An Architect's Cookbook

This book represents the first 16 years of Glen Coben's design agency. Coben has had the distinct pleasure of working with some of the greatest chefs of this present time - having had a front-row seat to witness the growth of "farm-to-table" cuisine, "molecular gastronomy," the burger craze, the Neapolitan pizza craze, the kale-ification of our consciousness, the paleo diet, the juice cleanse, and the rapid rise of food bloggers, social media, the "foodie," and the deification of chefs into rock stars. What has remained consistent is that the challenge of opening a restaurant has not become any easier. Whether the restaurant is a burger restaurant, a dive bar and taqueria, or a four-star grand Italian destination, the stakes are always high for each restaurateur or chef. They have investors, budgets, schedules and the desire to deliver their own vision of service and cuisine. Each design project is a journey to discover the soul of each project to tell its story in an appropriate tone of voice that compliments each chef's vision. Coben's journey has taken him literally and metaphorically to Mexico, Strasbourg, Paris, Texas, California, the Islands, the Bronx, Queens, London, and all over Italy. AUTHOR: In April 2000, Glen Coben opened his architecture and design firm, Glen and Company in order to provide customized designs that realize a client's vision while also engaging their customers. There is a trend in the market towards collaborative design that enhances guest experience while reinforcing a brand's core values. The firm's projects successfully demonstrate that brands can integrate into the lives of their customers, but it needs to be in a seamless way that adds to the experience.