staplehouse blog

Monday, September 30, 2013

Hey, LAWeekly! Thanks!

Hey LAWeekly! Thanks for the mention!

Can Chefs Change the World? Roy Choi on Social Responsibility. Read article here.

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Dearest Staplehouse Friends!

Some time has past since our last update and we have much to share with you... stories from the winding road of life if you will. Let's start with a bit of introspection.

You hear the term "roller coaster" as it relates to emotions quite frequently. We're not sure we've ever really understood what that meant, or at least we couldn't identify with the term up until these last 9 months. It's a challenge and a privilege to be able to take this walk, and we owe all of you a debt of gratitude for pushing us uphill when we needed it, carrying us when we could not take another step and simply offering a smile and a hand on our back so that we never feel alone. Imagine the worst and imagine the best that life can be, then mash them into a 9 month span of time.

Take a deep breath. Now open your eyes. Thank you all for taking this journey with us.

Since the last update on Ryan's health, treatment has been up and down. His spirit and positivity haven't changed, although hindered at times, but the realization of how precious this life is is ever present. The last major public update (in July) provided news of a bumpier road and increased tumor markers every week. Since then, we traveled through weeks of uncertainty when we realized the chemo drugs were no longer working in the same capacity as they had in the past. The road did indeed get bumpier.

We tried several different types of IV and oral drugs to seize growth and after a total of 10 weeks, knew that we had to make a radical chemo change. After a tremendous amount of follow up with numerous doctors and research from other gallbladder patients across the country, we embark now on a new chemo path and feel confident in it. We will know more mid-October and gauge progress then.

Onto more exciting things...

Most of you have come to know us through our supper club series, Prelude to Staplehouse. For the last five years we have been hard at work cooking, marketing, organizing and planning our dream restaurant. Cancer was a roadblock that at first seemed insurmountable. Through the efforts of so many of you, we are thrilled to say that we are back on track.

Staplehouse is due to open early 2014!

We couldn't be more proud of this project and the new purpose that drives it. We will miss our quaint dinners out of our home, but you can expect the same forward-thinking honest fare and genuine hospitality that has always been at our core. By simply dining at our O4W restaurant, guests are creating a sustainable source of funding for The Giving Kitchen (TGK), a 501c(3) that strives to provide charitable contributions to members of the Atlanta's restaurant community facing unanticipated hardships of their own.

Here's a couple fun ways to hang out and support TGK and Staplehouse in October...

First up is Atlanta Eats Live! on October 6th. Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, a venue that houses the likes of musical acts from the Rolling Stones to Tony Bennett, will play host to this event. Attendees will eat and drink from over 30 handpicked restaurants that have been featured in Atlanta Eats’ first two seasons, enjoy great live & local music, and take part in honoring two of Atlanta’s culinary legends as well as debuting a short film of TGK's trip to Woodford Reserve in bourbon country of Kentucky. We made a trip up to the mother land to do a barrel tasting and blend a special one-of-a-kind batch of Woodford to be sold in select Atlanta restaurants. A portion of proceeds from Atlanta Eats Live! benefit TGK! Get your tickets here.

Second up is the Atlanta Cheese Festival on October 11th! Held at Park Tavern in Piedmont Park from 5PM-11PM, the festival will feature over 50 of the most recognized cheese & artisan food producers from all over the world. All of the producers will be sampling their famous cheeses & products. For those guests that find cheese euphoria, cheese & additional product will be available for purchase. By attending the Atlanta Cheese Festival, you will support TGK as a portion of proceeds go to support the cause! For tickets, click here.

Thanking you, our biggest supporters.
Ryan + Jen

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Creative Loafing Best Of

Thank you to Creative Loafing for honoring TGK with Best Of - Show of Support for the Restaurant Community! For the full piece, click here.

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

#CreativeMornigs

Creative Mornings Talks to Watch
June 2013

Video by Lux Eve Media
Photo Gallery by August & Jean

Ryan Update July 2013

Today is a reminder, that everyday we need to take a second to remember how special this life is. It's easy to get sidetracked and there are many obstructions that can cloud the path. Stop. Take a deep breath and look around! What an amazing opportunity we have… to be alive right now and be human. It's really pretty cool!

The last 8 weeks have been hectic between Staplehouse & The Giving Kitchen planning, a family vacation and a big PET scan to see where we stand with the battle. We have been doing well and are constantly reminded that this journey can be a bit of a roller coaster ride. You just have to trust that when the ride is over, everything will be as it should.

Our PET scan results are in and it appears as though the road is about to get a little bumpier. We enter this next stage calm and mentally prepared for whatever is thrown at us. The cancer has shown no signs of growth, but is also not decreasing any further. Tumor markers did rise, but we will test again next week to know for sure where we stand. Our team at CTCA and consulting oncology team at MDAnderson said that this is pretty common that the cancer would eventually "stable" out, and then we would need to adjust the path. It appears we may be reaching that point. At this time we are going to reevaluate any and all options out there and move forward in the coming weeks.

You will never know how much we appreciate all the well wishes, emails and little gifts we have received over the last 6 months, it's truly changed our lives in a profound way. We have a favor to ask, for those who have set an alarm on your phone at noon to send strength our way, we'd like to redirect that energy a little…

Please take a moment each day to think about yourselves, your families, friends and loved ones that might be going through something. Reach out to an old friend you have been thinking about or simply take a deep breath and look around for a few minutes. You might be surprised what you see and how it changes you.

You all are amazing people and I hope this note finds you well. We will be back in touch with an update soon and thank you again for all the support!

Creative Mornings - Photos & Video
If you missed Ryan at Creative Mornings on June 28th, not to worry, you can see it all here!

Video by Lux Eve Media
Photo Gallery by August & Jean

Dinner & A Cause Card
20% off at your favorite restaurants from July 1 to August 31.

20% off at Atlanta's favorite restaurants for the entire month of July and August. Discount applies to entire table, every time you visit any participating restaurant.

Card cost: $40

Participating restaurants include: Abattoir, Agave, Antica Posta, Chicken & the Egg, Dark Horse Tavern, Double Zero, Fritti, JCT Kitchen, King + Duke, Local Three, Muss & Turner's, No Mas! Cantina, No. 246, Publik Draft House, Seven Lamps, The Iberian Pig, The Optimist and over 80 more!
For full list, click here.

100% of proceeds benefit The Giving Kitchen Initiative (a 501c3 helping members of the local restaurant industry with unanticipated hardship) and Children of Conservation (a 501c3 helping African children of wildlife sanctuary workers to school).

PURCHASE HERE