Behind the paper: framing and plumbing

After an unexpected 3-day weekend (my block lost power for 24 hours during Friday's storm), my construction crew arrived Monday morning to discover that all their tools had been stolen in the middle of the night. The thieves broke into the site's lock box, then used the wheelbarrow and dolly to move everything into their truck. My construction crew now takes everything of value off the premises before heading home. Apparently gangs of thieves regularly hit construction sites in San Francisco. They swipe valuable items like tools and copper pipes, then pack their loot in containers and ship it overseas, sometimes as quickly as hours after the theft.

After this inauspicious start to the week, my crew quickly regrouped and worked in earnest. I am so impressed by their resilience and work ethic. They are true professionals. Old walls came down, new ones went up, and plumbing began.

In other good news, I'm thrilled to tell you about a happy discovery that we made a few weeks back. When we removed the sheet rock and insulation from the walls, we learned that the siding of the 100-year-old building's exterior walls was built from beautiful old-growth redwood. This week the crew carefully removed the panels to preserve it. Eventually, we will plane and sand the panels on site and use them for decorative elements in the interior of the restaurant. Reclaiming and reusing the building's wood is one way that we are working to keep the design as green and environmentally friendly as possible.

By the time you read this, I'll be on a plane flying south in search of sun and warmth. I have a date with a hammock on a beach in a country famous for its toucans, manatees, jaguars, spider monkeys, corral reefs, and Mayan pyramids. Any guesses? Unfortunately, this means I'll miss today's announcement of the Menu for Hope winners. I promise that I'll get in touch with the winners of my (and Shuna's and Alder's) prize just as soon as I get back into town. I don't know about you, but I can't wait to discover who I will be cooking for!

Comments

[Court]

How exciting! I stumbled across your blog in a desperate search for instructions to braise baby artichokes (thank you, btw), and now I'm completely enamored. I also happen to be relocating to SF in May, so if you're looking for servers you just let me know, it sounds like your venture is right up my alley...

[catherine ross]

Old-growth Redwood - Wow!

[Tea]

It's fascinating to get to watch if all happen--it already looks so different!

Have a great trip! Someplace slow and warm sounds pretty appealing to me right now. We're soggy up here (insert wry grin).

[catherine]

Sorry about the theft that sucks. On the other side of the block, my power was out for 14 hours.

The old growth redwood is awesome! I have been noticing a lot of work over there. My BF and I can't wait until you open, save me an opening night table.

[Paul]

Hope you have a good trip! Sounds like a great place to be this time of the year. -25 here in Wisconsin this morning!

[gwinn]

Brett, where are you? We miss you! We need the update...