381403032007-06-03T08:10:00.000-05:002007-06-03T09:12:24.080-05:00

There are about 20 pictures of Mr. Jacobs finishing the bar top - which he managed to do literally minutes before we opened the doors to our invited guests on Friday night of the guinea pig weekend...I'm just going to let them run without commentary, but the whole process of sealing the seams seamlessly was just wild. We have a beautiful bar, thanks to Jay and Roy.

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-56425930193385606692007-06-03T08:09:00.000-05:002007-06-03T09:18:00.151-05:00

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-57327798991558284482007-06-03T08:08:00.000-05:002007-06-03T09:21:53.906-05:00

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-52303004691552878402007-06-03T08:05:00.000-05:002007-06-03T09:27:03.249-05:00

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-57749571234818952452007-06-03T08:04:00.000-05:002007-06-03T09:36:17.645-05:00

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-22085955334229781442007-06-03T08:03:00.000-05:002007-06-03T09:35:54.864-05:00

And after a final sanding and polishing...

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-7882842575308303752007-06-03T08:02:00.000-05:002007-06-03T09:38:52.506-05:00

...our first "real" customers are at it on Tuesday night! Thanks Mr.Jacobs!

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-74283667190667057352007-06-03T08:01:00.000-05:002007-06-03T09:45:25.732-05:00

Meanwhile, back to the Friday, while Mr. Jacobs was putting up the bar top, Chesapeake Glass was installing the shelves behind the bar. Willie T and his crew did a fantastic job and the shelves look just as good as we had imagined. The pictures in the kitchen show Kevin with his new favorite piece of equipment - the utility cart. We bought it mostly for the me to haul cases of beer and wine

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-88135882123565896782007-06-03T07:59:00.000-05:002007-06-03T09:50:33.849-05:00

Slowly the dining room gets ready for customers. We Go!

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-67387509911868876122007-06-03T07:52:00.000-05:002007-06-03T09:59:54.502-05:00

The staff is ready. And The Landlord has the lease - signed! finally! - and is at the first guinea pig night on Friday with Ginger and the two Moms. Thanks Randy for this wonderful opportunity, and we look forward to seeing you in the mornings for coffee in your wonderful (huge) kitchen! On with the show!

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-71778175713904972712007-06-03T07:50:00.001-05:002007-06-03T09:59:06.239-05:00

For my very last picture on this blog, I thought I'd post the Snake. Caught behind the bar. Before all the holes got plugged up SECURELY (don't worry). We think we might come up with a signature drink called the BlackSnake or something, in his honor. He's safely behind Radcliffe Creek now and we are surely snake free. But that was just one more exciting event at Brooks Tavern's pre-opening

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-85764775784558046912007-05-31T09:33:00.000-05:002007-05-31T09:43:38.888-05:00

No pictures (NO TIME!!) to post at the moment, but we finally finally finally got opened on Tuesday. Lots and lots of stress and pressure and trips to Rose's and Dollar Tree, but we made it. So far we are just doing dinner, lunch will start in a couple weeks. We are still - of course - fine tuning and learning. The POS system is awesome...once I get the hang of it. All of the kitchen

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-79685811726765731832007-05-22T09:14:00.000-05:002007-05-22T09:43:16.703-05:00

Finally, finally we can see the light at the end of the tunnel...we are moving in, even as we speak. Last week the electricians were finishing up with the lights - although the track lights are not all up yet, and the dimmers are backordered - and Mr.Jacobs came in to put the counter tops on. Randy is also moving in, against all odds. We get regular visits from our neighbors as we all try to

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-26565758164512619862007-05-22T09:10:00.000-05:002007-05-22T09:44:36.412-05:00

The DR is shaping up, and the "Bin Room" has a substitute table while we wait before we bring Roy's in. Meanwhile the kitchen is filling up with all the paraphernalia it takes to put out the plates that Kevin and Holly will be putting on the menu. Menu? what menu?

