21 Years at Babette’s Cafe (Best French Restaurant in Atlanta)

October 2, 2013

On October 13, 1992, I opened Babette’s Café.  Makes you feel kind of old doesn’t it?Many of you have been with me since the beginning.
Some of you were in grade school.

I’ve married, raised a daughter and sent her off to college.
I’ve been sued, robbed, burglarized.
I’ve worked through broken bones and back spasms.
I’ve been rich and I’ve been broke.
I’ve celebrated good reviews and been humiliated by bad ones.
I’ve scored a building permit from the city.

I’ve laughed with my staff in the kitchen until I fell over.
I’ve tossed my keys to an employee in a rage, and gone home.

I’ve dropped 3 gallons of hot soup on the floor of the cooler on a Sunday afternoon,
cleaned it up and made it again.  I’ve worked the line pregnant.  I’ve made dishes that were so exciting, I jumped up and down.  I’ve created items that I hated after two hours on the menu.

I’ve stirred, whipped, sautéed, broiled, baked, curled, basted, filleted, strained, and sifted.  I’ve spackled, scrubbed, puttied, mopped, planted, sanded, caulked, drilled, and not to mention hung enough Christmas lights for a whole neighborhood.

Two-hundred and fifty employees have passed through the doors to join me in these endeavors.  Some have babysat my daughter, taken me to the emergency room, or come to my home to fix my computer.  One was my Lamaze coach.

We’ve hosted joyous engagement dinners, birthdays, and anniversaries.
We’ve held wakes and memorial services and divorce dinners.
One customer even left a 30-person dinner at Babette’s in his will.
We’ve seen tragedies happen to families, and had tragedies happen to us.

The reward of all this?
Enduring friendships with many guests and a rich family life with my staff.
It’s been one heck of a ride!
I’m not closing, just saying Thank you to everyone.

Marla

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