Happy Birthday in Dog Years
June 5th, 2009 Chef
5 years ago June 4th 2004
I was sitting on a milk crate out back of the Blue Canyon Ohio, rubbing my head wondering what the hell did we just built, the customers are coming in by the truck load and not stopping.
One of my cooks just ran up Asparagus to the hot line thinking they where Green Beans, another cook ranby me with a blood drenched towel wrapped around his hand saying “Chef I think this one is pretty deep, I might have to go get it looked at” a server is telling me that table 405 thinks her steak is tough…..but her teeth sitting on her B&B what should I do? Another server asking me should I charge the guy who is making his own lemonade at the table with lemons, sugar water, ice….. Then the phone rings its the BOSS the wife….You will never guess what happened today………HAHAHAHha…….I took a deep breath and said please do tell!!! with a smart ass sounding voice….Your Daughter took her first steps my wife tells me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From the back kitchen someone screams!!” BRANDT” we need you back on the line we are crashing hard!!!!!!!! …I tell my wife I am so happy and that was so awesome……It took me 7 days after that phone call untill I could see my daughter walk and she had to come up to Blue Canyon for me to see that happen, I would lay my head down for two hours in the dinning room on rolled up Chefs jacket, Then run over to the hotel, take a shower and clean up and get back to it.All I had was Susan, Larry and Rocket in the kitchen and we would do 300 for lunch 400-500 for dinner ( Val was doing the same crazy stuff up front) and we all basically pulled those hours for the first three months…I lost 65 pounds in three months…(Yes i gained it back…thanks)
I can still see her little diaper butt as I type, walking into my arms as I was sitting on the Great Room Floor one morning, Kristen called me that morning and said, I really think you need to see your daughter walk..I am going to bring her up!!!! My wife is always pretty good about putting me in my place and not really caring that am Chef Brandt and the boss and blah blah blah blah….She makes me be the father and husband I promised I would be… Tears of joy and sadness came down the sides of my face. How in the world am I going to do this I thought to myself ??I have a family that needs me and a restaurant family that depends on me, a public-great customers that want every night……plus the S@#$ Talkers and the Brandt haters I needed to reintroduce myself to and let them know am back and this time its for GOOD!!
There is so much that has gone on the past 5 years ( Val -Bob-Ron-Myself ) starting beating on this drum 7 years ago..
Bob Voelker is a man like no other. I like to think of him like King Midas…everything he touches turns to gold..the key is you have to listen to him and follow his lead, he is as wise as one of the three that visited Mary the night before Dec 25th and in tuned as the violin in the first row concert at Juilliard.
I have so many fond memories of putting this concept together right next to him…It started at the Blue Ridge Grill in Atalanta GA…..That where Blue for Blue Canyon comes from we meet there and started to draw this baby on a napkin. We traveled all around the country looking and talking to everyone in the business about what they liked and what they didnt.From service stations to bathrooms. We talk for one year over a coffee cup….ONE YEAR!!! 7 years later we still are talking about uniforms…did last night at dinner with Bob &Val
I can remember, we where at a really great place in New Orleans eating , eating in a booth,Bob liked the feel of how it was set up…Bob got up whipped out a tape measure and started getting the measurements…the freaking GM of the place rushed over…if you could of saw his face…the GM that is..it was classic… that is one of about million stories I could get into… The man would go behind the bar and look underneath at PVC PIPES!!!!! just ask anyone who has gone out to dinner with Bob….and now I have the habit of doing it…lift up all the china and look underneath see what name brand it is. I cant tell you how many times people thought we where food critic’s…..to funny!!!!
The one story that I cant rememeber and knew Bob and I would be rock solid together forever was, We where at this great Night club in Chi-town..(Ron still owes me steak for getting him in VIP style and through the line) but anyway…This one guy we all know or have seen them was walking through the bar and shoulder checked Bob pretty damn hard…so hard Bob feel back…This guy just kept walking didn’t say a word???? Now mind you Bob and I just recency reconnected are relationship and was rather brand new to each other. This guy made me so mad, like he he just punched my brother or something. I just took off into the crowd, I don’t think Bob knew where or what I was up to. I found Mr tough Guy and asked him why he felt it was necessary to that to people? I told him I didn’t want to fight but that wasn’t cool, you spilled my Buddy’s drink and almost knocked him off his feet.Please be careful next time you walk be us!! Wouldn’t you know 10 minutes later this guy shows up with a drinks and apologies to Bob. I think Bob knew from then, He had a pretty good Pit-bull on is side.