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-79355455064383061462007-05-22T09:04:00.000-05:002007-05-22T09:54:45.923-05:00

On Saturday we had a little birthday party for the Mom - she's 83 BTW - and checked out the tables and seats personally. We had a fabulous view of the College's graduation fireworks from the banquette by the bar, that was an added bonus! And last of all, there is that Kitchen Table, as shown with Kevin and his friend Tina in the seats of honor. The last pic is the view from said Kitchen

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-56040263110438996342007-05-14T17:52:00.000-05:002007-05-14T19:44:25.872-05:00

They continued in the DR, hanging lights today. The electricians worked on Saturday as well, something of a rarity I gather, but it had to be done, with a Tuesday deadline hanging over their heads. More landscaping went in last week, as well as a final on the Electric Box.I can't wait to see the landscaping by the "pond" behind the building...there are always a ton of little frogs popping up

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-58835612351662254832007-05-14T17:50:00.000-05:002007-05-14T19:46:38.491-05:00

Here's a couple pictures of people at work trying to make a restaurant happen in a timely fashion...You have first a shot of Jeff Tomsic (the third fellow on the right) trying to make sense of the kitchen with the guys who are going to be helping him with that project. Jeff has been an absolutely invaluable help with this kitchen set-up, and we will be indebted to him forever for his advice

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-50597781722765892062007-05-09T12:47:00.000-05:002007-05-09T13:06:19.929-05:00

Our new best friend, Delmarva Power, came to the RM yesterday and hooked up with us!

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-7617257490981922802007-05-09T12:30:00.000-05:002007-05-14T19:48:51.216-05:00

Git 'er done!

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-61971635510360585782007-05-09T12:29:00.000-05:002007-05-09T13:49:01.766-05:00

Randy and Kevin are seen admiring the work of the Delmarva Crew in the above left photo; above right we have the Installation of the Cabinets by Roy and Alec. Tomorrow, maybe, the bar top will go on.The building was going to be inspected tomorrow as well, with a positive report resulting in an occupancy permit...this may or may not happen, judging from what was going on down there this morning

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-27255570073052287512007-05-07T17:10:00.000-05:002007-05-07T17:48:40.833-05:00

Does that title make sense? My sister surmised - correctly - that the reason I haven't posted too many pictures of the current state of affairs at the BT is because there hasn't been a whole lot of new events to report. I am going to put up a couple pictures now, but until the electric gets hooked up, not a whole lot is going to happen. At least that's the current story. I postponed Delaware

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-58212282946723507592007-05-07T17:09:00.000-05:002007-05-07T17:47:24.214-05:00

On the roof with the HVAC.The HVAC as it appear on the kitchen ceiling.And the same HVAC as it will come out into the DR.This is the Bin Room, being finished finally.

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-14989335634480009012007-05-07T17:05:00.000-05:002007-05-07T21:35:11.491-05:00

Our big window gets a big red door.The bar is plumbed...and soon we'll be taking that blue plastic off and getting started with the martinis!Finally, here's Kevin and Miles chuckling over some such thing. Miles Barnard is the person behind the landscape scheme at the Radcliffe Mill, a scheme we look forward to enjoying as Spring moves into Summer.

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-61594213249196440812007-05-03T16:31:00.000-05:002007-05-03T16:40:48.935-05:00

...and here in Kennedyville we're growin' some awesome spears!!! and purple to boot, eh?

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-58038318424265795102007-04-30T19:13:00.000-05:002007-04-30T20:08:52.026-05:00

Tom Sietsema - of the Washington Post - recently published a golden glow review of the relatively local restaurant, Restaurant Local, which is found within the Tidewater in Easton. His experience there was a little shinier than ours, but not by much. This is great publicity for a restaurant, especially here on the ES; they will be SWAMPED with extra business for a few weeks, I would bet. All

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-61440634087599190902007-04-27T11:33:00.000-05:002007-04-27T12:11:21.189-05:00

Top left is the DR window with it's new door. Next is the DR floor just after its last buff - it doesn't look like that anymore, because the construction traffic hasn't stopped just because the floor is lookin' good...one guy yesterday was patching drywall and left a trail of drywall powder from the kitchen entrance all the way to the lobby. But it'll get cleaned up again and it's really

