This is the first review I have ever written on Yelp. I'm the Executive Chef for two of the largest F&B properties in the Sacramento area. The company I work for has 130 properties around the US and Canada. I always get flack from my wife when we go out to eat because I won't speak up to the server if the food is sub par, execution was flawed or service was bad. I know how hard this business is, and I hold a high respect for my fellow F&B professionals and know that there are many factors that lead to the execution of a great meal. I'm one of those consumers that restaurant owners hate. If the food/service/experience is not acceptable, instead of saying something, I won't return, and if asked about my experience from my peers, I'll speak my mind. The reason I'm outlining all these things is to show that the experience I had with Bledsoe Farms was so unprofessional and disappointing, I'm taking the time to write about it.
I have 3 events every year that I consider my "premier events" of the year. One of those events occurred last Friday night. The event was a year in the making. Local produce and protein were carefully researched and selected by myself. I brought in local sturgeon and caviar from Passmore Ranch, local produce from sodaro orchards and Capay Organics, local poultry from Diestel Farms, beef from Masami beef out of corning and I attempted to bring in local pork from Bledsoe Farms out of Woodland.
I reached out to Bledsoe farms over two months ago to lay the foundation of a chef/local purveyor relationship. I pride myself in the relations I have created with my food purveyors. I spoke with John Bledsoe on multiple occasions to discuss my menu and what he could provide me to successfully execute my dinner for 550 local politicians, agriculture professional and donors that make our property function. I even toured the site of Bledsoe farms to ensure that the product I was purchasing was in fact the local, sustainable product the John Bledsoe promised. We agreed on 100 pounds of both pork ribs and boneless pork loin, plus 60lbs of bacon for my menu.
I spoke to John Bledsoe 4 days before my event when I toured his farm to ensure we were still on the same page for my deliveries. He told me that my deliveries were set for 3pm on the 18th of June. My event was on the 20th.
I talked to John Bledsoe on the morning of Wednesday June 18th, and again, he told me my product would be there that afternoon. When my delivery wasn't there by 430pm that day, I started getting concerned and called/emailed John multiple times to inquire where it was. I did not here from him on Wednesday. All day Thursday I called and emailed John multiple times inquiring where my product was. He never answered my calls or emails.
I started getting concerned that something may have happened to John. I was completely shocked when my wife called me to inform me that she was curious about the lack of response from John so she called him and he answered her call. She then called him and did a 3 way call with myself and again he answered. I asked him what was going on, and why he failed to deliver on his word. John said that he had a problem and couldn't deliver his product. When I asked him why he couldn't call me and inform me of the problem, he hung up on me.
I made a decision late on the night before my event to go to Cash and Carry and purchase the pork I needed to successfully execute my event. I still have not heard from John Bledsoe with an explanation on why he completely abandoned me and didn't follow through on his word. The position I have at my property has brought me close to the local food and agriculture representatives of the area, and they too are reading this letter. read more
