[MyWeekender] with David Laris

Diamond Dave in the hizzzay - Mar 19, 10

David Laris is an omnipresent chef/entrepreneur who has consulted on every single restaurant ever opened in Shanghai. His company's latest project is Downstairs, opening soon at the Urbn Hotel.

Where to start with my weekend? And which weekend should I talk about: this one at this stage of my life or should I tell a tale of a perfect weekend some other time? I don't want to sound boring. I mean, I am not a boring guy -- am I? Come to think of it, maybe I am. What ever happened to those days full of time to just do nothing? I now look longingly at my Xbox, or the ever-growing stack of DVDs that I continue to buy compulsively, even though my relentless schedule, in this relentless city, doesn't afford me the time to enjoy the simple things.

So perhaps the truth. It's likely that Friday will be a day full of work and recovery -- it depends very much on if I reach for the bottle of Champagne I have in the back of my mind that will turn into two as I end up attending The Peninsula's opening. Either way, Friday night will involve me spending time in the Laris kitchen, at The Fat Olive looking at the operation, and time at the soon-to-open Downstairs restaurant that we are in the final stages of finishing.

Saturday, in this case will be welcome and fresh, up a little less early than other days of the week and kicked off with a bloody big triple grand latte. I have become accustomed to them even though some may say it is impure of me to drink such a mass market coffee, but it is comforting and one of the things I love to start a weekend with.

I'll throw on some Doors or Nick Cave in the background while I wait for my daughter to finish her Chinese class, and then I'll walk her over to her hip-hop class, which I am not cool enough anymore to hang around and watch apparently. I would love to hang and then take her to gymnastics but the schedule of openings and normal business demands that the first meetings of the day will start at noon and continue on for the rest of the day, until the evening calls me to the restaurant again to spend time in the kitchen.

There are a bunch of invitations I will turn down, and promised appearances at parties, openings, and dinners I know I will not make -- not because I would not like to but because, as always, I will get caught up in the drama of the job.

At the end of the evening I will sit quietly alone or with a staff member and drink a few stiff quick drinks -- maybe too many too quick – and try to avoid the allure of M1NT, Velvet, or another late night venue. This weekend I am determined to have no hangover on Sunday. However, I've learned to make no such promises to myself anymore; I just simply try.

I want Sunday to be a quality day, with a clear head. I might even hit the running machine in the spare room that seemed like such a good idea when I bought it (but has seen very little of me lately).

Who am I kidding? I used it twice.

No, this Sunday will be a day I try to recharge my batteries, hang out with my daughters, and eat some great home-cooked food. Maybe I'll make it over to the stack of DVDs or bust out the Xbox and unwind. Maybe both.

To be honest, doing what I do, when I have a day off, the last thing I feel like doing is socializing. I'm going to decompress. I need to. If the weather is good, I'll get outdoors. If it's not, I'll hibernate in an old pair of ripped jeans and a t-shirt. Ahhhh…. Boring but good!

Don't get me wrong. I love what I do and will keep doing it for a long time. Unless, of course, I go with my secret fantasy: disappear to a deserted island. It keeps me going on many a day, so if I disappear one day, you'll know I've finally done it (or have upset the wrong person)!

The truth is, that when you spend your weeks full of either traveling for projects or putting in long days at the venues, in meetings, and attending all manner of events, maybe a little boring is OK. If it means I get to spend a day with my daughter, then bring it on.

Home soon!

David Laris

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