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-70126531796127147592007-04-24T17:01:00.000-05:002007-04-24T17:22:23.703-05:00

We spent the past weekend up in the wilds of PA, camping at a couple of State Parks and forgetting everything we could about our real lives for a bit. It was wonderful. We ate some great food at the campsite, had some quality time with the Ruby, entertained a Turkey for a moment, and generally agreed that camping in the van is the best.Meanwhile, back at ground level, not much has changed. We

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-28184506311846475992007-04-24T16:59:00.000-05:002007-04-24T17:12:24.811-05:00

The Ladies have Mirrors in their Room now.

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-22974580262949766862007-04-24T16:58:00.000-05:002007-04-24T17:21:00.088-05:00

And the Men have their Thing.

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-16652802556109618592007-04-24T16:57:00.000-05:002007-04-24T17:34:37.786-05:00

Not the best shot, but Roy and Mark are finishing the back of the bar. I'll have a better shot of their work next time.

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-85900631812056445842007-04-24T16:56:00.000-05:002007-04-24T18:10:16.196-05:00

Here's a fairly "clean" shot of two of the most important places in the Restaurant Kitchen.

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-5106322117911924032007-04-24T16:55:00.000-05:002007-04-24T18:11:32.167-05:00

And, lastly, the pictures you've most wanted to see - meals at the campsite. What could be better than Guac on a Stump, or Ribs on the Grill? WeFeast!

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-21628258010819246252007-04-15T09:45:00.000-05:002007-04-15T12:10:55.854-05:00

We are hoping that this past week is the turning point for the work at Brooks Tavern. I mean, the place is currently in such a state of disarray, how could it go anywhere but up, eh? It appears that as soon as the DR floors were finished, that space became the warehouse for the entire building, while the other floors - except the lobby - were vacuumed and sanded and stained. The

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-51785013584401713642007-04-12T09:42:00.000-05:002007-04-12T10:03:36.505-05:00

I thought a few more pictures from Robert and Judy's St. Brigid's Farm would be more interesting than the wreck that is currently the Brooks Tavern. Certainly more cheery, except for the calves I guess. We stopped out there after we got those last pics from Robert and checked out the little veal calves for ourselves. They will be ready in a month or so, and already Kevin is dreaming of

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-30248229512875425972007-04-09T09:34:00.000-05:002007-04-09T10:03:46.012-05:00

This pastoral scene on the left is St. Brigid's Farm near Kennedyville, owned by Robert Fry and Judy Gifford. They have several dozen head of Jersey cows that they raise for milk production. Robert sent these pictures of the bull calves they are raising for veal this year, and we hope to be serving some of this local Jersey veal at the Brooks Tavern early this summer. Small farms producing

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-34060816235794917392007-04-08T10:31:00.000-05:002007-04-08T10:51:31.287-05:00

Roy has been working on this table for the restaurant - it is made from Cherry wood from a tree that was on Roy and Molly's property. Roy took the dead tree down several years ago and had it milled for future furniture use. This is one of several tables he has made lately, and it is simply beautiful. The wood just gleams.

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-68714851001515823092007-04-08T09:51:00.000-05:002007-04-08T11:10:34.774-05:00

And underneath is the inscription. "To B & K RAM 03-07" It is so cool. This table will find itself in a place of honor - more than likely at the spot by the bar near that huge window. It will be our table. And Roy and Molly's of course. And anyone else who sits there will be able to appreciate what went into making it. But you have to peak below to get the full effect.

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-50863700801252073602007-04-04T16:43:00.000-05:002007-04-04T17:23:02.538-05:00

I started one post this afternoon that was simply a cry-fest about the unending delays and finger-pointing we have been enduring so often the last week or two of trying (desperately) to put a restaurant in the Radcliffe Mill - it is getting tiresome and it is (finally) getting to me. But whining is whining, so I put it in the draft column and opened a new tab in Firefox to check out what Frank

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-79482149700900218682007-04-03T11:48:00.000-05:002007-04-03T12:47:36.413-05:00

It's all about the arrival of equipment and furniture now... Table tops are stored in the bathroom. The hood gets put up, the chairs arrive via a Big Yellow Truck.

