We clearly remember the day in May 2015 when Roy walked into the office and told us that the competition for the Opera House café had been announced and that we had to enter because, as a huge opera fan and Opera-goer, he couldn't help but want us to compete and offer our best.
We only had a few weeks before the deadline to put together this huge project, which otherwise would have taken several months.
We worked a lot on the architecture, for example, the Opera Café had to be built in a space that was not previously accessible to the public. But that was only one of the challenges, the biggest one was to build a modern kitchen technology in such a space.
We looked at restaurants, buffets and bars in 15 of the world's leading opera houses. We started with a concept that was unique international, forward-thinking and reflecting renewal and refreshment in all its elements.
They received 5 applications and we were selected.
The timeframe for implementation was as unrealistic as the tender: we had to open in September 2015.
Work started during the summer of 2015, with the design of Opera Gastronomy and Opera Café identity, the design and construction of the spaces.
Pushed to an unrelenting pace, Roy moved into a room and worked all day during his two-week annual family holiday - the opening of the Opera was scheduled for September of that year...
As previously, we worked with interior designer Tibor Somlai, who created a wonderful design and spaces for the Ybl-designed building.
On 16 September 2015, the Opera Café, the Feszty Bar, the bars of the Erkel Theatre and all the artists' buffets in the Opera House and Erkel opened.
We are very proud of the project and although the Feszty Bar, which was completely rebuilt this year after the new renovation of the Opera House, is now completely renovated, we look at the photos with hearts overflowing with love.