Val , What can I say about this man…we are as opposite as two people can be from each other. Salt and pepper..sweet and spicy. light and dark. hot and cold. Brandt and Val and he is the greatest person in the world.I owe so much to him. He has made me do a lot of self reflecting which is very hard. He is so good I didn’t even know I was doing it at the time. Without coming off sounding like an ego ass …cause the real people that know me..know I am Awesome..just kidding…know I am down to earth ,,but Val and I are one hell of team..and pretty hard to stop. I don’t think I would want anyone alongside me on the side line calling in the plays. Val has shown truly taught me and has installed here at the Blue Canyon. We treat are Employees better then we treat Guest. Val is responsible for the employee retention. If you work 80 hours in week you would look lazy next to Val…The man is a mad man and very very dedicated to the Blue Canyon and to his eyes to the employees. There is some many things I have learned from this man..but the one that sticks out is…When you are mad…really mad at someone…email or mail yourself that letter or note….let some time go by…then read it…if it sounds ok and you think you should still send it off the go for it. All I Have to say is I haven’t had a lot of people mad at me in a long time………………..Thanks Little Buddy!!
Ron Hutchison is a man nobody ever hears about…he is the quiet guy…the numbers man CFO Bobs partner at Gateway and my partner her at Blue Canyon….I can remember 7 years ago I typed a prelimerly P&L up to go over some projections. Well lets just say he was very kind to me that day and at my Sesame Street Sheets. I remember him saying “Hey Grasshopper look at this…he cranked out a 7 paged P&L statement in 10 minutes……..Mine was 2,,,i think it had colors on it also….lol….just kidding. I have always had some much respect for Ron, he is Brilliant and I haven’t meet very many people that I think are brilliant. I also like to talk food with Ron……I guess you have to be a Chef to understand because it seems that Accountants all share the same taste buds….very interesting.
I can go on and on about so many great people , We had some new great additions to the management team the past year that are really making a great strides for us. Thanks Paul !!! Katie keeps hitting it out the park withallof the events!!! Matt H Thanks for your amazing customer service & bothNancy’s at the Front door ….all I can say is WOW!!! Todd thanks for making Montana Great!!!!! Paula & MG you bothare writing the book on Private dinning !!! Jana…they threw the mold out when they where done making you….Amiee keep Rocking Rockwall!! Ryan you did a great job and you will be missed thanks for a job well done!!
Maria Thanks for the HSC and all you do…you sure do have a lot of members to oversee………WOW
Team leaders all over….Thank you!!
To all the dishwashers!!!!! I started where you are…I will never forget..keep up the great wet work…you all rock!!
Bartenders…Thank you keep remembering those drinks and every-one’s names…
Valets…Buckle up and thanks for doing your job in that weather…..OUCH!!!
Server Assistant. Don’t carry so much….But thanks I appreciate your hard work busing isn’t very fun some days..
Rachel & Laura, Welcome to the team, you are going to be great assets to us, I look forward to learning from the both of you.
Terry…………your as sharp as any knife in my kitchen!!! Thanks for doing a great Job watching all of our backs..
To Chef’s : Larry. Scott, Raul, Matt, DJ, Stu, Rachel,Russ, Heidi, Gretchen…….much love…..get back to work…!!!! we are down by 14 and need the ball back!!!!!…GREAT JOB!!
And EVERYONE else that works here that makes Blue Canyon From the Back door to the the Front Door!!!
Thank you to the Gateway Hospitality Group…Thanks all the support…..and everything you let us borrow..:)
To all my Vendors, Thank you for working with us and picking out the best of the best for our customers…And Yes Glenna you are my favorite, I guess waiting out in the rain, 12 years go wasn’t that bad after all!!
Jeff Novak..You never miss a beet at Sirna & Sons for us………I know that was bad….
Alan Hasty From Sysco, Your a class Act!! and great ideas…..I really think you where a chef in your past life…
Tracy & Walt…The Vino and wine list Rocks thanks for your support
To all the wine growers and makers that have helped me with the Blue Canyon Wine line…What a journey it has been…I am honored to work with all of you!!
And please if i forget you its only becuase I have to hurry up and post this and get on with my night, I didnt mean to, Thank you!!
Thank you to all the wonderful and Great Customers. We have had heart attacks here to marriages to almost a birth, anniversary’s, to divorce celebrations you sure keep it interesting for us!!!! Thanks for allowing the Blue Canyon’s front door to be open for five years !!!!
We all feel we grow in Dog Years in this crazy biz so I guess Blue Canyon has been around for 35 years!!!! and yes I feel every day of it………………………..
Chef Brandt
A Kite Rises Against, Not with the Wind!!!