bridges we have all crossed many bridges I know for me some of the bridges that
I know for me some of the bridges that
I know for me some of the bridges that I’ve crossed in my journey have
I’ve crossed in my journey have
I’ve crossed in my journey have surprisingly been both completely
surprisingly been both completely
surprisingly been both completely expected and utterly unexpected at the
expected and utterly unexpected at the
expected and utterly unexpected at the very same time sometimes and sometimes
very same time sometimes and sometimes
very same time sometimes and sometimes not I’m gonna actually take you back in
not I’m gonna actually take you back in
not I’m gonna actually take you back in time a little bit and introduce you to a
time a little bit and introduce you to a
time a little bit and introduce you to a stranger who became a friend and so much
stranger who became a friend and so much
stranger who became a friend and so much more when we took a path that led to
more when we took a path that led to
more when we took a path that led to building our bridge that stranger was
building our bridge that stranger was
building our bridge that stranger was once a young teenage boy and he would
once a young teenage boy and he would
once a young teenage boy and he would come home from school and pull nameless
come home from school and pull nameless
come home from school and pull nameless tin cans out of the cupboard and prepare
tin cans out of the cupboard and prepare
tin cans out of the cupboard and prepare meal for his older brother and younger
meal for his older brother and younger
meal for his older brother and younger sister while their mom was very busy
sister while their mom was very busy
sister while their mom was very busy working and trying to raise her family
working and trying to raise her family
working and trying to raise her family on her own and he would grow and start
on her own and he would grow and start
on her own and he would grow and start to work under some top name chefs and
to work under some top name chefs and
to work under some top name chefs and hone his talents he would turn you know
hone his talents he would turn you know
hone his talents he would turn you know those undeniable curiosities for
those undeniable curiosities for
those undeniable curiosities for throwing those basic ingredients
throwing those basic ingredients
throwing those basic ingredients together into a passion for food and
together into a passion for food and
together into a passion for food and culture and as he grew he realized he
culture and as he grew he realized he
culture and as he grew he realized he could do this on his own or that we
could do this on his own or that we
could do this on his own or that we could do this on our own or together
could do this on our own or together
could do this on our own or together because at this point this now grown man
because at this point this now grown man
because at this point this now grown man was my husband and we started creating
was my husband and we started creating
was my husband and we started creating something together we wanted to open up
something together we wanted to open up
something together we wanted to open up a restaurant that was our dream so in
a restaurant that was our dream so in
a restaurant that was our dream so in January of 2009 we decided to start her
January of 2009 we decided to start her
January of 2009 we decided to start her own small little supper club out of her
own small little supper club out of her
own small little supper club out of her home bungalow in Grant Park and that’s
home bungalow in Grant Park and that’s
home bungalow in Grant Park and that’s really what we wanted to do we just
really what we wanted to do we just
really what we wanted to do we just wanted to build this thing so we decided
wanted to build this thing so we decided
wanted to build this thing so we decided to even though we had full-time jobs we
to even though we had full-time jobs we
to even though we had full-time jobs we decided to start this supper club and
decided to start this supper club and
decided to start this supper club and who called it prelude to staple house
we would invite ten guests at a time
we would invite ten guests at a time these actually were total strangers not
these actually were total strangers not
these actually were total strangers not friends this all became word-of-mouth
friends this all became word-of-mouth
friends this all became word-of-mouth and I would send an email out the
and I would send an email out the
and I would send an email out the Thursday morning prior we would do these
Thursday morning prior we would do these
Thursday morning prior we would do these dinners on Sundays again for 10 guests
dinners on Sundays again for 10 guests
dinners on Sundays again for 10 guests Ryan would cook five course meal and I
Ryan would cook five course meal and I
Ryan would cook five course meal and I would serve and host and we would invite
would serve and host and we would invite
would serve and host and we would invite these guests into her home and this
these guests into her home and this
these guests into her home and this ended up being this was all we lives
ended up being this was all we lives
ended up being this was all we lives this is all we talked about this is all
