Contigo's opening is now scheduled for Tuesday, March 3rd.
We couldn't be happier with the talented team we have assembled to work with us at Contigo . We started training yesterday with an orientation to fill out paperwork and go over our employee handbook, written by our GM, Maz, with an introduction by me.
Here's an excerpt from my introduction:
"We
chose the name for our restaurant because it synthesizes our philosophy
about the dining experience into one word. Contigo means “with you” in Spanish.
It implies connection, community, collaboration, and conviviality.
"We
believe that the single most important facet of dining is connection: friends,
neighbors and lovers sharing a meal together. We are humbled at the thought
that the guests at Contigo on any given night will have chosen to spend their
time with their companions at our restaurant over the thousands of other
restaurants in this city. Our guiding mission at Contigo is do everything in
our power to care for our neighbors as we would guests in our home. We want our
team to anticipate and exceed our guests’ expectations – ensuring our guests’
comfort, anticipating their needs, and allowing them to have a good time. We
want to offer our guests service that is casual, unpretentious and delivered
with sincerity and warmth. We want
you to be confident, technically precise and able to respond to any question or
request.Your spontaneity,
resourcefulness and adeptness are Contigo’s secret weapons.
"Contigo also implies community. Our
restaurant participates in several communities. On the smallest level, we see Contigo
itself as a micro community. We will all be spending a significant amount of
time working together and our goal is to make Contigo as happy a place to work
as possible. We believe that each member of our team plays a role in making
Contigo as good as it can be. Contigo is also part of the Noe Valley
neighborhood and, drawing the circle wider, a part of San Francisco. Our hope
is that Contigo will become a Noe Valley and San Francisco gathering spot. On
the widest level, our restaurant is part of the global community. We strive to
walk softly on our planet and leave the earth a better place than we found it.
"Running Contigo or any restaurant is also a miraculous act of collaboration, a process involving countless people working
together with the end goal of feeding our guests. Think about all the hands
that built this restaurant, all the hands that grow our vegetables and catch
our fish, all the hands that prepare the food, that serve our guests and wash
the dishes.
"Finally,
we strive to create a convivial ambience for our guests. The food
and atmosphere of Contigo were inspired by summers spent in Spain, and in
particular, Barcelona. We love the conviviality of dining standing up in small
tapas bars hidden down narrow alleyways or perched on a stool at a kiosko< inside one
of Barcelona’s bustling covered markets. Contigo’s open floor plan, counter
seats, standing drink rail, kitchen that spills into the dining room, and
outdoor patio were all designed to bring a taste of Barcelona to San Francisco."
I'm happy to report that the issues have been resolved and I've republished the post announcing Contigo as the new name for my restaurant (scroll down to Monday). Again, thank you so much for playing along!
I edited the original post down quite a bit as the first version was written after about 2 hours of sleep. The original comments have also been republished. Please leave your comments on Monday's post.
I'm typing from my mobile phone, so please excuse any typos. I've been informed that there may be some unforeseen, er, issues with my choice of name for my restaurant. I've unpublished the post for now. I apologize to those of you who left comments.
Will this drama never end? Tune in again tomorrow!
Contigo. "With you." Intimacy. Connection. Togetherness. Friendship. Community. The relationship between farmers
and consumers. Sharing the table with friends. Conviviality. Love. It says it all. Unlike ampersand, it says it in Spanish.
That was the clincher for me. I wanted the new name of my restaurant to be rooted in the source of my inspiration: Spain.
Contigo was inspired by a love song. Love and food are intimately intertwined in my mind, like the arms and legs of lovers falling asleep in a too small bed. More than any other name you or I have come up with this past month, Contigo embodies that image and message.
This is going to sound sappy, but I like that metaphor. My cooking, my work, my restaurant is my serenade to you. I chose this line of work (sometimes I think it chose me) because I like to take care of people, provide warm hospitality, and, with a little luck, add some sparkle to your lives. Opening this restaurant is my tiny, humble attempt to leave the world a better, happier place.
