Dish II: Second Course at Real Art Ways, Hartford

Real Art Ways is an organization that supports contemporary artists through exhibiting their work. A big part of this is community building. A newcomer to Hartford, I had heard about their film and music events, but I was never roused from my chair to cross town until this past Monday evening, when Real Art Ways hosted Dish II: Second Course: Restaurant Tales from the Front of the House. The program was a sequel to DISH: The Inside Scoop on Eating Out, which focused on restaurant kitchen operations.

Rand Richards Cooper of Bon Appetit moderated a discussion among these local restaurant people: Dan Meiser (Manager, Firebox), Courtney Febbroriello (Metro Bis, author of Wife of the Chef), Brian Smith, "Hartford's Best Bartender" (Max's Oyster Bar), Paul Kelly (Beverage Director, Carbone's), LB Munoz (Real Art Ways Events Manager), and Steve Abrams (Managing Partner, Max Downtown).

Mr. Cooper proved an adept and likeable moderator, and he kept the pace lively. What was evident was the professionalism and good humor of the front-of-house career people. Paul Kelly observed wryly that he didn't think any kid actually "dreams of becoming a waiter," which drew a lot of laughs. But a theme of the evening's discussion became the relatively new interest in culinary careers and the operations of restaurants that the culture of the celebrity chef and Bourdain's work have spawned. A second theme of interest was the relationship between the front and back of the house. The characterizations of chefs and customers that were hilarious. The role of women in service was discussed, and, after hearing her speak, I would eagerly read Ms. Febbroriello's book, the title of which, The Wife of the Chef is tongue in cheek: she overheard a customer identifying her role with that phrase. Ms. Febbriello, in the tradition of Mme.'s Point and Guerard, is the co-owner and front-of-house chief. The evening was also a bit of a comedy event: there were stories of kitchen disasters: a planned "soft" opening that turned into a packed house through the good intentions of a clueless friend, the sudden loss of electricity on Valentine's Night, dozens of soaked fur coats from a burst water pipe, and a regular who drank his Hennessey with Yoohoo.

The event was well attended, with more than 100 people braving the cold and dark of a Monday evening to listen. At the conclusion of the program we sampled some tidbits from the restaurants represented. The panelists noted that the current business environment calls for excellent service, top quality local ingredients, and creativity with promotions.

Real Art Ways website has a list of Hartford restaurants that would be useful for any visitor to the area. The nearby restaurants include the Portuguese favorites I have posted about elsewhere. And check out the films while you are at it.

REAL ART WAYS
56 Arbor St
Hartford, CT 06106
(860)232-1006
info@realartways.org

Metro Bis and Metro-to-Go
Simsburytown Shops
928 Hopmeadow St.
Simsbury, CT 06070
(860)651-1908
(Metro-to-Go: catering, picnic baskets
for Talcott Mountain Music Festival)

Carbone's
588 Franklin Ave.
Hartford
(860)296-9646
In Hartford's Little Italy

Firebox
539 Broad Street
Hartford
(860)232-8277
Closest Fine Dining to Trinity College

Max Downtown
185 Asylum St
Hartford, CT 06103
(860) 522-2530

Max's Oyster Bar
964 Farmington Ave.
West Hartford
(860)236-6299