Brandon Jew’s Dear San Francisco-Oakland
Chef Brandon Jew’s letter to the Bay Area restaurant community
Today, I roamed the streets of San Francisco in search of what I’ve been missing about you. It’s hard to pinpoint what that is.
What I saw was the pain of being left to fend for yourself. I saw uncertainty that’s been boiling over. I can see the attempts that are being made, but that haven’t seemed to make much of a difference. Do we need more patience or more action?
The pandemic has taken its toll on both of us. Patching holes, answering unanswerable questions, forcing awkward smiles…all while realigning a restaurant concept and culture that has left me questioning what is really important. I might have forgotten to include my own happiness while trying to satisfy everyone else's.
I closed my eyes and thought back to some of the things I love about working in this city, its restaurants, and our hospitality community. It came back to my memories of having more fun than everyone else at work and relishing in the enjoyment of my job: the simple satisfaction of seeing someone feel nourished and appreciative of the work that went into it. It came from being in a beautiful place and being fortunate enough to serve its bounty. It came from being in a historic building and continuing to tell its story. And it came from the joy of working alongside a team to make a memorable experience for someone dining in our house. I also had to remember that it is about perseverance—it always has been.
Is our problem that we are so obsessed with the future here that we aren’t in touch with what is needed now? Are we neglecting what should be our priorities, or is the present so painful that thinking about the future is the only way to maintain any optimism? What was it that worked before that could work again?
Filling up on adrenaline, keeping your head down, needing to keep your chin up, being ready at a moment's notice, being quick, and concise, and correct, or goodbye…am I running in circles or walking towards the edge? How do we balance our ambition within these constraints? How many more pep talks can I make before they start to wear off? How many scenarios will it take to get to something that actually works for everyone?
As a manager, I believe one of the strongest qualities we possess is the ability to forecast. We plan and prepare our teams in order to meet the requirements and expectations of our guests. In order to lead a team, our decisions need conviction. I am reminded of the importance of taking time to build perspective in order to gain conviction. Discovering a positive perspective gives me a better understanding to live with, to hope for, and to plan around. If you find yourself getting too far into a tunnel of negativity, take a deep breath and try to consider a different perspective. There is so much to appreciate, to be happy with, and to be thankful for.
Today, I roamed the streets of San Francisco in search of what I’ve been missing about you. It’s becoming easier to find.
I saw the streets up the block, beautiful as always, filled with youthful exuberance. I saw new families eager to reconnect with their friends, ready to catch up and support each other. I saw protestors building solidarity, standing up for what they believe is fair. I saw Chinatown lion dancers drawing crowds larger than ever before. I felt the same curiosity, and it drew me in again.
