something happened yesterday that hasn't happened since the first day i set foot in the kitchen at girl and the goat earlier this summer. i took the night off. kind of. i say kind of because at 7:15 pm i pushed through the revolving door with my friend heather and entered the restaurant in a new dress, freshly showered, and ready to wait for a table in the lounge with a cocktail in hand... i ate at my own restaurant last night!
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well i just got done reading our first big review, from one of our city’s great publications, time out chicago, and i am just plain happy that david, and hopefully others, are 'getting' the food—and enjoying it for the most part. for months leading up to the opening, one of the biggest interview questions was, “what type of food will you be doing?” which i always found very hard to describe. local. spanish, italian. asian. 'whole mouth happy.’ rustic american... all phrases that i have used...none of which i feel really describe my style in full. in your face flavor and fun combinations? maybe. i still don't know. but having david tamarkin say, "she is not working within ccc’s (chicago chef's community) framework so much as she is elevating it, moving it forward," has got to be one of the best compliments i have heard. so thank you, david. always have wished i could sit down with reviewers and chat, to get their thoughts in person and to share mine, but alas they are secret diners who come in to experience what is going on without our knowledge so they can share their views without influence from those who create it.
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hello world! remember me? do i even remember me?

a lot has gone on since i last wrote for the site. i opened a restaurant—yeah, i opened a flippin' restaurant! sorry, that just felt good to say. so yeah, the restaurant has been cranking at full blast ever since our first day of service, which has made the last several weeks seem like nothing less than a whirlwind. i'd like to say i wish i'd written about the opening, how i felt after my first day cooking in the kitchen, what it was like as i came to know the staff (and continue still), and everything else that goes with opening a new spot—but i'd be lying if i said i just didn't have the time. since that first day we pulled out the cutting boards and turned on the burners, i haven't spent a day away from the kitchen. no joke. so, though it feels funny to be writing a blog today and just jumping right into what i'm about to write about, i just don't think there'd have been anything exciting to write about anyway! i wake up early and come to work, stop working late and go to bed at home. every day. sounds exciting and blog worthy, yeah?
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well, it's over. finally.

a couple weeks ago we asked for your help with unique goat themed nick-knacks that we could put on display in girl & the goat in exchange for an invite to a friends and family dinner before the restaurant opens. yes, those invites come now...
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as these things go, with the opening upon us we're gonna need to fatten up the goat staff. what does that mean? well...
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