Boot & Shoe Service / Pizzaiolo Espresso Table
The rising barista tables at sightglass are almost installed, and they got noticed by the owner of some of my favorite restaurants in Oakland, Pizzaiolo and Boot and Shoe Service. This gent is expanding boot and shoe service on grand avenue to include a daytime cafe. I was more than happy to oblige him when he asked for a similar table for his space.
This time, instead of rising tables, its more of an espresso “work-surface” with a built in knock box and pitcher rinser, and all the holes to hide the hardware for the machines and grinders.
Time was of the essence and we were able to fit this into the existing work and whip it out in less than two weeks.
This table got a similar mortise and tenon style joinery all around the perimeter, but this time before we ground the edges, I spent a good afternoon with the oxy-acetylene torch and some silicone bronze brazing rod. All the overlapping joinery got the little cracks and seams filled with brazing compound then ground flush.
The finish effect is that you can see a little golden/bronze hairline along the seam and anywhere where the joinery left low marks was a ground flush puddle of bronze. The bronze actually seeped into some of the previous grinding as well and extended out past the joints a bit. Lots and lots of heat and brazing followed by a lot of grinding and smoothing, but the end effect was/is beautiful and subtle, and entirely worthwhile. I also recessed the drip tray for the pitcher rinser so that the whole unit sat flush, and brazed it in place so there is a nice seamless transition from steel to bronze to stainless steel around that part.
The gun blue patina that went on over it all dug into the ground spots harder than the mill scale (which we encourage and expect) yielding a spectrum of grey/blue, but the bronze also reacted and gave the overall patina a green/blue hue intensifying near the brazed joints like a fancy piece of blue cheese. Overall I’m thrilled with the finish and I can’t wait to visit in when the café opens. It’s an honor to have some of my work in the pizzaiolo/boot&shoe duetto.
