Table for four?
Right this way. We’re hopping to it, reversing a trend. Adding tables and chairs instead of taking them away to be stored in the loft. For the past two years, I’ve been serving lunch guests as the waiter, cook, busboy, and dishwasher (and cashier), and it – unfortunately – caused some limitations. I learned early on that taking care of more than a dozen folks at a time was simply more than I could manage. Hey. I’m not as young as I used to be.
So, I took out some tables and that worked out fine – most days.
Dustin and I have just wrapped up three weeks of working together at lunchtime. There are still some routines to be ironed out, but as a father/son team, we’re doing all right. He’s a quick-study in the kitchen (I think it must be some sort of culinary DNA thing that started with his great-grandfather at The Palace in Parsons, KS…). Dustin is already ordering in supplies, maintaining inventory levels, testing new recipes, and keeping up with the lunch orders.
Oh – and he stays ahead on keeping the dishes sparkly clean.
Sweet.
The result? One of the decommissioned tables that had been stowed away was returned to the front of the house this past week. A test run, of sorts. We were able to keep up with the extra seats, and did it well enough that we were able to bring out another table, thanks to Greg – our Rose District neighbor at Southern Magnolia. He donated a three-foot tabletop that Dustin and I attached to an extra base we had upstairs.
I know seating has been a premium at times, but we now have additional accommodations for parties of three or four.
We’ve been running daily chalkboard specials that have proven popular, including some selections not on the regular menu. Dustin spent time in the kitchen Saturday testing new recipes, and I believe he has some tasty dishes planned for next week. He even managed a visit to the Rose District farmer’s market to pick up some fresh local produce.
It’s helped me enjoy my work a lot more. Don’t get me wrong. It’s always been a pleasure being at the shop, talking books and serving guests during the noon hour. But having someone at my side takes all the stress out of it. I’ve been preparing and running food out to guests on my own for two years – having help is such a novelty that it has injected a load of fun where all that stress had been.
I like that.
Hope you’ll let us serve you lunch one day next week. We’ll be peeling and chopping with the best of them and are planning some tasty meals and even more surprises!
Come visit!
McHuston
Booksellers & Irish Bistro
Rose District
122 South Main St. Broken Arrow OK!