HELLO SUPPERCLUB MEMBERS AND FRIENDS!!!

It’s been awhile since last we spoke – the Supperclub is hopping and now with our spectacular GRINDHOUSE FOR HAITI event and our successful bid for our neighbours building (that’s right, Friends and Faithful Followers of Supperclub Mayhem…we’re going to be adding yet another element to our Downtown Dynasty soon enough!!!) under our belts, I thought I’d pause for a moment of reflection…

So far it’s been an incredible 2010 for Mini and I – our little girl is amazing and a true mind-bender and this coup has singularly been our greatest accomplishement to date.  Man, almost 5 months and I still feel high and punch-drunk from the buzz of being a new dad!

Downtown, the Supperclub is buzzing BUSY and I’m hearing more and more from many, many new faces and Supperclub Members how fantastic it is still be on this amazing ride with us 9 years in – our downtown is getting cooler, cleaner, more dynamic and now we’re going to roll the dice again with all of you with increased space and yet another emerging new dynamic!!  We’ll talk about all of that soon enough – but I’d love to hear from all of you on this topic.  What do YOU think we need to add to our Supperclub, Friends???
And now, on to immediate things….

I’M WONDERING HOW MANY PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY REALIZE THAT THIS MONDAY, MARCH 8TH IS RECOGNIZED AS INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY ALL OVER THE WORLD??!!??

Well, your Supperclub hasn’t forgotten – and we have a HUGE debt of thanks to all the beautiful ladies in our c8ommunity for making us their absolute favourite place to eat and entertain!!!

LADIES, THIS MONDAY MARCH 8TH YOUR RESPECT IS BURNING SUPPERCLUB IS GOING TO HONOUR ALL OF YOU WITH AN ABSOLUTELY FREE PASTA DINNER AT RESPECT IS BURNING SUPPERCLUB.  ON US!!!!

That’s right!! This will be the 4th Annual Supperclub Supper for Ladies recognizing International Women’s Day!  You deserve it, and we want you to know that you’re all very special – and IMPORTANT – to us!!!

(HEY! As an aside, did you know that in Ancient Greece, Lysistrata initiated a sexual strike against men in order to end war???  Now, that’s powerful – and what a way to bring violence and bloddshed to a screeching halt!!  Not that I’m advocating that, no sireeeee, not moi!)

So, this Monday evening we’ll be open at 4:30 and we want to see all of you for a GREAT FREE GOURMET PASTA DINNER – any selection from our Dinner Menu!!  It will be our pleasure, and you can have anything at all, from our deluxe and delicious seafood extravaganza FETTUCCINE VENEZIA to SAGE BUTTER RAVIOLI, TO GNOCCHI DUMPLINGS AND SO ON...!!!

The only condition – and I hate to do this, but we need to muster all the seating possible for this HUGE day of thanks to you ladies – is please, no groups of over 6 guests.

And, if you can, try to bring some of the boys along as well (sorry guys, but you gotta admit fair is fair…and besides there’s going to be puh-lenty of beautiful ladies int he Supperclub House!!!)

My accountant is already freaking out on me over this (you know those bean-counters…).  I told him to take a hike, and as I said, you Ladies deserve this!!!

This is HUGE, Ladies and Gents – One Glorious, Beautiful International Day of Celebrating WOMEN, Supperclub Style!!!!!

Now, someone from my staff (presumably) has leaked this out already (must be Marco, he’s always trying to win favour with the ladies!!!) and the calls are already starting, so please get on the horn and call us for a table for you and your friends – we’re going to cook our hearts out for everyone on Monday niight!!!

KEEP ON SMILING, FRIENDS – IT LOOKS GREAT ON YOU!!!  HAVE FUN TODAY – YOU’VE COME ALONG WAY, LADIES!!!!

ATTENTION ALL FANS AND FABULOUS FRIENDS OF RESPECT IS BURNING SUPPERCLUB!!

Want to know the secret to getting your date closer to you this Valentine’s Day? Nothing says “COME HITHER!” like a DOUBLE SHOT OF HORROR in a darkened room, right?

So how about that double shot of horror in our city’s finest RETRO theatre – with jam-packed FREEBIE Swag Bags, Foot Long Hot Dogs, Barbecued American CLASSIC Pulled Pork Sandwiches, theatre seat-style service, a legion of un-dead Supperclub VAMP GIRLS and a grand prize draw worth THOUSANDS?

