by Ray, Shamara
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
CAIN
I parked in a lot a few blocks away from the festival and walked along with a cluster of people heading in the same direction as me. As I approached the festival, I saw the crowds. Police were out in the street directing the flow of traffic. I had hoped that the festival would have cleared out some since it was Sunday at four in the afternoon, but I should have known better. I reached my meeting place and scanned the crowd for Riley.
I felt a light tap on my shoulder and turned around. Riley was behind me holding a small plate with some sort of slider in the middle.
“I’m glad you made it,” she said, smiling.
“It looks like you’ve been here for a while.”
“About an hour and I’ve already had two of these.” She handed me the plate.
“What’s this?” I asked.
“Try it.”
I lifted the top bun. “What’s drizzled on the crab cake?”
“It’s an arugula pesto that gives it a nice peppery bite.”
I consumed the mini sandwich in two bites. She handed me a napkin. “Thanks.” I wiped my mouth. “That was pretty good.”
“Come on, let’s walk around.” She handed me a strip of tickets. “There’s a lot more food I want to sample.”
Riley and I navigated the crowd, stopping at a tent with a throng of people surrounding it. “They must be serving something good over here.”
“Lobster empanadas.”
“Sounds like it’s worth a try.”
A lady in front of us turned around. “They’ve run out of the lobster, but they have a braised pork cheek empanada that’s to die for. This is my third day at the festival and I keep finding myself at this tent.”
Riley fell into conversation with the woman while we waited on line. I looked around and took in the surroundings. All of the different restaurants, bakeries, breweries, wineries, vendors of sauces, spices, and everything else, were soliciting their wares.
“I think Eden2 should be here next year,” I observed.
“Honestly, I was surprised you weren’t already participating. This is the ideal place for us to be. Listen to me. Us. I haven’t even officially started.”
“As executive chef, I want you to feel like a stakeholder. I need Eden2 to take off. We’re in this together.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll do my part.”
“I wouldn’t have hired you if I didn’t think you could handle the role.”
We finally made it to the front of the line. Riley asked the trio stationed at the table if they were really out of lobster empanadas. They assured her she would enjoy either the saffron chicken and shrimp, the pork cheek, or their poblano, beef and gouda empanada. I went with two—the pork and the beef. She chose the chicken and shrimp empanada and took a bite before leaving the tent. “You were right. It’s delicious. I may be back later,” she said.
We ate while we walked. My braised pork empanada was “melt in your mouth” tender. The beef had a mild kick from the poblano pepper and not too much cheese to detract from the flavor of the meat. “Definitely the best empanadas I’ve had.”
“I’ve tasted some really good food at this festival. Every year these restaurants get better with their offerings.”
“Are there any vegetarian restaurants here?”
“Three or four.”
“Let’s check them out. Jade and I are opening a spa with a restaurant that will serve lighter food options, including a few vegetarian dishes. I want to see if they’re incorporating any new flavors.”
“You own three restaurants? I was under the impression it was two.”
“The restaurant in Genesis will make three, yes, but it’s basically Jade’s baby. The spa. The restaurant.”
“It’s located in New York?”
“Yes.”
“So Jade owns the restaurant?”
“Something like that.”
She tilted her head to the side. “Oh, I’m sorry. I must be asking too many questions.”
“Not at all. I’m the one who mentioned it.”
“Yes, but I jumped right in with the questions.”
“Really, I don’t mind. Genesis is an upscale spa and restaurant in downtown Manhattan. The concept was Jade’s idea. It’s her project to lead, and she’s the boss. You could call me the money guy.”
“I get it. You’re more of an investor in Genesis.”
“No, I was attempting to be funny. We collaborate on the bulk of the decisions, but it’s her vision. Ultimately, the final say rests with her.”
I was still working on Jade to understand that she held the control when it came to Genesis. She was fixated on whether or not she contributed any capital. In the meantime, she was missing the most important fact. It was her business. Yes, we were partners, but I had intentionally been taking a back seat to what was going on during the build-out on a daily basis. I wanted her to understand that she was calling the shots and that this business was about way more than the money it took to get the project started. There were decisions upon decisions to be made, materials to be ordered, furniture, paint, fixtures, and suppliers to be selected. Staff to be hired. Writing a check is easy. It’s determining what the check is paying for that’s the hard part. I didn’t have any doubt that Genesis would be a success with Jade at the helm. Just look at Rituals. She and Bria had created something spectacular. She would do the same for Genesis. I figured once she became mired in the process and all of the details, she’d focus less on my role as financier. Jade had an independent streak that I admired, but at times it was difficult for her to realize that it’s okay to depend on others. We were a team. My wins were her wins. It wasn’t as if I was just throwing my money into a random project with no promise of return. Genesis wasn’t charity. I stood to gain a significant profit, as did Jade. We’d benefit together. If it took my capital to put money in both of our pockets, I’d do that because it was going to take hard work on her part to keep adding money to our pockets.
