How 11 Madison Park became the #1 restaurant in the world
The other day, I listened to a TED talk by Will Guidara, the former owner of NYC’s restaurant, “11 Madison Park”, which was named 2020’s “Best Restaurant in the World” . While the staff were consistently striving for excellence, Will discovered a key which helped them reach the coveted #1 spot, unlocking the floodgates of patrons lining up for their dining experience. The key was simple.
He listened.
He noticed.
He acted.
Four tourists had just finished their lunch and were about to fly home when Will happened to overhear them talk about all their gastronomic adventures dining in the most prestigious restaurants in the Big Apple.
“Ya”, said one of the men. “But the only thing we didn’t get to do was eat a New York City hotdog!”
When Will heard this, a light bulb flashed in his head. He quickly ran out the door and returned minutes later with a $2 hotdog from a street vendor. The next part of his plan was more difficult. He had to convince his 4 star Michelin-trained chef to serve it.
“Trust me on this one”, said Will.
So the chef dutifully divided the hotdog into 4 pieces, plating each one and garnishing them with sauerkraut, adding swirls and swooshes of mustard and dollops of relish.
When Will presented the four men with their unexpected last course, they freaked out!
“Unbelievable!”
“Seriously?”
“Are you KIDDING me?”
Laughing uproariously, they later said that being served the hotdog was not only the best part of their meal but of their whole trip to New York and that they’d be telling this story for the rest of their lives.
And this, on the heels of finishing their dinner of honey lavender glazed duck which had been dry-aged for 2 weeks, the preparation of which took chefs years to perfect!
Will later said that he realized the reason for their restaurant’s existence wasn’t simply to serve good food but to make their guests feel seen, feel welcomed, and experience a sense of belonging.
This is the essence of radical hospitality.
Is there a time when you felt that sense of belonging?
Would you be willing to share your experience with us?
Cheers!
Sue
By the way...
While hotdogs may not seem like company fare, did you know that they’re so popular in Denmark that many Danes consider them a national dish? Instead of stopping at the predictable trio of relish, mustard and ketchup, try adding crispy onions, pickles, or the Danes’ renowned hotdog topping, “remoulade”. The recipe reads long, but only takes 5 minutes to prepare.
REMOULADE
½ cup mayo
¼ cup sour cream
2 Tbsp. finely grated carrot
2 Tbsp. finely chopped pickles
1 Tbsp minced red onion
1 tbsp finely chopped capers
1 tbsp finely chopped parsley
1 tsp white vinegar
1 tsp mustard
½ tsp sugar
¼ tsp curry powder (optional)
sea salt to taste
Enjoy!
Next week we’re taking our grandkids to Easterbrooks for a foot long hot dog. It’s a summer tradition. Now I don’t feel guilty about it. In fact, I’ll enjoy every bite!