I hope you've enjoyed playing the Name Game as much as I have! I
cannot thank you all enough for your participation. I firmly believe
that I could not have come up with such a fantastic name without your
help.
I've been really happy with the Name Game process, warts and all. I wouldn't have changed a thing. I loved all your candid, heartfelt, and often amusing comments. Even, no, especially
the critical ones. I appreciated your openness. I have been astounded
and tickled that so many of you put so much thought and effort into
this game even though you have no stake in the end result. I will
always remember how much support you showed me throughout this process. Your voting did play a key role. Your repeated support for the name Contigo in all the polls really helped me to see her charms. Sometimes you need your friends to take you aside and say, "look, Brett, don't be an idiot. She's a real catch. You'll regret it if you let her go." I truly believe we came up with this name together. How fitting is that? With you. Contigo.
I had a lot of fun and I hope you did too! I'm not worried whether everyone will like the new name or not. It's just a name, after all. I know
from your comments that you all would have been supportive of my
restaurant no matter what I ended up calling it (with the possible
exception of Castropoda). I cannot wait to meet you all in person once
I open Contigo's doors late next spring!
I haven't forgotten. In a few days I'll hold a drawing from amongst
all the people who left comments to determine the winner of our other prize, a free dinner for two at Contigo and invitations to all the opening festivities. Remember, each comment counted as one raffle ticket.
Oh, and guess what! Stay tuned for construction pictures any day now in the new "Contigo update."
Happy Monday, amigos! In case you had better things to do over the weekend than read food blogs (as if), the big news on this little blog is that later this afternoon, at 4 pm PST (12 midnight GMT) to be precise, I'm going to announce the new name for my restaurant.
There's still time to vote! Please take a minute to pop on down to yesterday's post and let me know which of the final two names you prefer: Contigo, the dark-eyed Spanish troubador serenading you on his guitar, or ampersand, the mysterious beatnik poet who arrived at the party fashionably late.
This post is more difficult for me to write than I had imagined it would be. But it has to be done.
Today we bid adieu to our dear friend olallie.
Olallie has been the name associated with my restaurant for well over a year. I registered the name with City Hall during the olallieberry season before last, shortly after discovering a neighbor's blackberry bush hanging over my future restaurant's backyard. Since that time, the name has been publicized frequently on this blog, on other food blogs, and in the print media, including the San Francisco Chronicle, Edible San Francisco and the local Noe Valley Voice.
While the name had its critics, I shall always remember the loyalty that olallie's fans have shown throughout this Name Game process. I heart you, my dear olallistas! Please accept my sincere apologies! Your emails and comments took me by surprise and truly touched my heart. I had no idea how much some of you liked the name.
I have been impressed by your fierce determination to convince me tokeep the name olallie. I've made herculean efforts to use your persuasive arguments to reframe my own thinking. There was the existing buzz. The hassle of changing the name. The poetic, feminine sound of the name. The connection to local farms. All true. All are reasons why I chose the name in the first place. I was most impressed when, after suggesting that my restaurant's name should convey a sense of sharing the table with friends, one commenter mentioned that olallieberries, which grow in clusters, could be seen as a symbol of connection. You really had me with that one. I was nearly hooked.
But something just didn't sit right with me. I started this seemingly interminable Name Game for one simple reason. I had fallen out of love with olallie. I knew in my heart that I had to change the name. I am not the same person who selected the name olallie. The circumstances of my life have changed too much these past 6 months. I have changed. I see life differently now. I see my restaurant differently. My restaurant will not be the same as it would have been had I opened it as planned (the doors would have opened this month had I not halted construction in June). Although it's strange to admit, I know in my heart that all these changes have made me a better, happier man. I also know that these changes will result in a far better, more convivial restaurant.
As you will eventually learn, the choice to say goodbye to olallie was mine alone. It was not based on the results of yesterday's poll.