this is all we talked about this is all
this is all we talked about this is all we dreamt about was this idea of opening
we dreamt about was this idea of opening
we dreamt about was this idea of opening up a restaurant and after about a year
up a restaurant and after about a year
up a restaurant and after about a year we decided to start a business plan and
we decided to start a business plan and
we decided to start a business plan and search for spaces we went to visit with
search for spaces we went to visit with
search for spaces we went to visit with banks and it was amazing because after
banks and it was amazing because after
banks and it was amazing because after just a few short weeks of of introducing
just a few short weeks of of introducing
just a few short weeks of of introducing this prelude to staple house concept to
this prelude to staple house concept to
this prelude to staple house concept to the city of Atlanta these dinners
the city of Atlanta these dinners
the city of Atlanta these dinners started to sell out really quickly
started to sell out really quickly
started to sell out really quickly within minutes we were blown away and we
within minutes we were blown away and we
within minutes we were blown away and we could kind of start to see that bridge
could kind of start to see that bridge
could kind of start to see that bridge being built this tangible idea at the
being built this tangible idea at the
being built this tangible idea at the very end of it and then all of a sudden
very end of it and then all of a sudden
very end of it and then all of a sudden things changed and took a bit of a
things changed and took a bit of a
things changed and took a bit of a dramatic turn some people might call it
dramatic turn some people might call it
dramatic turn some people might call it a roadblock and I called it a bomb it
a roadblock and I called it a bomb it
a roadblock and I called it a bomb it was December 21st of 2012 the end of the
was December 21st of 2012 the end of the
was December 21st of 2012 the end of the world as the Mayans predicted Ryan was
world as the Mayans predicted Ryan was
world as the Mayans predicted Ryan was 35 years old and diagnosed with stage 4
35 years old and diagnosed with stage 4
35 years old and diagnosed with stage 4 gallbladder cancer it’s a terminal
gallbladder cancer it’s a terminal
gallbladder cancer it’s a terminal diagnosis and he was given six months
diagnosis and he was given six months
diagnosis and he was given six months and I remember driving home from the
and I remember driving home from the
and I remember driving home from the Cancer Center that Friday evening we
Cancer Center that Friday evening we
Cancer Center that Friday evening we were in separate cars at the time and we
were in separate cars at the time and we
were in separate cars at the time and we got home and Ryan charged me with the
got home and Ryan charged me with the
got home and Ryan charged me with the responsibility of calling her friends
responsibility of calling her friends
responsibility of calling her friends and family with the news and I vividly
and family with the news and I vividly
and family with the news and I vividly remember stepping into our guest room
remember stepping into our guest room
remember stepping into our guest room where I could give him some quiet and I
where I could give him some quiet and I
where I could give him some quiet and I sat on the edge of our guest bed and I
sat on the edge of our guest bed and I
sat on the edge of our guest bed and I just repeated the words over and over
just repeated the words over and over
just repeated the words over and over and over again six months the doctor
and over again six months the doctor
and over again six months the doctor said six months what are we supposed to
said six months what are we supposed to
said six months what are we supposed to do this this beautiful baby that we were
do this this beautiful baby that we were
do this this beautiful baby that we were creating this restaurant where was it
creating this restaurant where was it
creating this restaurant where was it going to go our bridge collapsed we were
going to go our bridge collapsed we were
going to go our bridge collapsed we were completely devastated and heartbroken
but thank goodness for reinforcements
but thank goodness for reinforcements and they stepped in in waves and they
and they stepped in in waves and they
and they stepped in in waves and they weren’t there to necessarily help us
weren’t there to necessarily help us
weren’t there to necessarily help us build rebuild or patch this bridge that
build rebuild or patch this bridge that
build rebuild or patch this bridge that we were creating with Prelude but they
we were creating with Prelude but they
we were creating with Prelude but they were there to make sure that we didn’t
were there to make sure that we didn’t
were there to make sure that we didn’t fall off that bridge
fall off that bridge
fall off that bridge friends family mentors came in and said
friends family mentors came in and said
friends family mentors came in and said let us help you and that’s exactly what
let us help you and that’s exactly what
let us help you and that’s exactly what they did they came together and created
