Welcome to CAFE HERMAN

[Di Blasi]

I'm tired of biting my tongue, and have finally decided to announce what I have been working on for months! After almost 20 years of working in the cafe, restaurant and bar business, I'm finally opening my own place, a casual gourmet cafe, restaurant and bar, serving anything from espresso drinks to whisk(e)y, of course! Cafe Herman opens in Leikanger, Norway September 1st.

[les taylor]

I'm tired of biting my tongue, and have finally decided to announce what I have been working on for months! After almost 20 years of working in the cafe, restaurant and bar business, I'm finally opening my own place, a casual gourmet cafe, restaurant and bar, serving anything from espresso drinks to whisk(e)y, of course! Cafe Herman opens in Leikanger, Norway September 1st.

Jonathan, Bravo. Well done my friend. I hope it's very successful for you and you enjoy doing it.

[Ryguy]

Congratulations Di Blasi!! I wish you the very best of luck!

[bamber]

That sounds like a lot of fun. I could really get geeky about espresso and whisky if I was in your position.

[martin grant]

Sounds brilliant Jonathon!

Hope you have a huge amount of fun and that the business is a massive success.

[lohssanami]

Sounds great!!! I was tired of biting my tongue too...

Good Luck, and take plenty of pics at the Grand Opening.

[TreacleSponge]

Congratulations and all the best with the opening. Hope you thoroughly enjoy your new venture!

[mikeymad]

Cheers and good luck Di Blasi.

Next time I am in town...

[WhiskyViking]

Congrats Jonathan.

If I'm ever in the area I'll make a day of it.

[sampaiocaleia]

I'm tired of biting my tongue, and have finally decided to announce what I have been working on for months! After almost 20 years of working in the cafe, restaurant and bar business, I'm finally opening my own place, a casual gourmet cafe, restaurant and bar, serving anything from espresso drinks to whisk(e)y, of course! Cafe Herman opens in Leikanger, Norway September 1st.

Congratulations!. For my own experience, you must work hard during one years, and then...much hard!!!!.
But,...our own business is the best way of life!

[Ganga]

Sounds like just another reason for me to get to Norway. Need to visit the "homeland" at some point. Oh Mikey....

[TheTross]

Congrats Jonathan! Hope all goes well for you

[Mr Fjeld]

Yes, well done Jonathan! I cannot think of anyone who could do it better than you! Your friendly outgoing character as well as your excellent expertise will make this a great place to visit! Looking forward to visit you!

[Ras Mazunga]

Fantastic!
I wish your business will be succesfull.

[I_SPEY]

This sounds very great, Jonathan.
I wish you all the luck in the world

Would be nice to come over at a time

[Jobi]

Best of luck.

[woodhill]

JDB

Exciting news.

Hope your new venture takes off and is wildly succesful!

Looking forward to another online diary

[Di Blasi]

Thank you all very much for your kind words of encouragement and support, I really appreciate it! I'll keep you posted on things as they develop, and look forward to offering you another whisky-laced blog-like thread, as Malt-Teaser has so cleverly hosted.

[irishwhiskeychaser]

Well done and like all the rest before good luck on you new venture

[Newbie]

Congratulations Di Blasi!

I wish you every success in your new venture and I look forward to my invitation to the opening party

[Sherried Malt]

Excellent, Di Blasi. Great news!

Wish you the very best of luck and lines around the block!!

[Deactivated Member]

Good luck: hope it works out well

[enzot]

Good luck or should I say" Buona fortuna" Di Blasi.

Enzo...

[Di Blasi]

Thanks, Grazie, to everyone again!
Some good news is that after many months of planning the kitchen, (it's a small space that craves "smart solutions,") we have finally ordered it! (We have tried 21 different drawings/plans). I'm not sure exactly yet when it will all be delivered, as some equipment is in stock, other things need to be built, and July starts the vacation month here. We may be a little delayed, or I may be working round the clock when everything arrives, probably on the same day!!
And the chairs and table legs have also been ordered, we'll be making our own table tops, an excellent and cool wood idea the building owner suggested, and it's more affordable too.
Also, Herman wants to let everyone know he has bought his first whisky bottles! Yes indeed, twins, Dun Bheagan Caol Ila 12y 55%, fantastic whisky that disappeared from our shelves here in Norway a few years back!

[Di Blasi]

Any chefs out there interested in moving to the small village of Leikanger Norway, on the Sognefjord, the world's largest, and cooking at Cafe Herman? Or any of you have friends or know of someone? Please pm so I can send you my email address to forward CVs.

[Willie JJ]

Jonathan I missed your original post so I'd just like to say good luck with your venture.

I'm afraid I don't know any itinerant chefs though. I guess someone good will come along sooner or later.

Cheers

[jazz lover]

Congrats Di Blasi
Hope you do well!
When reading your post
one can tell you are of
good character.

[Deactivated Member]

Well done Jonathen and good luck.

You have the luxury of starting from nothing. Although this means you will have to build your business from nothing, you are able to start exactly as YOU wish. A luxury I did not have when I took over my pub.

Most of my (recent) problems have been due to this.

I wish you every success and should you need to ask any advice, you have my private details.
MT

[Di Blasi]

Thanks guys, very much appreciated! Your well wishes and support, (and extra help and advice Malt-Teaser) is what I love about this place. Starting from scratch is nice, but so many things to keep in mind that something usually gets overlooked or forgotten. All in all, exciting at the same time! I just can't wait to be open!!

[Klas]

Exciting!
Sounds like lots of fun (and some hard work)
I wish you the very best of luck!

[objetti]

That´s amazing
I also have that dream here (perhaps mostly inspired and fascinated by "Kitchen Nightmares" TV-show)
Now I have a new reason to go to Norway (it has been on the treshold for family vacation for three years now)
Best of luck to you

[Di Blasi]

If you're on Facebook, join the Cafe Herman group! There are already 299 members in less than 2 weeks!

[Muskrat Portage]

"Wha oo 'oo 'ean 'ite eye tongue? Eye' 'it ight 'roooo ein hen eye saw is 'read!"

Congrats on finally going public with this, I've kept it under my hat for quite awhile myself. I'll look forward to seeing the postings you'll be making September 2.

I trust you aren't counting on sleeping much any more?

Muskrat Portage

[Di Blasi]

That's right Muskrat P, come September, actually around mid-August probably, I won't be sleeping much, and probably putting in 18 hour days or so!

But more good news today is that I've bought a bottle of Highland Park Single Cask #1556, which is the last cask Highland Park sold. (It will be years before they sell another from what I've been told). And it's the only cask ever sold to a bar. It's fantastic stuff, a 12y at 59%, and no need for water though it takes it very well! Dr. Jekyll's Pub in Oslo is where you'll find the cask that your dram is directly poured from, (it's lined in stainless steel to insure it's Scottish), and about 162 bottles that couldn't fit in the lined cask bottled and now available in Norway through special order of the wine monopoly. Here's a link with fotos, (in Norwegian)...
http://www.onlymalts.com/v2/art.php?id=241
Just another reason to visit Cafe Herman! The whisky selection continues to evolve....

[WhiskyViking]

Pictures of the bottle it self is available here:
Highland Park Dr.Jekyll's Edition

The price is around £90 for those who are interested...

BTT: Good luck on the whisky selection and sales in your bar Good Sir.