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-5688348737521921052007-04-03T11:40:00.000-05:002007-04-03T12:13:30.353-05:00

And where do those chairs end up? Under said hood, of course. Everything has to stay out of the dining room, since the floors in there were getting done last week...or so we thought.

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-15088292896836892322007-04-03T11:30:00.000-05:002007-04-03T12:16:28.590-05:00

The red siding is great looking.

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-19715790749250678112007-04-03T11:20:00.000-05:002007-04-03T12:21:46.389-05:00

And then on Monday April 2nd all of the equipment for the kitchen and the bar arrives from Richmond. Jeff Tomsic from Chesapeake Design came with his crew of three and they get the job done in one day! They will still have to hook it all up, but it's in place with it's protective plastic and we can start imagining what things are going to be looking like...

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-4298732017777088272007-04-03T11:15:00.000-05:002007-04-03T12:26:20.181-05:00

That's Jeff on the phone in the upper right photo. What a great guy! and a great job they did. I love the white walk-in. And the last pic sort of gives you an idea of what things will eventually look like in Randy's new kitchen! At least until Tuesday, when it is all a whole different scene...

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-18257548519600735212007-04-03T11:10:00.000-05:002007-04-03T12:50:09.582-05:00

This is what the kitchen looks like now, even as we speak. That's all the booths and banquettes and bar equipment in there now, under their plastic covers. And where are all the chairs? they're on the deck. And why is everything jammed back in the kitchen? Because those dining room floors are getting done today, instead of last week when they were scheduled. And who is going to move all

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-48385855317860202752007-03-28T11:47:00.000-05:002007-03-28T12:04:27.569-05:00

Roy Mears and Mark are building the bar here, on Monday, and it is a beautiful thing. Roy is a fine craftsman as well as one of the most professional and talented builders on the Shore, and we couldn't be more pleased to have him do this job for us.

bhsnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-10254069793570358852007-03-28T11:37:00.000-05:002007-03-28T12:14:03.864-05:00

And no sooner did they have it up, then the electricians were using it as a desk! Of course they were wiring it at the same time, but still...we wanted to be the first to "belly up"!

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-57987200712817743962007-03-28T11:30:00.000-05:002007-03-28T12:17:23.000-05:00

More facinating behind the scenes shots - the one on the right is the wiring for the under-bar lights, so we can all find our purses at the end of the day. And we will have hooks there too, don't you worry!

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-75371545148666820422007-03-28T11:20:00.000-05:002007-03-28T12:38:48.254-05:00

Next on Tuesday came the booths and the banquettes. They looked a lot better once they got in out of the bright sun light! When we first saw them we thought, "oh no, what have we done!" but once inside the colors came together and they look great. Plus, luckily, they are not nailed down, so we can get them off the floor for the floor refinishing and we can move them into place where we want

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-28412933457794535422007-03-28T11:18:00.000-05:002007-03-28T12:32:19.186-05:00

So, as Kevin sweeps, the booths roll in and finally Russel and Kevin check them out. The last picture shows the premier booths - the ones by the bathroom door across from the service bar. I think this will be our booth. Do they look funny up against that barn wall? At least they are comfortable!

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-45183637057381741332007-03-28T11:15:00.000-05:002007-03-28T12:38:16.124-05:00

Of course, the DR wasn't really ready for the booths - thank goodness they weren't being nailed down! - as you could see from Kevin's sweep and Mike's trying to finish up the bin room before they put in the seats. Calvin is on duty, as usual, and the phone is his friend when he is trying to find out what's going on. Meanwhile, the hood is being installed. Talk about fascinating photos! I'll

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-83108851821368717112007-03-28T11:10:00.000-05:002007-03-28T13:27:20.893-05:00

I am, of course, entirely grateful to be a Library User, since their hi-speed wireless makes this whole photo posting thing a LOT faster...if I were at home I'd be paying bills, doing the dishes, waxing the kitchen floor while the pics were downloading. (who am I kidding - I've never in my life waxed a kitchen floor...) The downside to that is you have to look at a lot of time-lapse pictures.