“Well, it sounds like a smart investment. Maybe the next time I visit the Big Apple, I can stop by for a massage,” Riley said.
“You have an open invitation.”
Riley tugged on my shirt sleeve and then pointed to the right. “I think that’s the tent for the new vegetarian restaurant on West Paces Ferry Road.”
We walked over to the table and surveyed what was displayed. I inquired what was in some of the sampling cups. After receiving the rundown from the restaurant’s owner, I tried zucchini and yellow squash “noodles” with fennel pollen and an eggplant steak spiced with ground avocado leaves. “We need these types of unique, bold flavors at Genesis,” I commented to Riley.
“They’re certainly different. I’ve never cooked with any of these spices. You have to try this one.” Riley lifted a pumpkin corn fritter to my mouth.
I inched back a step and took the fritter from her hand. “What did he say the spice was in this one?”
“Crushed long pepper.”
I bit into it and chewed slowly. “It’s a little hot.” I took another bite. “Aside from the heat, I taste a familiar spice.”
“The long pepper has a hint of nutmeg.”
“You’re right; that’s what it is. I like it.”
“I wouldn’t mind experimenting with some of these flavors for you to use on your menu at Genesis.”
“I couldn’t ask you to do that.”
“You didn’t. I offered.”
“I appreciate it, thanks.”
“Can I have my fritter back?”
“My bad.” I laughed and handed her what was left of the pumpkin-corn goodness. “I was about to devour that.”
“I noticed. Let’s see if we can find the other vegetarian tents.”
We sampled some more vegetarian dishes that were all very good. I added a note in my phone with the names of all of the vegetarian restaurants. I wanted to check out their menus online. Maybe Jade would even consider adding an entire vegetarian section t
o our menu rather than just a few dishes. If we could create similarly bold flavors, we’d have something special.
Riley and I grabbed a couple of craft beers and found an empty table to sit. The sun was still beaming, but it wasn’t as strong in the late day. I sipped my beer and watched the people scuttling from tent to tent. Eden2 would be here next year. There was no way I’d miss this opportunity to put us front and center in the Atlanta market. We had a little buzz, but by this time next year I expected it to be significantly louder. Eden’s success in Long Island had a lot to do with the limited number of restaurants with similar menus or cuisine. In Atlanta, there were many more places to dine that were comparable to what we offered on the menu at Eden2. They weren’t necessarily better, they just had similar options and had been around longer.
I was prepared to do whatever it would take to get Eden2 recognized as a place to dine in Atlanta. It wasn’t doing bad, but it had lots of room to grow. I planned to start with additional advertising, bulking up the catering business, and creating a weekly themed event—either Friday Night Jazz or Sunday brunch. Eden2 would be a success. I would make certain of it. I loved the challenge of taking a business from nothing to something. With the right team in place it would happen. I had a good feeling about Riley taking over as executive chef.
It was a good idea to meet her at the festival. We had an opportunity to get better acquainted and get a preview of the potential dynamics of our working relationship.
“Are you looking forward to tomorrow?” I asked.
“I’m excited and ready to own that kitchen.”
“The staff is great. They’ll be able to help you get acclimated. Anything you need, just ask.”
She nodded. “What time do you want me there in the morning?”
“Plan to arrive at nine. We can go over a few things before we open. I want to introduce you to the kitchen crew, show you the ordering system, and have you meet a couple of our key suppliers. Tomorrow afternoon, before the dinner service begins, I’m calling a staff meeting. I’m going to let the staff know Eden2 is about to embark on a new path. I’d also like you to say a few words. You’ll be the third executive chef over a short period of time. If you could offer something to inspire confidence in the new team structure and how you plan to command the kitchen differently, I think it would help position the staff for success.”
“I couldn’t agree with you more and I’ll be prepared to share my thoughts. I’m excited and I’ll do my best to rally the staff.”
“I hope your excitement is contagious…which I’m already starting to believe it is.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
JADE
I poured myself a glass of orange juice and then spread a spoonful of strawberry preserves on my toast. I sat at the island with my breakfast and my tablet. I reached for my toast, about to take a bite, when the phone rang. I hurriedly took a nibble and went to retrieve the phone from the base affixed to the wall. I grabbed the handset and pushed the speaker button.
“Good morning,” I said, returning to my seat.
“Hey, beautiful.”
“Hey, stranger.”
“I’m barely gone twenty-four hours and I’m a stranger already?”
“I haven’t heard from you since you sent me a text saying that you landed in Atlanta.”
“I’m sorry, babe. I sort of hit the ground running yesterday. I got situated at the house, did a little work, and then I went to a food festival in downtown Atlanta.”
“A food festival?”
“It’s annual event in Atlanta. All of the top restaurants have tents and samples of some pretty amazing food. I decided that Eden2 will be participating next year. It would be great for additional exposure. Anyway, after the festival, I did a little food shopping. I was exhausted by the time I got back and put everything away. I jumped in the shower and fell asleep as soon as I stretched out on the bed. I planned to call you, but I knocked out.”
