Pros and Cons of the Chef’s Counter

Restaurateur and chef Jacob Bickelhaupt is a two-time James Beard Award winner and the owner of the Stone Flower restaurant in Chicago. Jacob “Jake” Bickelhaupt is a strong advocate of the “sober chef” movement and a pioneer of the chef’s counter experience in the US. The chef’s counter is a fine dining trend that invites guests to sit at a bar-like counter rather than traditional tables and watch the food being prepared as they eat.

Chef’s counters have many advantages, but also some drawbacks. One of their main attractions is that chefs can interact directly with customers. However, this is a double-edged sword. While some chefs may appreciate the opportunity to make recommendations, others will find the conversation distracting.

Another benefit, one that many customers love, is being able to see the kitchen. As cooking and food science have reached a wider audience through cooking shows, more people are interested in seeing how their food is made and understanding the process of a commercial kitchen.

For many chefs, the main appeal lies in the freedom to test new menus. Chef’s counters typically offer limited seating and customers generally expect a tasting menu rather than a full-fledged meal. While not for everyone, chef’s counters are certainly growing in popularity.

Dangers of Substance Abuse in Workplace

An accomplished Chicago restaurateur, Jacob “Jake” Bickelhaupt is the founder of One Flow Foundation. Jacob Bickelhaupt supports culinary industry workers by increasing awareness of how emotional health and substance abuse affect chefs in the kitchen.

A term for the hazardous or harmful use of psychoactive substances such as illicit drugs and alcohol, substance abuse can lead to dependence syndrome, which includes the repeated strong desire to take a substance and the inability to control its use. According to the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information, over $100 billion is lost by companies in the US each year due to employees who abuse alcohol and drugs. In the workplace, substance abuse threatens the safety of others due to increased risk of accidents, and also affects companies in the millions of dollars spent on added health insurance costs and efforts to curb this problem. But this is only part of the dangers of substance abuse in the workplace.

Due to the inability of intoxicated employees to control their emotions, misunderstandings can flare-up. These misunderstandings often lead to injuries and the destruction of property, both of which leads to a financial burden on the company. In addition, employees who abuse alcohol and drugs can put everyone in their workplace at serious risk due to the inherent negligence and misplaced reality associated with substance abuse. This negligence can lead to fires or other events, including the accidental death of an employee.

What Makes Writing an Engaging Hobby

  Chicago chef and restauranteur Jacob “Jake” Bickelhaupt spends most of his professional time creating and serving up signature dishes at his restaurant, the Stone Flower. Outside of his chosen profession, one of Jacob Bickelhaupt’s other hobbies is writing.

Even in a day and age when film and video almost always grab the attention of consumers, the written word is simply fun and engaging for both the reader and writer.

The writer when holding the pen, or in this age when in front of the computer, has the power to paint the most vivid picture of an event or tell an interesting story. Whether the piece is fictional or not, the writer ultimately controls the tone, pace, and the plot (in the case of fiction), and depending on the writer, it can dramatically change how readers process an event. The writer can also use any number of literary devices to tell the story and to draw readers into the tale.

The narrative structure is a perfect example of the way in which writing provides the participant with a fun, creative way to engage readers. Most people when telling a story orally will tell it sequentially. However, the written word can be told sequentially or the writer can choose to turn the story around beginning in the middle or end and then letting the rest of the narrative explain the opening. The writer enjoys weaving an interesting tale, and the reader gets the pleasure of slowly unwrapping the story to get to the narrative’s central theme.

Reservations at Stone Flower Restaurant

An accomplished chef, Jacob “Jake” Bickelhaupt has won several accolades including Great Lakes Region Rising Chef Award and the Jean Banchet Rising Chef award. Jacob Bickelhaupt is the owner of Stone Flower Restaurant in Chicago, Illinois. The restaurant provides a unique dining experience with a multi-course tasting menu. The dishes are prepared and served from a dozen-seat chef’s counter for a truly intimate experience.

Want to make reservations at Stone Flower? Follow these steps: go to the restaurant’s website, locate the bookings page, identify an open date, and make your reservations. You can make a reservation for one or more people. If you are coming from out of town, it is possible to book far in advance. Just email info@stoneflowerchicago.com, informing the team of your travel schedule. They will do their best to accommodate you. If you are dining with friends and would like to sit together, Stone Flower’s team will do their best to facilitate this request.

You may want to make a reservation for someone as a gift. Just add the contact information of this person when you check out.

Please note that sales made are final. No refunds are permitted for skipped reservation dates. However, you can reschedule or transfer a reservation at the discretion of Stone Flower’s management.