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-58062138876739838212007-03-26T11:12:00.000-05:002007-03-26T12:26:43.731-05:00

Things are getting a little crazy these days down at the Mill. Crazy crazy crazy. The kitchen floor was poured on Friday, only to be unacceptable to the Health Department, in it's present, too gritty form. So, they will have to come back and add another coat of the epoxy, which will have to dry in time for the kitchen installers arrival...tomorrow? Meanwhile, the bar is being built even as

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-43796178742563879592007-03-16T11:20:00.000-05:002007-03-16T11:36:17.179-05:00

It may not look like much, but things are moving along in the Kitchen of Brooks Tavern. The floor will be poured early next week - an epoxy that is pretty much the standard in commercial kitchens anymore - so a lot of the work this week is making sure they are ready for that. Wiring is also a top priority right now. We've been making daily - and oftentimes thrice-daily - visits to the

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-2988895987081413562007-03-16T11:16:00.000-05:002007-03-16T11:36:44.801-05:00

The DR cleaned up really well - they sort of power washed the walls and ceiling and then put a stain on everything so the new wood would match the old. Apparently there was nothing anyone could do about that charred corner up there in the upper right - they couldn't even replace it, according to the historical aspect of the building. Some of that does seem ridiculous, if you ask me, but there

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-63461986417109150662007-03-16T11:15:00.000-05:002007-03-16T11:35:43.397-05:00

The fellow on the upper right is John - he is a fourth year electrician's apprentice and is in charge when his boss Russell is not there. He has been quite helpful. Next to him is the signage for DBS, where we went on Wednesday to start the process of getting our POS system programmed for our business. This is a very involved procedure, which should result in a system that will

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-29071394602632596692007-03-16T11:14:00.000-05:002007-03-16T11:49:09.974-05:00

Finally, I just wanted to post this picture of the Mill as it appeared a year ago. When all is finished I hope to post a few "before" and "after" shots, but I couldn't resist this one now. It is amazing, isn't it? And it will be even more amazing in a couple of weeks. Many people have told us how happy they are to see the old Mill be rescued from her decline. We are too.

bhsnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-1038059040824814102007-03-11T16:21:00.000-05:002007-03-11T16:27:49.725-05:00

Brooks Tavern in the Radcliffe Mill New Restaurant Opening Soon *Hiring All Positions* *All Levels* First Cook, Line Cook, Porter, Dishwasher Bartender, Waiter, Bus Applications/Interviews Available Saturday March 17th 9 AM – 11 AM at The Radcliffe Mill 870 High Street Chestertown Or call 410-348-2217 to arrange for an interview at an alternate time.

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-65958032842308849532007-03-07T14:44:00.000-05:002007-04-30T19:10:19.793-05:00

We talked with both of these fellows and many more at the Ocean City Restaurant Association Trade Show on Sunday. It’s one of our last chances to meet with purveyors, and this show offered plenty of opportunity to talk with companies that might actually deliver to the geographically challenged here on the Eastern Shore. Well, we were sort of misguided about that, but we did make some contacts

bhsnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-386635989179436432007-03-06T21:15:00.000-05:002007-03-07T15:28:28.194-05:00

Let's try it out..."next month". "When are you guys finally going to open that restaurant you've been talking about for two years?" "Next month". Hmmm, that sounds familiar...I think that's what I have already been saying for perhaps the past two months. Oh Well. I'm going to keep saying it and one of these days it'll be true. Meanwhile, I have some pictures to post to get everyone up to

bhsnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-3627349260523322262007-03-06T20:53:00.000-05:002007-03-07T13:37:28.300-05:00

The most interesting picture in this batch is the one on the upper right. That's the kitchen. The kitchen. Poor Kevin...but do we hear him complaining? That "kitchen" is what the dining room used to be - the dumping/staging area for everything else. Although dumping seems the most appropriate word right now. The remaining pics show various areas in the now empty DR.

