How to Open and Operate a Restaurant

Arthur L. Meyer is a restaurant and bakery consultant who has cooked professionally since 1963 in New York, San Francisco, San Antonio and Austin. He has taught cooking internationally, is considered an expert on world cuisines, and has achieved Master status in baking. He opened a specialty bakery in 1983, which became the subject and name of his first cookbook, Texas Tortes (University of Texas Press, 1997 hc, 2010 pbk). He also is the author of Baking Across America (University of Texas Press, 1998) and co-authored Appetizer Atlas (Wiley, 2003), which won Best in the World from Gourmand Cookbook Awards in 2003. Appetizer Atlas has been his best seller and is a mainstay in many professional kitchens. Its popularity can be attributed to its detailed research on the cuisines of the world and the popularity of appetizers and small bites with home cooks and chefs alike. Just released is Art's fourth book, Corsican Cuisine (Hippocrene Books, 2010) and his fifth cookbook is scheduled for release in fall 2011, Danish Cooking and Baking Traditions (Hippocrene Books, 2011). His sixth book is under contract with Globe Pequot Press (The Houston Chef's Table, fall 2012). Art resides in Austin, Texas where he had been a Lecturer in Organic Chemistry for 14 years at the University of Texas, and continues to teach chemistry at the community college.

Self-taught chef Mick Vann grew up working in restaurant and hotel kitchens during high school and college (Chariot Inn, Holiday Inn, McDonald's, Westwood Country Club). Selected as one of the two principals on the corporate restaurant opening team, Vann opened Pelican's Wharf restaurants in Texas (Temple, College Station, Port Aransas, Victoria, McAllen) between 1976 and 1977. In late 1977 Vann opened the Pelican's Wharf in San Antonio and was offered the management position, where he stayed for 5 years. In 1982 Vann moved back to Austin to open and manage Clarksville Café, where he won numerous awards. Since 1998 Vann has been a food writer for The Austin Chronicle. Vann is the co-author of, The Appetizer Atlas. Vann currently does freelance food writing, while working with Art Meyer as an associate in his restaurant consulting firm. Vann is currently working on a culinary tourism guide to Thailand, Savoring Siam: A Chef's Culinary Adventures in Thailand, as well as The Cocktail Cupboard: Bar Supplies for the New Mixologist.