So, dear friends of olallie, I hope you will forgive me and will come to embrace the new name as warmly as you did olallie. After all, we are only talking about some little neighborhood restaurant's name. What's in a name, any way? What really matters is the complete package: the food, service, and ambience. (By the way, no, I won't be asking you to vote on menu items. I vow that after today you will never ever see a poll on this blog again).
Speaking of which, let's not forget our final poll. The Name Game isn't over yet! What on earth are we going to call this little neighborhood restaurant? Please vote and leave comments! And remember, bribes are not only accepted but encouraged.
My restaurant's new name will be announced Monday at 4pm Pacific Standard Time (12 midnight GMT).
"Huh?" you ask. "Where did that last one come from? I checked yesterday morning and saw two impossibly long polls and decided to read Cute Overload instead." Yes, I know. Sorry about that. I now know what eyeballs simultaneously rolling into the back of several hundred heads sounds like. Trust me, it ain't pretty. *shiver* Read yesterday afternoon's post to find out more about ampersand, the latest dark horse contender.
As promised, I have revealed the results of all the previous polls. For me, the most interesting question was whether I should keep the name olallie. 52% said change it, 48% said keep it. It's essentially the 2000 presidential election all over again. Guess who's Florida.
Hmm. This is a food blog. Maybe I should change that analogy. Did you watch "The Next Iron Chef"? Guess who's Ruhlman.
Please vote in this, the second to last poll (yay!). The results of this poll are for my eyes only (for the time being).
Tomorrow we'll pit the two finalists against one another in one final smack down. Most likely they will be the two names that receive the highest number of votes, but I'm not going to guarantee that. At this stage of the game I have final say as to which of the three should, as they say on reality TV, pack their knives and go home (not one but two TV analogies by a guy who doesn't even own a TV. Weird, huh?). Trust me though, your votes and comments play a very influential role in my decision making process. Bribes don't hurt either, come to think of it.
Once I have decided upon a name (to be announced 4 pm PST Monday!), I will reveal the results of today's and tomorrow's polls.
What the hell. I figure I already jumped the shark this morning when, a few days before I promised to end this Name Game, I posted a poll that included 23 names. Why not add a 24th? After all, my restaurant is just off 24th Street.
ampersand
The name for the & sign. Symbolizes connection, togetherness, conviviality, sharing a table with friends. It's what going out to eat is all about. & is the symbolic equivalent of the Spanish Contigo. It's the English metaphor I've been seeking. And it's at the top of the alphabet.
I was so close on Monday when I posted my brainstorming session inspired by "mingle." Towards the end of my long list I wrote: "... and, conjunction, with, plus...." Those words eventually led me to Contigo. Then, Wednesday I came up with tilde, another typographical sign. So close.
However, I can't claim credit for this one. I was inspired by today's post on Married with Dinner. What would be more fitting than a food blogger finding inspiration for his restaurant's name in another food blog? Plus, I'd already have a signature drink (if I can get approval for a full liquor license, that is).
In fact, I remember bumping into my friends Anita and Cameron (the very same writers behind Married with Dinner) at the farmers' market a few weeks back and we joked that I should follow Prince's lead and choose a glyph for a name. Wouldn't it by funny synchronicity if that joke turned out to be foreshadowing.
I'm sure some of you will be puzzled that I'm so enthusiastic about a word that, let's face it, doesn't exactly "tickle the eardrums," as I like to say. Allow me to explain my thinking. In my opinion, the sound of the name plays a bigger role when choosing words outside one's native tongue. If my potential customers are going to be presented with a name whose meaning is unfamiliar, I want that word to at least appeal to their ears. Ideally I'd like it to have those oh and oo vowel sounds and/or I'd like it to be feminine sounding and melodic. Of course, if a name in English has these attributes, that's an added bonus. I just don't think it's as crucial.