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-29061769851100131282007-03-06T20:27:00.000-05:002007-03-07T13:09:40.067-05:00

A few more views of the DR as we now know it, plus a glimpse of the inner working of the bathroom. Didn't you always want to know? The bottom two show one view looking from the "wall" toward the entry, while the one next to that shows the view looking from the DR toward the entry.

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-42334360156859036542007-03-06T20:20:00.000-05:002007-03-07T13:31:39.407-05:00

We spent part of Tuesday afternoon meeting with the Warfel Project Manager, Forest Fisher. At this point we are discussing floor finishes for the kitchen, wall finishes for the dining room (the challenge there is to make the walls clean-able), where we have need for 220 electric, where we'll need computer lines, all sorts of decisions that lead to our ability to bring in equipment and

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-42765843520160038122007-03-01T11:20:00.000-05:002007-03-01T11:49:17.799-05:00

photo by John SilcoxWe got that wonderful snow on Sunday - huge, huge heavy flakes that fell down out of the sky like gigantic pieces of cotton. It was the perfect snow/ball/man/woman snow and we happily rolled as big a ball as we could. The next day, surrounded by bare grass and full of the debris that attached itself during the slow roll up the lane, the thing looks like a meteor that fell

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-3539815703067190722007-03-01T11:11:00.000-05:002007-03-01T11:19:28.146-05:00

Big news today is the framing in of the interior walls being built in the DR - one to protect the DR from the entry and one to protect it from the kitchen. Protect may be the wrong word to use - although most of us do want to be protected from the kitchen, don't we? Plus the bathrooms are getting their drywall. All very, very good things.

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-33790626038044513342007-03-01T11:04:00.000-05:002007-03-01T11:10:30.454-05:00

We concentrate on the Bar area here. First looking at the entry way from the kitchen door; then we're at the bar watching the bar back; third is Kevin in the Bin Room (where Roy's table will reside); and finally a view from the deck side of the DR looking at the entry with the bar beyond. Love those beams everywhere, eh? They sure make for some interesting layouts.

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-87321964144962533602007-03-01T10:57:00.000-05:002007-03-01T12:29:23.594-05:00

The truck brings the doors; the bar "cubby"; the sanding of the DR floor and the view. It's so hard to convey how much better things are looking in the DR through these pictures, but trust me, things are coming along nicely. Finally we can say that.The next few weeks are bound to be pretty hectic and the stress level will rise. I am in the midst of my second on-line webpage class and my

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-41214581926799030162007-02-22T16:19:00.000-05:002007-02-22T16:19:49.100-05:00

Don't ask me about this layout these days...it is about as predictable as the weather.Meanwhile...Those famous words - "Git-R-Done". Music to our ears. But it is for real? Well, they poured the floor in the kitchen, that is big news. And while the windows are up - those are the ones the men will enjoy while in the men's room - the dining room is still pretty much a staging area for the

bhsnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-71808598176960649052007-02-22T15:38:00.000-05:002007-02-22T16:20:23.229-05:00

The kitchen will have a drop ceiling under that metal roof. The dining room was pretty much a "shop" until yesterday, so that is another improvemnent.

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-73633016731893392332007-02-22T15:28:00.000-05:002007-02-22T16:29:10.154-05:00

And this is what things were looking like yesterday. Framing in had started on the bathrooms and the office in the kitchen. Of course the kitchen itself looked quite "rustic", but it really does seem to be getting better and better, closer and closer, everyday. Who knows, maybe we really will be open by "late winter"!!

