Like many restaurants during 2020, the repercussions of COVID forced standard procedures to change. Instead of closing, Canlis Restaurant to it as an opportunity to try something new, at which point the outdoor Yurt Village winter wonderland was born. In an attempt to reduce the amount of service frequency between guests and their staff, Canlis wanted to keep each table fully stocked with silverware, which is where I came in.
I presented a number of fancy ideas using multiple species of wood in creative shapes and layouts, but the design that resonated to us the most was the one that wasn't about itself. It was during this experience that I learned how elegance was achieved at a fine-dining restaurant.
I built a total of 60 silverware caddies, cut from a 6"x4" thick cherry log that I sliced vertically, exposing the spiraling end-grain on the top surface. Each groove was meticulously measured and CNC cut to fit their ancient set of silverware, divided into four categories of fork, knife, spoon, and teaspoon, with label references on the backside for the staff. This new approach to serving silverware not only helps each table become more self-contained, but it adds an interactive experience for the guests, with a presentation that parallels royalty.
