When Paths Cross

Well its been a while since I posted a long winded heart felt Chef Jodi post… Sit back and get ready to read.

I truly believe that people cross paths in our lives for a reason. Some people you can meet for a brief moment and you just feel a connection. Something drew you together. Something is really different. It all just feels right in the world, and you just feel it in the depth of your soul.

I have been lucky in my life to have my path cross with so many special people over the years.

So a little over a month ago maybe a bit longer, two gentleman dined a few times with us. Industry people, our “kind” of people. They sat at our kitchen counter, ate and were wild about their food, their whole experience. They shortly came back with significant others. We became fast friends,  and got to know them on a first name basis.

Then I found out that the restaurant they worked at was sadly closing up shop. We all know how that breaks my heart every time I hear another great culinary foundation is being washed away.

Mind you I never believe in poaching staff from a fellow business owner but in this case I reached out. I felt given the current situation I wasn’t overstepping a boundary. Angie and I talked how could we pass on not offering a new home to these two. These two gentlemen we just felt would fit in with our crew. Like they could just slide in and add to our already amazing staff.

Well long story short we talked and Chris and Luke agreed to join our team.

Chris and Luke are two very talented individuals! They have team spirit that could make any cheerleader at a sporting event reevaluate if they are cut out to lead a crowd cheering on a team to victory! They have a wiliness to help any where and anyone! Absolutely selfless individuals. They have a thirst to learn! They love food! (I may have ruined them in eating a simple burger anywhere but the Precinct!)They love this industry through and through!

They are kind, respectful, and are the true meaning of a “gentleman”.

Chivalry is not dead ladies, let me tell you! I have had a door held open for me more in the last month than I have in my whole life.

Attitudes, let me tell you these two are some of the most positive individuals I have ever met.  I’m so thankful to have these guys be part of the Precinct! They have given our kitchen crew a bit of breathing room. They have lightened our load. We smile and laugh even more! Our stress levels have come way down. With the two extra set of hands we have more time to create and execute our delectable culinary creations! They are the sunshine peeking through the clouds on a gloomy day!

So please stop in and give the guys a wave in the kitchen. They won’t be shy, they will give you a wave, chat with you, and you will most likely make a new friend with either of these two!

So thankful our paths in life crossed or I guess you could say merged into the same lane.

Along with the boys, another person entered our Precicnt life along with them. That person would be, Chris’s significant other, Tera. We met Tera along with like 50 of their other closest friends in the last few weeks! All wonderful people as well! And As Luke says “Chris has never met a stranger”! There couldn’t be a more true statement said!

But back to Tera I think I literally hugged her the first time I met her! Tera is a talented artist. She asked if she could do an art piece at the restaurant for us. I said sure! We talked maybe 2 min about things I like. She’s dined with us at least a dozen times in the last few weeks at the kitchen counter with friends, like David, (I better give David, Tera’s bestie & Precinct dining buddy a shout out here as well. See you soon David!)

She has experienced our kitchen banter, our laughs, our hugs, our “crazy” in the  heat of the moment, our comradery, and of course our food and flavors.

So last week she comes in to start the art piece. I gave her total freedom to do what she wanted! I gave her the liberty to do what she wanted! Let her creativity flow! Isn’t that what artist crave? Right?

Let me tell you it was like watching an art installment live in my restaurant, and I’m not that “Smart” (I’m saying that in an english accent)  sorry I watch way to much BBC.

I don’t think any of us had the best concentration those two days cause we all just wanted to keep watching and see what was unfolding before our eyes. When she started and all of us girls in the kitchen realized what she was doing we all had tears in our eyes. I had to hold back all day from bawling my eyes out. This woman was creating something so beautiful and we now get the pleasure of looking at it every day.  This painting reminds me a bit of “Rosie the Riveter!

Beauty, strength, independence, and “We can do this!”

I think all of us girls felt this painting so deep inside us, or maybe just me cause I’m sappy like that.

It’s been just us girls in this kitchen for so long together. This unbreakable bond, that “we got this”. We can do this. We can accomplish what we gotta do each day no matter how many hours we were there. How long the prep list was. How many reservations there were for the night. How tired or exhausted we were. We would make it happen. We always just kept going……

“Olive” as Angie has named this art piece is this beautiful representation of all of us ladies in the kitchen and I love her. At least thats how I feel, and you know what?

I think Chris & Luke love “Olive” as much as we ladies do! Maybe not for the same reasons, but I think they love and appreciate her as well! Thats just the kind of dudes they are!

It was never my intention to be a an all female kitchen. I often think people thought that. It just happened in that chapter at the Precinct. But as we turn the page this year I’m thankful for the new characters added to our story here.

Chris & Luke, welcome to the Precinct family! We are so happy to have you!

Tera, thank you for your beautiful art piece! And “Thank you for being a friend!”

I really don’t think our paths crossed by chance. I think there was something out there that pulled us all together! 

“Art & Love are the same thing: its the process of seeing yourself in things that are not you.” -Chuck Klosterman

Ok I’m out of breath!!!



Join us this weekend to meet Chris, Luke, & Olive!!