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-77120024891447332752007-02-22T15:24:00.000-05:002007-02-22T16:35:50.971-05:00

From the craftsmen at Radcliffe, we went to a craftsman in Galena. Dick Wolfson builds tables using recycled barnwood, and he made one for us. We hope to use it either in the foyer or in the bar dining room. It is beautiful, maybe not quite the piece of art that our friend Roy's tables are (we're hoping he'll be making one for us too, to use in the "Bin Room") but it is amazing how that wood

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-50841106855881432452007-02-22T15:19:00.000-05:002007-02-22T16:49:39.111-05:00

These two people are the first in what will probably be a long line of people we will owe money to. Hamere Tay is our rep at Fortessa in Alexandria, who is helping us choose our Table Top small wares. She is so nice...and so patient. We met her at the Baltimore Restaurant Show in October and she's been taking good care of us ever since. Below her office picture is our rep from

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-35839387844332026572007-02-19T19:55:00.000-05:002007-02-22T16:50:40.703-05:00

Lunch at the Crossfire Cafe was on our schedule Friday and it was a very pleasant task indeed. We got there a little before noon and were quickly greeted by our friend Vickie who was on the floor with her daughter Susan and waiter Courtney. Vickie worked with us for many (many) years at the Ironstone Cafe back in the day and she has always talked about having her own spot someday. She made

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-64234493542109258952007-02-19T19:45:00.000-05:002007-02-19T19:55:53.732-05:00

We were first presented with an amuse-gueule, a bite of beet cured salmon and a little sake cup of potato soup, all cleverly presented on a green Japanese-style plate. A very nice touch, and not often done around here, the amuse. This was followed by our first courses of Oyster Soup and the Duck Confit Salad. (I am trying to remember all the little details of the meal, but since we didn't

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-18241776237903620632007-02-19T19:40:00.000-05:002007-02-22T16:55:02.170-05:00

Dessert was on Vickie. A chewy, chocolaty ice-cream-and-cake plate with sticky marshmallow topping and slices of strawberries filled all of Kevin's chocolate dreams. And the creme brulee filled mine. Meanwhile, in the back, the Chef, Earnest Cook, continued to pump out the lunches with his Sous Chef Richard. The place was packed when we left at 2PM, and there was a congenial buzz in the air,

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-23341079473277230542007-02-09T22:00:00.000-05:002007-02-18T09:48:06.999-05:00

An exciting week at 870 High Street – the roof is up, the roof is up!! This means business! We are getting very excited. We haven't started bossing each other around too much, but things are going to be getting very, very stressful in the next few weeks. The bar stools are here, the built-in furniture (remember Mr. Kaplan?) is on order, our POS system has a deposit on it, we've got 9

bhsnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-70722789923562937232007-01-31T20:34:00.000-05:002007-02-18T09:49:39.874-05:00

You know how it is...sometimes you just feel like a change. You've got all this time on your hands to fuss in front of the computer, and Blogger is offering these upgrades, and all it takes is time, which, as we've said, you've got plenty of. So, here it is. They have made it so easy for you - with Super Blogger - that you don't even need to go into the HTML to change the fonts or colors or

bhsnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-1169993373814085972007-01-28T08:41:00.000-05:002007-02-01T06:52:24.268-05:00

We had a most delicious dinner at the Kennedyville Inn last night. It is certainly a wonderful thing to live five minutes from what could certainly be considered the best food in Kent County, if not even the entire Eastern Shore. Of course, we haven't eaten dinner at the Hotel Imperial since the new owners/chef have taken charge there, and we've heard mostly positive reports, but honestly,

bhsnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-1169738241843707642007-01-27T14:47:00.000-05:002007-01-28T08:41:03.326-05:00

...and it's cold. Finally we're getting a little seasonal weather. Hopefully all those bad bugs will freeze and the pipes won't.We got shut out of the Alcohol Awareness Training Class we thought we would be taking this week - apparently our registration did not appear in time at Mr. Stetson's office, and we will have to try again when the next class is scheduled in March. We can only hope this

bhsnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-1169937773764731792007-01-27T12:16:00.000-05:002007-01-27T18:47:13.843-05:00

Kevin views the outside world.One view of the deck.This will hopefully be a very cozy nook in the Bar. More deck view.Here's our office.Believe it or not, I am actually using some of what I've learned in my WebDesign class to modify this post! what fun!!We are sure the grease trap is under here, we just never saw it happen.Does this look remotely like a

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-1168477034936757722007-01-10T19:50:00.000-05:002007-01-11T08:56:11.406-05:00

If you follow this Blog in order to figure out when the heck we are actually going to open a restaurant in the Radcliffe Mill, get with it. Can't you tell by now that we really have no Clue, no Control, and no Idea when it will happen? We are just toddling along, shaking our heads in despair with every little hold-up, whining to Calvin and Randy when necessary, and hoping our money holds out

bhsnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-1168476567481795022007-01-10T19:49:00.000-05:002007-01-10T19:49:29.386-05:00

We met with Mr. Kaplan to discuss tables and chairs.

