I started this blog Aug 23, 2012, one year prior to The Flying Banzini opening the doors. Why do it? A comment on yesterday’s blog has me reflecting on this. My blog philosophy First, it’s marketing. All blogs are. Obviously. They are selling something…

I had a regular customer in yesterday (with apologies, I should have gotten your name). He is also regular reader of this blog and asked, “Why do you focus on the negative so much?” Great question. There are lots of reasons for this –…

I have come to HATE road and sidewalk salt. Everyday is makes a freakin’ mess of the restaurant. Being from Saskatchewan, we don’t use salt. None. We use sand and gravel to increase tractions. Sure, you can buy road salt at Canadian Tire for…

The chalkboard is installed. Chef Nico is thrilled. I resisted doing this for a long time as I wanted to establish what it is that we do – we roast meats and turn them into soft bun sandwiches, paninis, and pizzas and we bake…

Last Thursday there was a moment in which I thought, “Ah! This is what I imagined The Flying Banzini to be!” There were eight tables in the restaurant. A table of four had built, for themselves, a formal dining experience (or as close as…

I stopped paying a lot of attention to online reviews. There are lots of people who take great care in writing well considered reviews. There are others who… well… tend to the extreme (both good and bad, by the way). I look in on…

Apparently, the coldest winter in Ottawa in 20 years. I am still somewhat oblivious to the cold because in Saskatoon (my previous, lifelong home) the weather we have been having here is, well, just an average winter. But, as a new restaurant owner I…

Mondays are the slowest day of the week at The Flying Banzini. Add some cold temperatures and things really slow down. Yesterday, I was surprised when our lunch business was OK. Many of you fought your way through the cold and walked up from…

There have been a few subtle changes to the music since we opened 4.5 months ago. Now, it’s time to freshen up the list a little bit. The Flying Banzini playlist includes 500 songs (more than most radio stations). I would like to change…

We have been open 4 ½ months. I learn a little bit every day. One thing that is ever more clear is that the margins in the restaurant business are close. The goal at The Flying Banzini to my make 10% of sales as…