they did they came together and created
they did they came together and created a fund raiser that we called team Heidi
a fund raiser that we called team Heidi
a fund raiser that we called team Heidi Heidi being short for our last name of
Heidi being short for our last name of
Heidi being short for our last name of Heidegger and the only notable way that
Heidegger and the only notable way that
Heidegger and the only notable way that I could grab Ryan’s attention in a crowd
I could grab Ryan’s attention in a crowd
I could grab Ryan’s attention in a crowd full of people was to confidently volkl
full of people was to confidently volkl
full of people was to confidently volkl Heidi and he would turn around and look
Heidi and he would turn around and look
Heidi and he would turn around and look at me every single time it was pretty
at me every single time it was pretty
at me every single time it was pretty awesome in less than four weeks from the
awesome in less than four weeks from the
awesome in less than four weeks from the day that we got cancer diagnosis to the
day that we got cancer diagnosis to the
day that we got cancer diagnosis to the day that this event occurred less than
day that this event occurred less than
day that this event occurred less than four weeks almost a thousand people
four weeks almost a thousand people
four weeks almost a thousand people showed up and in one single magical
showed up and in one single magical
showed up and in one single magical night raised two hundred and seventy
night raised two hundred and seventy
night raised two hundred and seventy five thousand dollars it blew us away
five thousand dollars it blew us away
five thousand dollars it blew us away you could say that we were encouraged we
you could say that we were encouraged we
you could say that we were encouraged we were motivated re inspired we were
were motivated re inspired we were
were motivated re inspired we were uplifted we were cared for and we felt
uplifted we were cared for and we felt
uplifted we were cared for and we felt supported by our Atlanta restaurant
supported by our Atlanta restaurant
supported by our Atlanta restaurant community and friends and strangers that
community and friends and strangers that
community and friends and strangers that amount of money far exceeded what we
amount of money far exceeded what we
amount of money far exceeded what we needed for that year Ryan was fully
needed for that year Ryan was fully
needed for that year Ryan was fully covered under insurance sin if did far
covered under insurance sin if did far
covered under insurance sin if did far exceed what we actually needed so with
exceed what we actually needed so with
exceed what we actually needed so with encouragement from our mentors business
encouragement from our mentors business
encouragement from our mentors business mentors and now our founding board we
mentors and now our founding board we
mentors and now our founding board we decided the only way that we knew how to
decided the only way that we knew how to
decided the only way that we knew how to repay our debt of gratitude was to pay
repay our debt of gratitude was to pay
repay our debt of gratitude was to pay it forward so we started a non-profit
it forward so we started a non-profit
it forward so we started a non-profit this nonprofit is meant to help others
this nonprofit is meant to help others
this nonprofit is meant to help others in crisis specifically our Atlanta
in crisis specifically our Atlanta
in crisis specifically our Atlanta culinary community whether it’s a
culinary community whether it’s a
culinary community whether it’s a catastrophic medical diagnosis like Ryan
catastrophic medical diagnosis like Ryan
catastrophic medical diagnosis like Ryan received or a natural disaster or fire
received or a natural disaster or fire
received or a natural disaster or fire flood to your home a death of a family
flood to your home a death of a family
flood to your home a death of a family member a sickness and injury this
member a sickness and injury this
member a sickness and injury this nonprofit we called the giving kitchen
nonprofit we called the giving kitchen
nonprofit we called the giving kitchen so now we have two bridges here we are
so now we have two bridges here we are
so now we have two bridges here we are we’ve got this new one the giving
we’ve got this new one the giving
we’ve got this new one the giving kitchen and we’ve got the slightly
kitchen and we’ve got the slightly
kitchen and we’ve got the slightly rerouted version of the original one
rerouted version of the original one
rerouted version of the original one staple house restaurant and staple house
staple house restaurant and staple house
staple house restaurant and staple house was a very important work it was a very
was a very important work it was a very
was a very important work it was a very important job for Ryan to continue
important job for Ryan to continue
important job for Ryan to continue because through 2013 staple house became
because through 2013 staple house became
because through 2013 staple house became its own form of Medicine for him so even
its own form of Medicine for him so even
its own form of Medicine for him so even though we didn’t necessarily intend to
though we didn’t necessarily intend to
