LE PRIX GRACE
Author: David Dziemian
Sometimes life has a way working out. Earlier this year on a summer evening next to a tidal river, I shared an evening with my colleagues and something very special happened. It was the annual meeting we call “Align”, a unique company event where we stop business for about 48 hours and focus on the team, strategy, and new ideas. In 2016 the owners of the company announced at Billy’s Chowder House that Ember would be offering an award in the future - an award that would be given to an employee who exhibited the skills of our amazing CEO/consult/in house psychologist/person who says it how it is - Grace Andrews. She is an honest business woman who has changed my life and how I do business. I am sure I am in a long line of professionals who would say the same thing. In addition to righting the ship for Fortune 500 companies, Grace has a passion for fine dining and libations. This award came to be known as The Grace Award, and it allows the recipient to enjoy a meal anywhere in the world with a friend or loved one. Once I recovered from the shock of my name being announced as the 2019 beneficiary of the Grace Award, I was overwhelmed and knew instantly who I was taking with me on this amazing opportunity.
In the past few years the friends and family I hold close have been extremely important in my life. Despite the success anyone reaches in life, they must always remember where they came from and who helped them get there. One couple that has been integral in my life is my wife Xaviere’s parents. They have contributed to my and our success in numerous ways, and are also passionate about food. Wherever I was going, I was taking Xaviere and her parents with me.
To be honest, I was initially overwhelmed with the idea of choosing anywhere in the world to eat, however Paris has given me my first experiences of haute cuisine. I knew in my heart with something this important that Paris wouldn’t fail me. It was clear, this was the moment where I would seek out my Michelin Star experience. Through some deliberation we landed on a restaurant nestled in the arcades of Palais Royale, the Grand Vefour, Paris’ oldest fine dining establishment dating back to 1784. This in some senses is where it all started and has been a dream of my father in-law’s for some time.
Thursday, November 13 arrived. My wife, her parents and I sat down for what would be the finest restaurant experience to date. We enjoyed a 10 course tasting menu which included such culinary delights as a starter of black truffles on a petit toast, rouget with caviar, foil gras raviolis, coquilles saint jacques, lobster tail, parmentier de boeuf, and two amazing desserts. Every bite of each dish was heaven, and showed the magic of Chef Guy Martin.
Only sitting at the table could one understand the magic of this dinner, and I would be remiss not to thank the founders of the feast. First Grace, for her guidance and knowledge she has passed on to me, I am eternally grateful. To Chris and Kathy, for many years of allowing to me to do a job that challenges me and I find so rewarding. Bon fin d’année et. Merci beaucoup.
