URGENT: Usual Suspects Cafe needs new chefs

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone,

I spoke with the owner yesterday and was planning on posting to the list

that the restaurant needs new chefs and was excited to see someone had

already posted about it! He has asked me to be an advisor (in a

volunteer capacity) in the restaurant's success, and I have accepted!

 

So, first of all, I have a request. I request that we do not participate

in any of the who-was-right-who-was-wrong from the past about who was or

was not " unprofessional. " I don't know who did what, and I'm not

interested in that in the least bit--except to work with the owner to

ensure a good relationship with future chefs. What if instead of playing

the blame game we focused on rallying together as a vegetarian community

to cause this restaurant to succeed? What there is to do now: find

fantastic chefs and see how we as a community can ensure this

restaurant's long-term success.

 

So, a little more info about this restaurant: The owner, Bob, went

vegetarian not that long ago and decided he wanted his restaurant to be

all vegetarian. He's not vegan and is still new to vegan cooking but is

learning more about it and is very open. There are a bunch of vegan

options on the current menu. He is motivated by wanting to help animals

and provide a space for good people who are doing good things in the

world. He is not super money-motivated, though he obviously wants to

break even. He wants input from the local vegetarian community about how

to make the restaurant successful. The restaurant itself has a really

fun, stylish ambiance perfect for bringing a group of people for a party

or a birthday dinner. There have already been several animal-related

parties and events there, and more are planned.

 

It seems to me that we could approach this as a community effort, where

we tap into our resources and creativity to make sure this restaurant

serves the purpose we want it to, and so that there is another

vegetarian option in SF and another neighborhood that has at least one

place with good vegan options. Does anybody know any chefs that would be

interested in the opportunity to work at a vegetarian restaurant? Please

let us know asap.

 

I said in the email that it is urgent since it does not bode well for a

restaurant to not have a chef.

 

Bob requested that instead of a bunch of people calling to apply that

those who want to interview should drop off their resume at the cafe

between 12-3pm at the restaurant, which is at 450 Broadway St at

Montgomery in North Beach.

 

Please reply if you have suggestions or leads!

 

Thanks,

Nora

 

David Benfell wrote:

> On Wed, 02 Jul 2008, sfbaguy wrote:

>

>

>> My friend and I went to try Usual Suspects Cafe today and their

>> forlorn staff told us the chefs had just walked off the

>> job--abandoning their posts with a party of 50 expected, plus other

>> traffic. So unprofessional!

>>

>

> Did you inquire as to why " the chefs had just walked off the job? "

> I would suggest learning their reasons before condemning them as

> " unprofessional. "

>

>

[Guest guest]

On Jul 2, 2008, at 10:39 AM, Nora Kramer wrote:

> So, first of all, I have a request. I request that we do not

> participate

> in any of the who-was-right-who-was-wrong from the past about who

> was or

> was not " unprofessional. " I don't know who did what, and I'm not

> interested in that in the least bit--except to work with the owner to

> ensure a good relationship with future chefs. What if instead of

> playing

> the blame game we focused on rallying together as a vegetarian

> community

> to cause this restaurant to succeed? What there is to do now: find

> fantastic chefs and see how we as a community can ensure this

> restaurant's long-term success.

>

 

For whatever it's worth, as a vegan and a consumer, I don't care in

the slightest why they walked off the job. As long as the restaurant

replaces them and continues to serve tasty vegan food, I'm happy. If

they have a labor dispute, they're free to use the usual regulatory

channels for filing a dispute, or they can resolve the conflict by

finding a job elsewhere.