The conversation flowed, and Greg seemed genuinely interested as she outlined what she needed to do for the restaurant.
They tossed around names, too. Venerable Foods? Venerable Café? She still didn’t know.
After saying good night, she realized her daughter Julia might be a good one to ask about a name.
Julia was a writer and currently worked in social media for an entertainment company out west. She texted her oldest.
“Hey, haven’t heard from you in a few days. Here’s what I’m up to. I need a name for this place. Any ideas?”
“I’ll think about it.” Ah, good, proof of life for number one.
And then she sent a few pictures to Sara, her youngest. Who replied with a smiley emoji.
Proof of life for number two.
That was all she could ask for from one day.
Hope went to sleep relaxed from the wine, happy about her new hires, and confident that she had won the neighbor lottery of Lake Manitou as well.
ChapterTwenty
Hope
Camila had made it her mission to show up at the restaurant daily.
“I’m going to be here in the mornings, and then once we open, a little later, since we’ll be working till probably ten or eleven.”
After three days of interviews, Hope—now with Camila’s experienced eye—finished the hiring.
Meanwhile, Braylon hunted and gathered.
“What can we source locally in July and August?” she asked, and he delivered.
“If we look for fishing operations in the Great Lakes, we may be able to do all Michigan or Canadian caught fish.”
“Yes!” Her mind whirled with the possibilities of how she’d prepare her fish dishes.
Braylon found beef suppliers too. Every day, she nailed down a new recipe idea for their opening week.
Hope wanted white aprons, black t-shirts, and jeans or khakis for her staff. She’d wear the same most days. Camila had taken over sourcing uniform supplies. Lila, who was young and stylish, was enlisted as their model. To see what worked and looked okay.
“I wouldn’t call this uniform fire but compared to the fugly polo shirts at the hardware store, I’m low-key happy.”
Lila spoke Lila, and they just tried to keep up.
They hired two more servers, a busboy, and a line cook. Camila would seat diners and be the backup for the servers if they got in the weeds.
It was shaping up, all of it, and the days flew by.
Hope was optimistic as she and Camila worked on setting up the new ordering system.
“We’re ahead of the game. I really think we’re almost ready.”
“I have to be honest with you,” Camila said.
“Please do.”
“I think you limit service to fifty the first few weeks. That’s all we can handle with the current staff and experience.”