While ampersand may not be super melodic (although it's really not bad sounding at all), there's no denying that the & is visually beautiful. With her curves and loops, she's the sexiest key on a keyboard. She's as pretty to look at as olallie is to listen to.
I feel strongly about this one, so I'm not going to bother to put up a special poll (I've added it to the laundry list in the previous poll). Please feel free to leave comments however. And, of course, be your usual candid selves.
Based on yesterday afternoon's polls (please weigh in if you haven't yet), Contigo is quite popular! I think most of us agree that the meaning congers up the kind of images of connection, community, and sharing that I've been seeking. There's one thing that's preventing me from embracing it enthusiastically. I'm not crazy about the sound of the word. Contigo doesn't quite tickle my eardrums the way olallie does.
So I've decided to put up one more poll. In hindsight, I probably should have done this before making my list of finalists on Wednesday. Live and learn. Between climbing Mt. Whitney, taking peyote, and my tarot and I-Ching readings, I guess I got too busy. So let's take a step back and let you weigh in on the runners up, those that narrowly missed qualifying for the final list.
The result is quite a laundry list!
Here's a synopsis of the meanings of the words (I've sprinkled in some new crushes to see if you're paying attention):
Barcino - ancient Roman name for Barcelona besos de sal - "salty kisses" in Spanish bona vida - "good life" in Catalan casolana - "home cooked" in Catalan Contigo - "with you" in Spanish conviva - "live together" in Spanish, "guest at banquet" in Latin Corcovado - name of a Brazilian love song cuchara - "spoon" in Spanish, ode to La Cuchara de San Telmo cuttlefish - similar to squid (but cuter name), popular in tapas bars del barri - "local" in Catalan (decided I prefer this to plain barri) Emerson - yo greengrocer - seller of fruits and vegetables, green=eco-friendly lovage - an herb with a celery-like flavor Persephone - goddess of underworld, daughter of harvest goddess pulpito - "little octopus" in Spanish sardine dream - little fish dreams of opening restaurant sonrisa - "smile" in Spanish swoon - overwhelmed by joy, excitement; fainting Tibidabo - famous hill overlooking Barcelona tilde - squiggle (~) over the n in Spanish Triana - area of Seville famous for tapas vinya - "vineyard" in Spanish viridian - dark spring green
Like yesterday's poll, I'm leaving olallie out of the mix for now. It's on a paid leave of absence until tomorrow. Mark all those you like in the first poll.
Pick your fave in the second poll. I hope you have better luck making a decision than I have!! Oh, and bad news. I'm keeping the results of this poll secret until tomorrow. [Saturday edit: results now visible]
Thanks for hanging in there and continuing to play along! The end is nigh. I am so excited I can hardly stand it!! Either that or I'm on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
We're coming down to the wire! The poll results so far happily jibe with my thinking. The race is currently boiling down to a choice between keeping olallie or going with Contigo. It's a dead heat.
I see the difference between the two as a question of emphasis. Olallie focuses more on the restaurant's local seasonal perspective, Contigo more on the menu's Iberian inspiration.
Contigo ("with you") is also more overt in its message that dining is about relationships and connection, about sharing a table with friends. Olallie is more subtle in this regard. As one poetic olallie supporter points out, because the berries grow in clusters and each berry is itself an aggregate of many drupelets, olallieberries can be seen as metaphors for togetherness. The Olallistas are fierce in their devotion, aren't they?
Let's be honest here. Olallie is the reigning heavyweight champion. To defeat it is going to require an equally inspired contender. My question is this: of all the possible Spanish and Catalan choices out there, is Contigo the best? Is there another word that better communicates the kind of friendly, bubbly conviviality that I want my restaurant to have, the ambience I find whenever I visit my favorite tapas bars and mom-and-pop storefront restaurants in Barcelona (Cal Pep, Pinotxo, Quimet Quimet, Bar Inopia) and San Sebastián (La Cuchara de San Telmo and Aloña Berri). I think Contigo does a pretty good job of communicating that vibe, but I want to push myself (and you all) to see if there's something even better.
