New Beginnings…
This has been a weird time for all of us, a world wide pandemic has turned my industry (amongst others) on its head and upside down. Philly is on it’s way back to a regulated normalcy in some ways but most things with be forever changed. I myself was left in a position of uncertainty as I was laid off from my job due to Covid, and was struggling like many others to receive unemployment from the state ( I had just moved back from New York last November, so it took forever to process.
While pondering what moves to make or even contemplate where to go next, my mind went in so many directions…….Do I work on a pop up? Should I work on starting a business (and at this time?)??Should I sell focaccia out of my house? I literally was in a rut and just felt that I was at my wits end…. After nearly 3 months of quarantining, jobless, I started to look around for ads, it was time, and I was anxious, and out of shape to say the least! And then I saw an ad for a Chef de Cuisine position for a husband and wife own restaurant…..
Branzino restaurant near Rittenhouse Park has been around for 16 years, I can’t tell you how great an accomplishment that is in an industry where margins are decreasing at an alarming rate, and the demand for new new new is so high nowadays. Luan Tota and his wife Dori are there day in day out making it happen. I applied for the job, Luan texted me that day, we met the following day, and I a tasting for him the day after….. Just like that, we really clicked and had a good connection. It just felt right. The space itself has been refurbished after they had a fire to the building a few years back, so it felt like a new restaurant but still had plenty of vintage charm.
The first weekend we were open, it was just Luan and I in the kitchen…..no cooks, no dishwasher….Just me and the man banging it out. it felt great to just cook for people again. It actually rained the first night, and since we were only allowed outdoor dining what could you do??? The customers didn’t even care, they were happy just to be out! I have always that thing tend to work out as long as you keep a clear mind and show some patience. I feel great about this opportunity and can wait to spread my wings to create a menu that will have people craving to come back to! There is a beautiful back patio that is no doubt one of the best outdoor spaces in the city!