And what if I told you that all proceeds were going directly to charity, our night united to boosting Red Cross disaster relief efforts in Haiti?

This is HUGE, and we want YOU to take part in the coolest Valentine event ever!!!

The more the merrier on this TWISTED VALENTINE dark and dirty eve…. this is going to be BIG, friends!  WE’RE PROUD AND EXCITED AND LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING YOU AT OUR VERY FIRST GOTHAM ENTERPRISES ENTERTAINMENT EVENT – presenting a KILLER DOUBLE GRINDHOUSE EVENING of FRIGHT, FOOD and FREAK-OUTS!

The Gregorini Bros own GOTHAM PRODUCTIONS in conjunction with our restaurants RESPECT IS BURNING TAKEOUT EXPRESS and the LEGENDARY FRANK’S DELI are proud to present to you A TWISTED VALENTINE!!!  On Friday, February 12, 2010 starting at 7:00pm at Rainbow Cinemas, get ready to get freaked, squeeze tight and SCREAM OUT LOUD!

*Tickets are ONLY $20 for this awesome fundraiser package, and here’s what you get:*

- DOUBLE GRINDHOUSE NIGHT featuring both the ORIGINAL 1981 cult classic My Bloody Valentine and the twisted love story JENIFER, by Italy’s Master of Horror DARIO ARGENTO!!!!!!!!!!!

- BIG Kansas City Pulled Pork Sandwich from your Respect is Burning Turbo Express Kitchen (aka Vespa Panini), Frank’s Delicatessen’s LEGENDARY FOOT LOG HOT DOG, HOT BUTTERED POPCORN a la Rainbow Cinemas

– all this right in your seat – and served with a crooked smile by our very own gorgeous Respect is Burning SUPPERCLUB VAMP SQUAD!

- Incredible SWAG BAG filled to bursting with FREE STUFF from some amazing local supporters!

- INCREDIBLE Grand Prize Draw featuring TATTOO TIME from mega award winning Ink GOD and LIVE ONCE TATTOO Boss Denis Prevost, PHOTOSHOOT and HUGE Wall Mount by outrageous award-winning photog JAMES HODGINS of HODGINS PHOTOGRAPHY, $$$ Gift Cards from La Renaissance Day Spa, , a FREE One Night EXECUTIVE ROOM HOTEL ROOM STAY AT THE QUALITY INN SUITES HOTEL and In-Room Midnight Catering by Respect is Burning Takeout Express, EXCLUSIVE 3-COURSE CHEF’S DINNER from our own Respect is Burning Supperclub, DAIRY QUEEN GIFT CARDS, RISTORANTE VERDICCHIO GIFT CARDS, and MUCH, MUCH MORE!!!!

++++AND WHAT’S THE BEST PART?!?!?!??   ALL the proceeds go to The Canadian Red Cross HAITI RELIEF FUND – and nothings better than giving out and getting so much cool stuff in return!!

You can grab your TWISTED VALENTINE PASSES up at Respect is Burning Supperclub, Respect is Burning Turbo Express Kitchen (aka. Vespa Panini), Frank’s Delicatessen, or from Q92/Rogers. Get Them Fast – because they’re selling TURBO FAST (only 200 remaining available!!!)! – and make some Twisted Memories with us!

<****And for all you who are wondering ‘Who the heck is this chick?” please allow me a second to introduce myself….*****>

My name is Ashley. I find myself a VERY LUCKY girl lately. I get to follow around your fabulous and freaky Supperclub Founders and Food Lovers and find out what really makes their passions fill up ‘til overflow… and let me tell you it has OVERFLOWN and bubbled over and I am excited!!!

Why am I excited??? The answers, friends, will unfold and be revealed to you throughout this year 20-10…I know the suspense is killing you – but it’s well worth the wait.

I think that I can speak for all of us Supperclub Guests, Fans, Friends and Followers when I say we are all one-of-a-kind, out-of-the-box, very passionate people – we create our own culture and rules to live by – and we LOVE entertaining and being entertained alongside our friends, allies, supporters and families.

