Trillium Haven Restaurant: Opening July 6

Chairs ready to unpack and set up, and some gorgeous lightThere is good news for Tender Foodies in Grand Rapids.  Another restaurant, the new Trillium Haven restaurant in the Kingsley Building (1429 Lake Dr. SE, Grand Rapids) expects to be accommodating people with food allergies. 

But don't over run them right away, Tender Foodies.  It's always best for food allergy peops to wait a month or two before venturing into any new food joint.  Even experienced restauranteurs with the most educated staff and well-practiced systems have a pretty steep learning curve during opening weeks.  Food allergy training, and the prevention of food allergy-sized cross contamination are systems that can typically be last. So it's safest for people with food allergies to wait until any restaurant opening kinks have worked themselves out.

Executive Chef Joel Wabeke spent 5 years at six.one.six working with the fabulous, and much missed Andrew Voss.  Chef Voss is a notable talent who always showed a great deal of respect for people with food allergies, from the service at the table to the deliciousness of the cuisine on the plate, and I am excited to see the magic that Joel will create. 

Anja Mast and Michael VanderBrug are the owners of this sure-to-be favorite in Eastown.  Staff memberw will be required to do a rotation on their Trillium Haven Farm, a well known CSA in Jenison that uses organic practices.  Owning both a farm and a restaurant puts Anja and Michael in a unique position to take the farm-to-plate concept to a whole new level.  When I spoke to Anja Mast, she said, "It will be like nothing you have seen before. It will be a different kind of dining experience." The farm will now completely support the restaurant, even during the winter months. 

I had a chance to see the restaurant pre-opening, during a Green Drinks event hosted by Trillium Haven and Guy Bazzani.  Here are a few pre-opening teasers I snapped with my iPhone.  The brick, stone, steel, and wood give a wonderfully grounded feeling to the space.  I'm excited to experience it with the sounds, aromas and hustle of a working restaurant.  You can be sure a review is in the near future. 

A wine rack over the bar.

The stainless steel bar.

Light sockets hung and waiting for their bulbs.

A large, wood table ready for assembly (note: this is slated to be the "coolest" spot to dine.)

Would You Sign a Contract before Dining? At Rogue 24 you will.

When you choose to dine at R.J. Cooper's new concept restaurant, Rogue 24, you cannot use your cell phone, take any pictures, or cancel your reservation less than 72 hours in advance.  How does the restaurant ensure compliance?  You sign a 2-page contract.  Rogue 24 will indent your credit card for half of the price of your meal if you cancel before 3pm on the day of your reservation.  It's full price after 3pm.  As far as the ban on photo and phone goes, perhaps they have the Tweet Police at the ready to throw you out should your iPhone make it to the table.  Or maybe the contract simply puts the fear of God into you each time you reach for that Android. 

In return for your signature, you get either a 16 or 24 course meal, the opportunity to indicate any food allergies or dietary restrictions, and apparently, a peaceful dining experience that lasts about 3 hours.  Don't be late.  Your 24 course meal plus beverage pairings costs $175 or so.  If you get stuck in traffic for over 30 minutes, you pay for it all and leave hungry.  It doesn't matter if the meal is the most incredible thing to hit your palate since Eve plucked that apple from the forbidden tree.

For a take on the food, read Tom Sietsema's Review in the Washington Post. 

According to The Huffington Post, Komi, another restaurant (ranked as one of the best high-end tasting menus out there), and David Chang's Momofuku Ko  both ban photography, as well.  I get that, it's tough to take great pictures of food.  And food that is prepared with such skill and expertise deserves that kind of photography, too.  On a side note, David Chang has had some bad press surrounding his tolerance of food allergic patrons (he hates it when people "fake food allergies" - like he could tell; and well, read this post written by Stephen Meuse on boston.com for his own personal experience with Chef Chang's team.

These new world rules, however, make me wonder.  Is this strong-arming of patrons into showing up, paying their bill, and respecting the foodie experience -- is this a reflection upon a modern-day disrespectful, difficult diner?   Is this a manifestation of a particular chef's "detail-oriented" personality?  Or is this a necessary or even creative way to offer high-end, highly conceptual food and stay in business?  Time will tell.  But after reading the contract, I'd get someone else in your party to make the reservation.  Just sayin'.

To read the full contract, go to DCEater.com. 

Rogue 24 is located at:  922 N. Street NW in Washington D.C.

New Restaurant! "Grove". Creative, Conscious, Cuisine.

New Restaurant Opening in Grand Rapids, MI

Very excited to tell you that, today, Grove has announced their August opening!  I'm hearing through the grapevine that their "creative, conscientious, cuisine"  will not only focus on "earth-to-table" but also serve Tender Foodies well.    It will be located in the old Corez restaurant at 919 Cherry St. SE in East Hills, opposite the The Green Well Gastro Pub and is owned by Essence Restaurant Group.  Essence has developed other Tender Foodie-worthy locations, including The Green Well and Bistro Bella Vita.  They attend to gluten-free, dairy-free and other food allergies.

I spoke with Rob McCarty, the "Jack of All" at the Image Shoppe, Essence's marketing engine.  He gave us a little more insight:

"People are asking me how Grove will be different than the Green Well.  Where the Green Well is alive and high octane, Grove will be more relaxed and focused.  I can confidently say that there won't be anything like it in the region.  It will be unique and awesome."

Congratulations Essence!

Read the full Grand Rapids Press Announcement