As each new iconic structure rises above the Boston skyline, taking the city literally to new heights, it’s easy to get caught up in the awesome architectural achievements and forget the hard-working people who put their skills and sweat into these buildings. In honor of Labor Day, we thought you’d enjoy a look at a unique Clarke event that recently catered to those contractors working on what will become Boston’s tallest residential building – One Dalton.
On a Friday in August, on Dalton Street between Belvidere and St. Germain Streets in the Back Bay, not far from Mary Baker Eddy’s Library and Christian Science Plaza, something unprecedented happened. The president and business development director of Clarke, New England’s Official Sub-Zero & Wolf Showroom and Test Kitchen took their cooking skills and superior appliances on the road to prepare and serve lunch for more than 75 contractors working on one of the city’s most anticipated buildings – One Dalton.
You might ask, “What drove these Clarke executives to do this?” Literally, what drove them there was Clarke’s Mobile Showroom and Test Kitchen, a 1980s passenger bus turned extraordinary appliance showroom on wheels. The inspiration for the unusual urban barbecue came during a meeting where Clarke executives were discussing the Sub-Zero, Wolf and ASKO appliances they were providing to the project.
President Sean Clarke offered, “We have a Mobile Sub-Zero and Wolf Test Kitchen and would love to cook lunch for your contractors once the project is underway.” Suffolk Construction, the experts bringing One Dalton to life as the 61-story Four Seasons Private Residences, gave the idea a thumbs up.
So, as the large foundation hole maps the footprint of this amazing residential project while cranes move overhead, Clarke made good on the promise. Sean Clarke and his Business Development Director Joe Tanguay donned their black Clarke aprons, pulled the custom-fitted Wolf Gas Grill out from under what was previously the baggage hold in the passenger bus decades ago, and got to work.
Out came an outdoor rug and living room furniture from inside the Mobile Showroom, to create a sitting area right on Dalton Street. Then eight-foot tables were set up to create the buffet line right below the Clarke Mobile Showroom’s windshield.
Inside the Mobile Test Kitchen, Diana Friedman, a young chef studying at Johnson & Wales, organized side dishes, salads and drinks and offered her advice on ideal meat temperature and sanitary best practices for this outdoor luncheon. Outside, Showroom Coordinator Sam Pericolo and the next generation of the Clarke family, Hunter Clarke (Sean’s son) and Mac Fotiades (son of Jill Clarke Fotiades and Mike Fotiades), worked to make sure everything was set up and ran smoothly.
Two hours later, they had grilled enough chicken kabobs, burgers and hot dogs to feed an army, and a good-sized regiment of Suffolk Construction employees and sub-contractors lined up on Dalton Street to enjoy their free lunch.
Slated for completion by 2019, the Private Residences at One Dalton will provide the finest in hotel-serviced living, located directly above Boston’s newest Four Seasons Hotel. Designed by legendary architect Harry Cobb of Pei Cobb Freed & Partners, One Dalton is predicted to be Boston’s new icon for the 21st Century. Inside each of the residences owners will enjoy cooking on Wolf Gas Cooktops and Contemporary M Series Ovens. They will employ superior food preservation from Sub-Zero’s Integrated Refrigeration and Under Counter Wine Storage in every unit. In addition, each unit will include the world’s most water- and energy-efficient dishwashers by ASKO, a brand that performs 12,500 hours of long life tests to assure their quality and performance.
At the site where this iconic residential project will stand high in 2019, the Clarke team enjoyed a moment in time with the people who are making it all happen.
For the construction professionals on lunch break, the Clarke Sub-Zero & Wolf Mobile Showroom was an interesting curiosity. Several poked their heads inside to see the appliances This Sub-Zero & Wolf Mobile Showroom and Test Kitchen is the first of its kind in the country, and is often found at various food festivals and charity events throughout New England. This, however, was its debut as the high-end lunch wagon for hard-working contractors building the foundation and walls that will house Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances for discerning homeowners in Boston.
For more information about Clarke’s three New England showrooms to experience these top-tier brands and evaluate how they can enhance your life, click here.