UCEDC Recognizes Restaurant Gem in Cranford

Andrea Carbine was studying at the French Culinary Institute in Manhattan; her husband Jim was an executive with a paper company. While working on a project for school – creating a plan for a small seasonally sustainable restaurant – they realized they just might have something.

“We just looked at each other and knew this was do-able,” says Jim. “It was a lot more than just a fancy school project. And we said: Let’s go for it.”

Although they had a full business plan from the project, there was still the subject of money. In 2006, banks were more liberal lenders than they are today, but still the Carbines needed to pull from as many sources as possible. So they turned to UCEDC for a microloan. UCEDC was part of a combination of traditional and non-traditional funders the Carbines put together to finance the purchase of their building, the complete gutting and build-out of the interior and the ramp off the restaurant.

The UCEDC’s $35,000 loan was an important piece of their funding since gutting and rebuilding the restaurant was a constant test of financial fortitude. “It was always another $10,000 over here, another $8,000 over there,” recalls Jim.

Jim and Andrea worked with Ellen McHenry at UCEDC, whom they consider “a super pro”. But, Jim says, it wasn’t easy. In some ways “they were harder to get past than the banks.”

But the experience was a good one and strengthened the Carbines belief that they had a sustainable plan. “I would recommend UCEDC to anyone. But be prepared, you are going to get vetted really hard.”

Being well prepared for business, as well as having the culinary skills and staff to back it up has paid off for A Toute Heure. Andrea has been nominated twice for a James Beard award (dubbed the Oscars of the food world) and the restaurant ranks in the top 10 of 1600 restaurants in New York and New Jersey (including Manhattan) by actual diners using the popular Open Table reservation service.

What’s next? Is expansion in the future? Maybe for now Jim and Andrea’s vision of a small, special place with a menu that regularly changes to capture seasonal food opportunities is enough. Maybe. For now.

Find A Toute Heure on the web at www.atouteheure.com. Or call 908-276-6600