“I know how you get consumed when you’re out of town on business, but we usually speak at least once a day.”
“That’s why I called first thing this morning to hear your voice before I head to the restaurant.”
“I’m actually about to leave myself.”
“You’re on your way to Genesis this early?”
“If I want to avoid traffic, earlier is better.”
“All right, I won’t hold you up. I’ll check in with you later for an update on Hal’s progress.”
I hung up the phone feeling a bit annoyed. I was even more annoyed with myself for feeling that way. I had too many other things to preoccupy my day than to let the lack of one phone call get under my skin. I pushed back whatever negativity was trying to seize my spirit. I reminded myself that we were successful entrepreneurs with important affairs to manage.
• • •
HAL GREETED ME AS SOON I entered the building. He rambled off a list of what would be completed by the end of the week as he followed me to the office. I nodded and waved to the workers as we passed through the main lobby.
“So we’re still on schedule?” I asked.
“I guaranteed Cain that we would be.”
“That’s music to my ears, Hal.”
“Cain asked for these on Saturday.” He handed me a stack of material requisition forms. “Let me know if he has any questions. Or, if you have any.”
“I’ll take a look at them and get back to you.”
“I have another project to check on, but I’ll be back in a few hours. My crews are on top of everything. But if you need me, call my mobile.”
I flipped through the requisitions and tossed them aside. Did Hal think I couldn’t review requisitions? It seemed like an afterthought that he mentioned I should let him know if I had any questions. He was aware I owned another restaurant. What he didn’t know, like many others, was that I have a degree in business. That was my first degree before attending culinary school. I started to wonder if the perception on the worksite was that I was merely the chef and Cain was the business head. Until that very moment with Hal, it hadn’t crossed my mind. I didn’t need to prove anything to the workers, but for some reason I wanted it to be clear that both Cain and I were about our business.
A knock on the door snapped me out of my thoughts. The foreman entered the office holding two different tiles. He proceeded to explain that the tile that was ordered for the men’s steam room was too porous and might be conducive to the growth of bacteria. He brought me a sample of a tile that was just as attractive as the one I had selected, but not permeable.
“And we’ve already received the porous tile?”
“Stacked and ready to be installed.”
“Can it be returned?”
“That’s not a problem.”
“How long would it take to get the new tile in-house?”
“About a week if I put a rush on it.”
“Will that throw you off schedule?”
“It shouldn’t be too bad. We can adjust the work schedule and reassign the start for a different project.”
“Then let’s order the non-porous tile.”
“I probably should have mentioned this first, but the nonporous tile is about twice the cost of the original tile.”
I sighed. “Yes, that would’ve been a good place to start.”
“I searched for a tile that was similar to what you had chosen, and this nonporous version was the closest that I found.” He stood waiting as I considered whether to search for something cheaper. He must have read my mind. “For the type of quality and style you want to achieve, you won’t find anything cheaper. I may be able to negotiate a slightly lower price based on my relationship with the supplier, but I think this is the best list price we’ll find.”
I nodded. “Just do it.”
“You got it, boss.”
Boss. That earned him a smile from me. “Thanks, and keep up the good work.”
No more than five minutes later, I was engaged in yet another discussion. This
time regarding the large, central lighting fixture in the dining room. I went to see what was causing the problem. I stared up at the ceiling and the positioning of the light. We chose a modern orbicular chandelier with tiered lighting and smaller cascading orbs. Either I needed a larger version or a slightly smaller one. The current size looked off center. I retreated back to the office to figure out what to do about a replacement. I sat behind my desk and stared at the computer screen. It was turning out to be a day of unexpected problems. We were already increasing the cost of the steam room with the new tile and the lighting was meant to be the center of attraction in the dining room—it wouldn’t make sense to go smaller. I’d have to go with the larger option, which meant more money.
I picked up my cell phone and dialed. “What’s your schedule like today?”
“I can make time for you.”
“How would you like a tour of Genesis?”
“I’ll be there in an hour.”
I ended the call and reclined back in the chair. I had an hour to figure out exactly what I wanted to say.
• • •
A BLACK CAR PULLED UP to the curb. Omar stepped out from the backseat. The first thing I noticed was the perfectly polished black, wingtip shoes. The charcoal, double-breasted suit and mauve pocket square were next, and then those ever-present dimples.
He placed a hand on my upper back as he kissed me on the cheek. “Ms. Jade, always a pleasure.”
“Likewise,” I said, with a smile of my own. “Come on in. Let me give you the tour.” I ushered him into the lobby. “Be careful where you step. There’s a ton of construction going on.”
“I’m following right behind you.”
“This our main lobby. You have to enter here for either the spa or the restaurant. Eventually there will be a massive, circular reception desk, more like a station. Upon arriving, you’ll be checked in for your spa services or directed to the restaurant for your reservation. Upon departure, you will be checked out and any future appointments or reservations can be made on the opposite side of the reception station. This station will be responsible for providing the first and last impressions of Genesis. I’ll be searching for polished and refined receptionists.”