04/23/2022
**IMPORTANT INFORMATION, PLEASE READ**
Hey, y’all. It’s Chef. I wanted to let you know that I am closing the restaurant permanently on May first. We will be here today and tomorrow for normal hours. Next week, we will have normal hours Wednesday - Sunday. I will have lots of specials every day as I try to use up my remaining inventory. On that Sunday, May 1st @ 2pm, I will flip the sign ‘closed’ for the last time. Please, come eat with us before we say goodbye.
I am not saddened or deterred by this; I hope that you are not, either. I have been afforded many incredible opportunities and have learned so much throughout this process. The things I have learned by trying (and often failing) to wear the hats of chef and owner have given me the skillset and confidence to pursue high-level jobs I would have never felt capable of before. My aunt told me recently: there are no failures. Only feedback. I am ready to move on to the next set of obstacles.
I also learned through this process that, widely and largely, people are good. Every time I was about to throw down my apron, someone walked in and handed me money, called to ask if I wanted to climb through a freezer of useful food, sent me a letter or an email or called my phone to tell me to keep going. People are good and so is God. He never once forgot about me, either.
From the very first time I wrote to y’all, I have wanted you to know how much I love and appreciate each and every one of you. I mean that. Some of the best moments of my life, my core memories, are of a new customer smashing a plate of my food, or your child requesting to have her birthday with us, or one of my formerly-picky employees taking a spoon from me without asking what’s on it, or your coming back to my office after a tasting dinner to tell me I surprised you. I take the knowledge and great bank of connections and experiences with me wherever I go.
Thank you. See you soon.
Caitlin