Sparrow Capital – RGD RD

RGE RD is a well-documented restaurant with coverage in local and national magazines, newspapers, and television. But I knew early on with this project that there was far more to the RGE RD story than had previously been shown. I began the conversation with Blair and Caitlin by offering them some questions to percolate with. What has their journey as businesspeople really been about? What drove RGE RD’s origination? What was the real motivation behind it all? On the location scout day, Blair showed me the walk-in cooler, revealing whole animals inside. Caitlin said to me “No one knows about this.” I’d learn later on that there are only two or three other restaurants in all of Canada doing whole animal butchery and bringing it to the table, and that the major butchery equipment made RGE RD and the Butchery even more unique. For the interviews I wanted it to feel like the busy owners of what may be the best restaurant in the city were sitting down for a quiet discussion in their intimately lit dining room. A few minutes into the discussion, I asked Blair about the buffalo jump as the earliest abattoir and about “getting back to the land.” To my surprise, Blair launched into a vivid description of the location of their first farmstead dinner, which was held adjacent to an archeologically identified Buffalo Jump! From there, the remaining pieces fell into place quickly. From their first dinners, to their ever expanding footprint and operations Blair, Caitlin, and RGE RD have remained absolutely true to their original vision and I’m glad to have helped them share their story.