Post #764495 by Ragbag Comics on Wed, Jun 1, 2016 8:53 AM

Steve-

For the recipe situation, I defer to Bamboolodge's post above. Dave and Coalbe have been deeply intertwined in this whole mess since the get-go, so if anyone would know about that, they would know.

I would assume the kitchen/bar staff would still be using those recipes as well (the mother would certainly have them), once they get the liquor license sorted out. Personally, I can't justify giving any money to the current owners whether the food is the same or not.

As far as the staff, I'm sure some people left... the bartenders, obviously, would not have much to do right now without a liquor license. I couldn't say for sure, though, because since the takeover, I haven't been back there, none of our friends have been back there, and Duane and Betty haven't been back there. And none of us plan to go back there.

The important thing to understand with all this was that it was unbelievably sudden. I know I didn't really expect there was a snowball's chance in hell things would go this way... most were operating under the assumption it would pass and things would go back to normal.

But they didn't.

And as far as "blithely assuming" they'll "whip up a new place just like that" no one has said that.

If you go back and read the rest of the thread, that point is EXACTLY why we're all so incredibly upset about all this. It will NEVER be the same.

Are we optimistic Duane and Betty will land on there feet with a new place? Absolutely, and they are great people and friends, so I will patronize that place and support them. I want them to succeed, whatever they decide to do.

But will that place be the same as Chef Shangri La, or even kinda the same if it's brand new? Of course not. I think you're misconstruing genuine concern for the people involved who got totally shafted with concern over the physical place. The physical place is already going down the tubes (hence the title of this thread) - just look at Yelp or Facebook. The mother has only been back in charge for less than a week, and already there's a lot of complaints.

As I said in an earlier post:

"In terms of starting a new Tiki place from scratch, I'd be a wee bit skeptical. So far the only "new" Tiki places that have taken off in Chicago are of the trendy/hipster/crafty variety, and I think the more old school approach that worked at the Chef might kind of be lost on that crowd. I'd be afraid it might be akin to what happened when Kahiki closed, and Tropical Bistro opened briefly... a big part of the magical formula is the people involved, no doubt, but another aspect is certainly the history and ambiance of the physical place itself. It would be difficult to recreate that."

I think the only thing anyone is "blithely assuming" here is that the Chef Shangri La that we knew and loved is never going to exist in the same way again.

And that is terribly depressing. Hence the references to it feeling like "a death in the family."

We have had SO many fantastic (and blurry) memories there, I just can't believe we won't be making any more.

--Pete