though we didn’t necessarily intend to have two projects two bridges we knew
have two projects two bridges we knew
have two projects two bridges we knew that the giving kitchen would give us
that the giving kitchen would give us
that the giving kitchen would give us new vision for staple house and this
new vision for staple house and this
new vision for staple house and this restaurant could be repurposed and Riaan
restaurant could be repurposed and Riaan
restaurant could be repurposed and Riaan visioned really as a restaurant with
visioned really as a restaurant with
visioned really as a restaurant with purpose and really big meaning our hope
purpose and really big meaning our hope
purpose and really big meaning our hope of course is that staple house
of course is that staple house
of course is that staple house restaurant is a beacon of light for our
restaurant is a beacon of light for our
restaurant is a beacon of light for our community and beyond and it would
community and beyond and it would
community and beyond and it would illuminate the mission of the giving
illuminate the mission of the giving
illuminate the mission of the giving kitchen even further when we were
kitchen even further when we were
kitchen even further when we were operating and of course after a lot of
operating and of course after a lot of
operating and of course after a lot of more twists and turns a few more
more twists and turns a few more
more twists and turns a few more roadblocks we did open up staple house
roadblocks we did open up staple house
roadblocks we did open up staple house September of 2015 is when we opened up
September of 2015 is when we opened up
September of 2015 is when we opened up our doors and that was a year and a half
our doors and that was a year and a half
our doors and that was a year and a half after Ryan passed away but you can feel
after Ryan passed away but you can feel
after Ryan passed away but you can feel his energy and that warmth and that
his energy and that warmth and that
his energy and that warmth and that light and his inspiration everywhere
light and his inspiration everywhere
light and his inspiration everywhere within those walls I can promise you we
within those walls I can promise you we
within those walls I can promise you we like to think of rest of the restaurant
like to think of rest of the restaurant
like to think of rest of the restaurant as again a restaurant with purpose and a
as again a restaurant with purpose and a
as again a restaurant with purpose and a restaurant that was built by a community
restaurant that was built by a community
restaurant that was built by a community because in reality that’s exactly what
because in reality that’s exactly what
because in reality that’s exactly what happened this was not built by just a
happened this was not built by just a
happened this was not built by just a few individuals it was put together with
few individuals it was put together with
few individuals it was put together with passion and perseverance and we have a
passion and perseverance and we have a
passion and perseverance and we have a front entrance which is what is on the
front entrance which is what is on the
front entrance which is what is on the photo right now but we encourage our
photo right now but we encourage our
photo right now but we encourage our guests to not use that door we actually
guests to not use that door we actually
guests to not use that door we actually ask our guests to walk up the driveway
ask our guests to walk up the driveway
ask our guests to walk up the driveway past an enclosed dumpster into a garage
past an enclosed dumpster into a garage
past an enclosed dumpster into a garage door and into some the backyard into
door and into some the backyard into
door and into some the backyard into some double doors before they even enter
some double doors before they even enter
some double doors before they even enter the space and right there they are
the space and right there they are
the space and right there they are greeted there’s a garage door
greeted there’s a garage door
greeted there’s a garage door and there they are entering the space
and there they are entering the space
and there they are entering the space this is kind of from the host stand
this is kind of from the host stand
this is kind of from the host stand perspective and we asked them to come in
perspective and we asked them to come in
perspective and we asked them to come in that way because it’s meant to feel like
that way because it’s meant to feel like
that way because it’s meant to feel like you’re entering an old friend’s home and
you’re entering an old friend’s home and
you’re entering an old friend’s home and you walk in and you’re greeted by this
you walk in and you’re greeted by this
you walk in and you’re greeted by this very quaint dining room and a small open
very quaint dining room and a small open
very quaint dining room and a small open kitchen and this beautiful wood and oak
kitchen and this beautiful wood and oak
kitchen and this beautiful wood and oak beam grace is kind of the center of the
beam grace is kind of the center of the
beam grace is kind of the center of the expo table and on it many quotes mostly
expo table and on it many quotes mostly
expo table and on it many quotes mostly from boxers and some of them are
