design: commercial workspaces

 “She was integral in the opening of the kitchen in our new… program, from conceptualizing the functions in the space to the actual layout of all workflow and equipment. Similarly, she has designed the multi-kitchen arrangement in our new expanded space, with attention to all of the complexities of feeding patients, their family, and all staff.”

“Dani is clearly a very gifted culinary visionary and kitchen design expert... You can see evidenced in her work, a solid understanding of what it takes to run an efficient kitchen that also meets the exceptionally important clinical needs of our patients.”

Correctly designing and equipping spaces for foodservice requires very specific expertise. Understanding the immediate (and potential future) needs of your restaurant, culinary program or teaching kitchen requires experience AND imagination that only someone with deep and broad experience can provide. Who will be cooking there, what will they be cooking, and how will it be served? Where do the food and tools and trash and tickets go?

I've worked with architects, inspectors and contractors to design and build commercial and hybrid commercial-residential kitchens to meet some really unique needs. Every one of them is working hard, and passes the ultimate tests: inspectors permit them, and chefs and cooks love them.

To be clear, I don’t do the “pretty work”: interior designers are great at making things gorgeous, I am not. My focus is on the bones:

  • laying things out for highest, most efficient function even as your concept may evolve

  • ensuring you meet Health Department and other code requirements

  • making sure your equipment will support your menu and style of service

  • helping you maximize your space, your money and your time

Whether you’re inspecting potential sites, envisioning blank spaces, up-fitting or renovating, I can be alongside through the Environmental Health Department’s Plan Review Application process, through first “real” inspections. I’ll help articulate and coordinate your needs with architects, inspectors, property owners, contractors and equipment suppliers to make sure you get what you need. Having a resource who knows the right questions to ask and knows (or can find) the right answers will give you confidence in your investment.

 

Plan Review Applications, Audits, Inspections

“She immediately ensured that all of our food preparation areas, practices, trainings and policies met the highest level of compliance with food safety standards, and accomplished this while keeping the kitchen environment inviting and accessible to all….”

“While you showed a strong understanding of the importance of meeting state and county health requirements, you also always made people feel at home.”

Whatever your concept, the Plan Review Application process can be stressful. It’s also a chance to get some important things RIGHT, and to build a good relationship with your local Environmental Health folks. If you’re newish to the business or to this process or to the rules, you might have questions about how it all applies to your space and your systems. Let’s walk through it together. This is best done way ahead of time if you are designing, building or renovating, but you might need guidance at many points along the way, and I’m here for you.

And when it comes to inspections, get results your whole organization can be proud of! On local, state, and national inspections, I have helped teams achieve and maintain important milestones (and even record-breaking scores!) while they provide great service and care. 

Together we can do an exhaustive audit, and you’ll get a report with specific items to be corrected, along with whatever support you need to understand and address issues and ensure compliance. I believe in living ready for the inspector (any inspector!) Do your operations, policies and procedures have buy-in from your staff? If not, let's figure it out. I like advocating for everyone’s needs, from the dishwasher to the inspector. We all want the same thing, but sometimes a reminder is needed of how the pieces fit together.

Projects

Below are some of the projects I’ve been fortunate to work on.

It’s shocking how few picture I’ve taken: lesson learned!