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-1168476694820047972007-01-10T19:48:00.000-05:002007-01-10T19:55:28.880-05:00

He was very, very nice and very helpful. We'd already ordered our bar seating from Kenton Chairs in Dover, but this man will control the rest.

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-1168476844613676252007-01-10T19:47:00.000-05:002007-01-10T19:55:56.713-05:00

Here's his "office". Don't you love it? He says his wife will leave him if he brings home one more "stray" chair!

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-1168476285603654642007-01-10T19:44:00.000-05:002007-01-10T19:44:45.603-05:00

The ceiling in the Dining Room is looking very interesting, what with the two-tones of wood and the sprinkler pipes criss-crossing it.

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-1168476396315952182007-01-10T19:42:00.000-05:002007-01-10T20:00:55.186-05:00

Another view of the ceiling in the DR. And remember, this is pretty much what things will look like when all is said and done, so, "Oh, love those sprinkler pipes!"

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-1168475749572301722007-01-10T19:35:00.000-05:002007-01-10T20:02:25.406-05:00

This is taken from the "bar" - what we are seeing is going to be a little booth within the bar area built under the firestairs. It ought to be kind of cool.

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-1168476119543467002007-01-10T19:34:00.000-05:002007-01-10T19:42:46.930-05:00

This is the same area from the other side - that's Roy and Kevin in the background.

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-1168475572873435122007-01-10T19:32:00.000-05:002007-01-10T19:32:52.880-05:00

This is on the Deck side - it actually is the beginning of said deck, those "pillars" being the pilings for it, so to speak.

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-1168477517749709122007-01-10T19:30:00.000-05:002007-01-10T20:06:30.820-05:00

We'll end with a winter field scene. Kent County is pretty lovely this time of year, or any time of year, we believe. They don't call it the Land of Pleasant Living for nothing.

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-1167954596708652842007-01-04T18:35:00.000-05:002007-01-08T19:46:44.350-05:00

Things are being done, on our end at least. We have a Bank Account!! We have ordered the bar chairs and stools! We have a Phone Number! but don't call it yet, since it's not hooked up. And...drum roll...we have a name. Brooks Tavern. How's that sound?And funnest of all - funnest? - is we have a Domain and we are working on putting together our new Web Site. I say this is the most fun,

bhsnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-1167955711983514012007-01-04T18:34:00.000-05:002007-01-04T19:11:53.196-05:00

The front door side.

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-1167955603868194632007-01-04T18:33:00.000-05:002007-01-04T19:16:20.926-05:00

The "deck side". As previously viewed, but with a little more natural color scheme. Our end still looks depressingly behind the times.

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-1167955841626303212007-01-04T18:32:00.000-05:002007-01-04T19:12:59.196-05:00

And I just can't resist - here's the start of our New Year's Eve...Happy New Year!

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-1167171943962859362006-12-26T18:08:00.000-05:002006-12-26T18:24:12.193-05:00

We made it through Christmas and now we're headed into the new year. We hope it's a good one. For us, 2007 should be about happily working in a restaurant again, with all the ups and downs that it brings. The next month will be very, very busy and we plan to start being very, very busy next week. We are sticking to our plan of opening mid-February...although at times that seems dreamy. And, big

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-1167174420035695702006-12-26T18:07:00.000-05:002006-12-26T18:21:30.013-05:00

We counted 17 guys putting in this cement pad in the front of the building.

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25657874.post-1167175024340170422006-12-26T18:04:00.000-05:002006-12-26T18:18:20.740-05:00

Where's where?

bhsnoreply@blogger.com0