Life and REALLY LIVING is an experience and we hope that every time you come in to visit us at Respect or come to one of sponsored events you leave already talking and wondering about the next time! I’m here to guide you through that growing experience, as this year we expand our horizons, productions and offerings – beginning with our BRAND NEW awesome Mighty Member Supperclub Society (that’s right…more on that later – You don’t want to miss out on this one) and the ongoing INSIDE SCOOP on some MIND BLOWING events that we got lined up for you beautiful people this year.

So, friends, Be EXCITED – yes be very EXCITED WITH US! This is all just the beautiful beginning, with MANY twists, turns and Supperclub Surprises to come in 20-10 and BEYOND!

HEEPS OF SUPPERCLUB LOVE YOUR WAY!

Ashley XOXOXO
Your Mighty Membership Guru, Downtown Events Insider and Fellow Respect is Burning Lover!

I GET SO MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT INFLUENCES, WHAT DRIVES US TO CREATE A RESTAURANT SPACE AND FEEL THAT’S SO OUT-OF-THE-BOX FROM WHAT’S HAPPENING ON A DAILY BASIS IN THE ‘OUT THERE’ RESTAURANT WORLD…..

Folks are noticing that the Supperclub is different – and perhaps there was a time when different meant strange or unwelcoming, but RIGHT NOW I’ll tell you that it’s AMAZING and so much fun and so great to be working in and for a community whose eyes are opening to the possibilities of a city that’s not the same as everywhere else….especially when it comes to food and the culture of entertaining socially.

The ongoing revelation and peel-back-the-curtain phenomenon was bound to happen and the general public is truly catching on to what I call The Difference.Independent restaurants are so vastly set apart from national chain restaurants in so many ways – and this is what I mean by ‘The Difference’…

Someone suggested to me a while back that perhaps I should discuss these differences in my blog. Fair enough, and I’m pumped!!

This ain’t gonna be pretty but at the end of it all,  we’ll all – I believe -  be that much prouder of our decisions to frequent the one-of-a-kinds out there in food land for so many reasons.  And maybe we can all spread the gospel to our peers – bless their souls – who unknowingly answer the cattle call on the odd occasion and blindly step through the doors of a factory calling itself a restaurant.

We both know that all it takes is that one awesome discovery of a fantastic independent restaurant gem that’s never seen national media advertising or muti-million dollar brain-chip branding…and the floodgates open to the possibility of a  Food and Culture life and voyage of discovery  and personal enrichment that goes far beyond just food for food’s sake.

Maybe I see it to an extreme, as a Chef and restaurant guy who’s driven to travel and seek out stories and families and tradition and culture whose form of honest expression of these things is through the human medium of sharing and food.  AND that means  food, stories, real human testament and warmth that you can’t find in an identical box store or on an identical plate through an identical doorstep in every mass manufactured restaurant in every city and town across North America and beyond.

I vote for DIFFERENCE, as I know you do too.  And I don’t want to be part of a world where one day we’re all relegated to homogenous and mediocre consistency and sameness everywhere I may roam.  No way, no how.

Stay tuned, Friends – ‘Blogtastic Rants’ is just about to heat up….just because YOU asked for it!!!

EXCELSIOR!!!!!!!!

Chef Who Votes for People, Culture, Community and REAL Food EVERYTIME!

Been awhile since I posted news, friends – the Christmas season was an unbelievable rush for all of us down here at the Supperclub – and man, we’re still humming along at a manic pace I’m happy to report!!

Our new SUPPERCLUB UNDERGROUND dining room has been a runaway HIT since the moment we opened it to weekend traffic and has even surprised the hell out of us as reservations for this room are coming in up to 2 weeks in advance these days for Friday and Saturday tables!!  Boasting a surreal airy feel, our trademark Supperclub Edge  and a look that combines old and new all at once (hmmm….anyone getting the overall theme here, folks??), a bar set up that looks like it was dragged out of the gothic hills of some distant European village) and a sensational BOSE 3-D sound system, this room is the PERFECT space to bring friends and family out for a smokin’ weekend Supperclub shindig celebrating the end of a long week!

