Everyone warned me that the first few weeks after opening our doors were going to be a bit of a haze. What advisors, mentors, family, friends, and even complete strangers should’ve headed was that it was going to be a complete blur. We’ve become so in it, that I find myself missing the awesomeness (is that even a word??) we’ve built here.
But amongst the fuzziness since January 19 , a stroke of clarity hit me the other day while I was grinding through an inbox of 72 unanswered emails.
LAUGHTER.
Downstairs, in the teaching kitchen, I could hear giggles. Our sous chef, Katie Carey, was teaching a class on soups, sauces, and stocks…not only were the students laughing, they were engaged and genuinely excited to be learning Le Fond basics. Talk about an AH-HA moment. Wow, people are really downstairs. People are downstairs and they are really taking a cooking class. And the best part…people are downstairs, they are really taking a cooking class and they are laughing.
And on top of the laughter, how about the emails? I’ve been humbled by notes from students who’ve visited Haven’s Kitchen, taken a class, and walked away with a feeling of accomplishment, pride, and eagerness to get back into their own home kitchens. Between the happy snickers at HK and the genuine, thoughtful thank you notes, I know we’re up to a good thing.
“This was my first cooking class I have taken in my life and I must thank you so much for a very fun day in the kitchen. I was drawn to HK after reading the NYT press piece. My expectations were met: simple and non-intimidating approach to cooking in a warm and friendly atmosphere, adherence to an inspirational philosophy to cook healthful, sustainable food. I look forward to my next class with you.”
- Evelyn Selber
“We had a fantastic time and it was a wonderful way to celebrate the New Year. My staff commented on what a good teacher Julia is. The flow was lovely…warm welcome from you and your staff…all fantastic. The support staff is great also, they are efficient and anticipate next moves. This is such a spectacular space, I know that I will be back for more. I will recommend this experience to everyone! Terrific!”
- Eileen Solomon