As I've mentioned before, I would prefer to come up with a more poetic metaphor if I could. Or something from a Spanish or Catalan saying. Unfortunately, creating metaphors in languages which are not my own (and in which I am far from proficient) is a difficult task to pull off. It requires a level of subtle understanding of Spanish and Catalan that I don't possess. Cava (the Catalan sparkling wine) would have been perfect if there weren't already a wine bar in San Francisco named Cav. Best of all worlds would be a cute metaphor that conjures up images of Barcelona conviviality in English, but I have yet to hit on one. Something to do with sardines?
What follows is the crème de la crème of my latest brainstorming session. La nueva ola (the new wave) of Spanish contenders. Most of the new ones are in Catalan, as opposed to Contigo which is Spanish. Let me know if you like any of them better than Contigo by voting in both polls. You'll be happy to learn I'm not hiding the results of today's polls!
barri
"Neighborhood" in Catalan. A few of you liked del barri, which is one way of saying "local" in Catalan. This distills it down to its essence. My restaurant aspires to become a gathering spot for the neighborhood.
bocarte
[Edit: I added this one at 3:30] You remember this one? Upon reflection, I remembered the "art of the mouth" captures that sense of conviviality and romance I'm after. Plus, its primary meaning in several of northern Spain's regional dialects is anchovy.
bona vida
La bona vida is "the good life" in Catalan. I added bona (good) to one commenter's excellent suggestion of Vida. The Catalan sense of "the good life" matches our own in English. Donar-se bona vida means to lead a happy life without hard work, problems, or worry. Sounds nice, no? The 2 words are also easy to pronounce and spell, perhaps more so even than Contigo.
botiga
"Store" or "shop" in Catalan. It captures the simple fact that my restaurant is basically a small urban storefront. In fact, over the past 100 years it has been every kind of storefront business imaginable, from barbershop ("tonsorial parlor" as it was known) to clothing store to fishmonger to computer store. Also easy to pronounce and spell.
Bretxa
[Edit: I added this one at 3:30 pm] Pronounced "bray-cha." Mercado de la Bretxa is the main food market in San Sebastián. I include it due to the similarity in spelling to my name and because it says Spain and market fresh. I haven't included it earlier because I am concerned about pronunciation and spelling issues. Plus, it's not the prettiest sounding word. There are also some sad realities about the current incarnation of the market which I touched upon here. Everything sold at la Bretxa is still impeccably fresh and of the highest quality, though, as you can tell fromthesevariousphotos.
luna caliente
"Hot moon" in Spanish. Comes from a love sonnet by Pablo Neruda, one of my favorite poets.
mam i teca
Old Catalan slang for "food and drink" (actually "drink and food"). Roughly equivalent to "booze and grub." It's the name of a little tapas bar in the Raval neighborhood of Barcelona. Pronounced mom-ee-tayka.
vinya
"Vineyard" in Catalan. Could also be la vinya. Places the emphasis on the wine program. Wine, both sparkling and still, is the social lubricant that does such a good job of encouraging conviviality. There is also an urban-rustic wine bar/restaurant in Barcelona named La Vinya del Senyor. Easy to pronounce and spell.
Please vote in both polls! The first allows multiple answers. Note: olallie is not included in these polls as it is already a finalist. These polls are simply to find out if you think there is a better name than Contigo, the current leading contender to potentially dethrone olallie.
Now choose your favorite of these Spanish/Catalan names.
Thanks for continuing to play the Name Game! Tune in tomorrow or Saturday for the final Smackdown: Olallie vs. _________?
sar·dine(n) 1. a young herring or similar small fish.
2. a metaphor for the small and often less well-known ingredients, restaurants, farmers, and artisans that San Francisco-based chef Brett Emerson writes about in this website.