The Supperclub Underground capacity is 70 guests and this space is TOTALLY unique - the smallest table in the room is for 6 guests, the largest up to 10. Besides all the cool design features I mentioned, the VIBE is really what it’s all about – and I can tell you that we’ve had a packed house in the SCU every Friday or Saturday since October and our Supperclub crowds fill this room with off-the-hook energy!  Too cool – come see it soon...this is truly another feather in the Downtown cap!

DESIGN is done for the brand new MIGHTY MEMBER SUPPERCLUB SOCIETY VIP Hard CardAgain, my apologies but wait till you see what we’ve done for you now!!!!! This process has been a little slower than anticipated….  For all of our newest inductees, rest assured that your Member Package is being developed and will be mailed soon enough.  We’re admittedly a bit behind, BUT…..

The added extra time we’re spending on this unbelieveable new platform has NEVER been seen in the restaurant forum before – and even way beyond – and it will be sooooo worth the extra wait time. And, here’s the plan – if we experience anymore delays, stay cool – we’re going to send you a FREE GIFT on us to make up for the wait…fair deal?

Alright then, I’ll be back soon with a missive about our history…and what really makes us tick.  And when you read this I think you’ll agree that you and I truly have alot in common….

HAVE A WICKED SUPPERCLUB WEEK, FRIENDS – ALL BEST FOR AN INCREDIBLE 20-10!!!!

EXCELSIOR!!!!!!

CHEF WHO LOVES HIS CITY, OUR DOWNTOWN, AND OUR FRIENDS MOST OF ALL!

Yeah, I know - she's really too damn hot for me!

THE SUPPERCLUB UNDERGROUND IS OPEN – and NEW CHAIRS FOR THE RED ROOM BISTRO!!!!

I spend a criminal amount of time pondering what our Supperclub People are saying about our space, and I’ll mull for hours on the good, the bad, and the ugly. Hmmm…where do we put our resources next?  Being an independent in business is a crazy ride – money’s always an issue, especially when you start on the road to a Big Idea with limited cash.  Case in point -  we sold our BIG idea to the banks 9 years ago with only 10k of cash, 5 years of rejection knocking on pretty much closed doors, and a wild idea to get going in our downtown while everybody else was getting out!

This all  makes for a good story but the truth is that it’s a knuckle scraping experience wondering where to put the next dollar - and if you know the resto business, you know that the profit margins are slim and most of us do it because we’re either chasing passions, or demons…or both.   Long story short, there’s never alot of $$ to play with, so as Founders and Creators and Dreamers, we’re pretty much scrambled at all times wondering what to do next and what matters most to our guests.

This week?

Got a line of credit and bit down finally for NEW chairs for the entire main floor bistro – what we call the Supperclub Red Room.  Never occurred to me that this could be such an issue (and at least we’ve proven that great food and high spirits always wins friends!), but the biggest complaint we’ve  heard is that the chairs suck….truthfully, we knew it all along but there was always some other thing in the way (ie/ broken stove, new fridge, supplier rip off, leaky roof, busted air conditioning, whatever).

So, here’s the BUZZ of the week - finally an entire suite of slick, solid chairs on the way for the SUPPERCLUB RED ROOM (ETA December 7th!), new cool artwork being hung, new menus on the way, and our newly renovated SUPPERCLUB UNDERGROUND is a slam-dunk hit!!

The weekends-only opening (for now!) of our new subterranean SUPPERCLUB UNDERGROUND dining room has massive implications – this textural, moody room underground holds all groups of 6 or more weekend guests with a total capacity of 70 seats!  With our groups now relegated to a new separate space, it means that the energy level on our funky main floor has calmed, cooled, and feels a lot more chill these days…even when we’ve got a full house (which I’m happy to say is more often than not).

The feedback has been awesome (both from Supperclub guests and staff alike!) and we’ve even removed a few ‘problem’ tables from the main floor - you know, the last resort ones that no one ever really wants to be at – and we’ve streamlined the table set-up in the main bar stretch.

SUPPERCLUB MISSION 2010? Keep on chillin’ the RiB!

Funny, since our baby Nova came along, Mini and I have been a lot more chill…and I’ve always said that our space is also our mirror.  We’re growing up, all 4 of us – but we ain’t growing old, friends – not ever.  Let’s just say the Times they are a Changin’ – and it feels damned good!

EXCELSIOR!!!!

CHEF WHO LIKES CHANGE AND A SOLID CHAIR TOO