from boxers and some of them are
from boxers and some of them are everyone has a plan until they get
everyone has a plan until they get
everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face Mike Tyson yes if
punched in the face Mike Tyson yes if
punched in the face Mike Tyson yes if your dreams don’t scare you they aren’t
your dreams don’t scare you they aren’t
your dreams don’t scare you they aren’t big enough
big enough
big enough that’s Muhammad Ali but we like to think
that’s Muhammad Ali but we like to think
that’s Muhammad Ali but we like to think that some of the most powerful words
that some of the most powerful words
that some of the most powerful words come from a different kind of fighter
come from a different kind of fighter
come from a different kind of fighter Ryan himself he is our inspiration and
Ryan himself he is our inspiration and
Ryan himself he is our inspiration and they’re painted on the wall of the
they’re painted on the wall of the
they’re painted on the wall of the kitchen where our guests and all of our
kitchen where our guests and all of our
kitchen where our guests and all of our staff can see them every day and that’s
staff can see them every day and that’s
staff can see them every day and that’s anything long-lasting or worthwhile
anything long-lasting or worthwhile
anything long-lasting or worthwhile takes time and complete surrender I’m
takes time and complete surrender I’m
takes time and complete surrender I’m gonna leave you with just a small other
gonna leave you with just a small other
gonna leave you with just a small other short story I was working at the
short story I was working at the
short story I was working at the restaurant a night recently and I was at
restaurant a night recently and I was at
restaurant a night recently and I was at the host in and had to exit for a moment
the host in and had to exit for a moment
the host in and had to exit for a moment to complete a task and as I was walking
to complete a task and as I was walking
to complete a task and as I was walking back I noticed a woman had walked in and
back I noticed a woman had walked in and
back I noticed a woman had walked in and stopped right by the host in and she was
stopped right by the host in and she was
stopped right by the host in and she was just looking into the dining room and it
just looking into the dining room and it
just looking into the dining room and it appeared that she had been crying and I
appeared that she had been crying and I
appeared that she had been crying and I remember kind of slowly walking up to
remember kind of slowly walking up to
remember kind of slowly walking up to her and realizing the reality of her
her and realizing the reality of her
her and realizing the reality of her standing there and crying in the
standing there and crying in the
standing there and crying in the restaurant and I approached her and
restaurant and I approached her and
restaurant and I approached her and asked her her name and she said you
asked her her name and she said you
asked her her name and she said you don’t know me but I’ve been waiting
don’t know me but I’ve been waiting
don’t know me but I’ve been waiting years to get here she said I followed
years to get here she said I followed
years to get here she said I followed your Prelude a staple house story I
your Prelude a staple house story I
your Prelude a staple house story I followed all of your events your cancer
followed all of your events your cancer
followed all of your events your cancer battle with Ryan the launch of the
battle with Ryan the launch of the
battle with Ryan the launch of the giving kitchen and now I’m here she said
giving kitchen and now I’m here she said
giving kitchen and now I’m here she said I had cancer and I beat it and this
I had cancer and I beat it and this
I had cancer and I beat it and this story was my inspiration and I went in
story was my inspiration and I went in
story was my inspiration and I went in for a hug and held her for a little
for a hug and held her for a little
for a hug and held her for a little while and then I walked her into the
while and then I walked her into the
while and then I walked her into the dining room and showed her to her table
dining room and showed her to her table
dining room and showed her to her table for dinner what a powerful moment at Bri
for dinner what a powerful moment at Bri
for dinner what a powerful moment at Bri that had been created I saw that
that had been created I saw that
that had been created I saw that tangible moment of what we had done as a
tangible moment of what we had done as a
tangible moment of what we had done as a collective what I had done I knew that
collective what I had done I knew that
collective what I had done I knew that that moment would fulfill so many
that moment would fulfill so many
that moment would fulfill so many people’s lives at this restaurant and
people’s lives at this restaurant and
people’s lives at this restaurant and this nonprofit was was was occurring it
this nonprofit was was was occurring it
this nonprofit was was was occurring it mattered and that bridge was being built
mattered and that bridge was being built
mattered and that bridge was being built thank you
”
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