Friday, April 19, 2013

Ryan Update & Exciting Developments

The treatment is exhausting, and doesn't come without complications, but we are thrilled over all.  You have heard that the tumor markers in the blood continue to drop, and while these are small victories, they are good indicators of the activity of the tumors. This is a war, not a battle andwe remain focused on each step, knowing that we have most of the fighting still to come.  The next PET scan will be in three weeks, this is the true test of our success thus far and tend to be slightly stressful days anticipating the results.  We are positive minded, strongly focused and full of determination and love!

Next up, Staplehouse and The Giving Kitchen!  Last week we started to leak out that we are moving forward with the restaurant...we are now happy to relay to all of you that you have heard correctly.  Monday evening the 15th, we gathered a group of 100 Staplehouse friends and family to share the news, show a documentary that we have been working on since diagnosis and explain the new direction of Staplehouse as it relates to our foundation.  Staplehouse is the flagship to The GivingKitchen whereafter year end distributions have been made, the remaining profits will roll into the foundation.  The Giving Kitchen is a 501c3 status pending entity that exists to help provide Atlanta's restaurant and hospitality employees financial relief from medical or other unanticipated hardships.


After experiencing the amazing love and support the city of Atlanta has shown for Ryan, it is now our mission to give back.  Since the Team Hidi event put on for Ryan we have attended and spoken at several functions put on for members of our restaurant and hospitality family and made donations to ease their burden. We hope to evolve the program over time and dive into other ways that the restaurant community can improve the overall quality of life for Atlantans.

There are so many events and Industry nights happening all over the city that are donating partial proceeds for The Giving Kitchen.  We hope that you continue to check out our Team Hidi events page to partake!



We are also thrilled to announce the rest of the team!  Ryan Smith (Executive chef of Empire State South) and Kara Hidinger (GM of Abattoir) will round out our daily operations while Ryan Turner, Chris Hall and Todd Mussman of Muss & Turner’s/Local Three will act as consulting partners.  We couldn't be more excited about the potential of both the restaurant and the foundation under the guidance of this team.

Fundraising to build Staplehouse is currently underway.  We have put organized an Indiegogo campaign to help us raise the money we will need to make this dream come true.  Donations can be made in any increment, including $100 for a limited edition founder T-shirt and bumper sticker, all the way up to $15,000 for your name engraved on a plaque and mounted on the best seat in the house – The Chef’s Table!  We are heading into a lease on a space that will house both the restaurant and the foundation.  Ironically it happens to be the very first space we looked at almost 4 years ago. A cozy two story brick building in the Old 4th Ward with a private courtyard and an open floor plan that invites friends to feel a part of the experience. The spirit of this neighborhood and its development into an entertainment and multicultural hub only strengthens our joy to be a part of it.

The food and drink menu will be ever changing based on the bounty of our dear friends (the hardest working people we know), farmers, ranchers, cheese mongers and fishers. We will be sourcing and working closely with them to develop a menu that is innovative, comforting and always true to the season.  A menu designed for sharing, allowing you to enjoy several different completions of how the kitchen and bar are feeling that day.

We will be back with more as things develop and as always, thank you all for your amazing support!

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Eater Atlanta


Ryan Hidinger shares details on Staplehouse!  Thank you Eater!  For the whole article click here.



Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Atlanta Magazine - Covered Dish

Thank you Covered Dish for the write up today.  Thrilled to making this announcement that our Team is growing.  Click here for the full article.