From: Heirloom Cafe
To: A Bed of Roses
Subject: Finding a Florist

People open restaurants for lots of reasons. Certainly some do it because the thing they love the most in the world is food, others probably do it just because they can’t think of anything else they’d rather do. I once knew a guy who, I thought, opened a big fancy restaurant because he wanted to be around different pretty women all the time.

I opened a restaurant for a few reasons, but one of them trumps all the rest by a pretty wide margin. The greatest thing I’ve ever done in my life is to collaborate creatively with other people—nothing has ever given me more joy, and I’m tempted to say that no circumstances have ever drawn better work out of me.

I’ve already been lucky, in seven short months, to have worked with extraordinary artisans of different kinds. After I decided on gnocchi with black truffles as a dish for our New Year’s Eve menu, our new sous chef, Erin Cochran, promptly (the next night) made handmade pappardelle noodles for the staff, at least partially (I thought) to show me how great her pasta is. (It is very great, and it’s on the menu now.) Sara Bissonnette, who was one of the first people I hired, surprised me at brunch (as she has consistently for seven months) on Saturday with fresh-baked pumpkin bread and persimmon jam. Our service staff regularly beats me to the punch in implementing service improvements, brainstorming about special events, designing wreaths for the front doors.

Then of course there are the wine salespeople who call to say they have something wonderful and special open and can they bring it by the restaurant, and our superb produce purveyor, who every week reminds us that seasons change and tips us off to the flavors that will be peaking soon. And this is to say nothing of the team that put the place together in the first place—the plumbers and electricians, my engineer landlord, my friend Kevin who envisioned the soffit over the kitchen, my friend Adam who proudly walked out of a salvage yard holding our wall sconces.

One of the greatest events of the development stage of this restaurant was my mother’s discovery of the woman who produces our centerpiece flower arrangement every week. My mom I think was having restless nights as she tried to envision our progress from 3,000 miles away, and as is her habit, hit the nail on the head when she announced that she had found someone to design an arrangement for our opening and maybe beyond. She had been poking around on the internet and had found something spectacular.

What she found was a woman named Pat Miller, who owns a company called A Bed of Roses (www.abedofrosessf.com), which it turned out is located not very far from Heirloom in the Mission. Pat took one look at our almost-ready dining room in mid-April and seemed, right on the spot, to thrill to the idea of building an arrangement to suit the room. A day or two later, something unspeakably beautiful arrived at our door—I’m hesitant to describe it in worldly terms—which looked like something out of Lewis Carroll. I half expected a four-inch troll to jump out from behind one of the stems.

In the seven months since then, Pat has turned out one gorgeous arrangement after another for us, every one as or more stunning than the last. And every time we receive the new week’s delivery, I can’t help but feel like she has us in mind when she constructs these works of art. She possesses buckets of talent of course—any of you (or all of you) who have seen these arrangements know that; but what amazes me is the sense I always have when I see these things that they all just seem to fit our aesthetic here. Her work each and every week is breathtaking and inspired, and we wouldn’t be exactly whole, as I think we have been, without her wonderful sensibility.

There are so many moving pieces to so many of our endeavors, and I think one of the reasons I’ve always loved restaurants is because they, in particular, present opportunities everywhere to think creatively and deliciously about better ways to do things.

Which reminds me, our New Year’s Eve menu is now posted on our website (www.heirloom-sf.com) for your convenient perusal, and we still have space for both our early and late seatings. The jazz starts at 8:30. We’re also beginning to test menu items for the New Year’s menu and for January. This week we’ll be serving leg of lamb from Cattail Creek Farms in Oregon, Dungeness crab salad with brioche croutons and meyer lemon, and handmade pappardelle with braised pork, Tuscan kale and red wine.

I also want to mention again that we will be closed from New Year’s Day until January 11th.

Happy Holidays, best wishes for a festive and healthy season,

Matt

Katherine Hepburn wrote Pat her first fan letter for flowers saying that the piece was “truly remarkable, a beautiful revolution, totally unlike anything I have seen before!”

Sharon Stone said “As usual all of my favorite birthday flowers were from you. They were all different. Thank you for your artistry and versatility.”

Since he became Director of the San Francisco Symphony, Michael Tilson Thomas has had Pat design for his office. Backstage, after a performance, he nodded toward the flowers and said “You are always here to inspire me…”

I called looked Pat up on Yelp and I was immediately struck by the slideshow of her arrangements. I used to blow glass, and worked for Dale Chihuly and Lino Tagliapietra on the small Venitians series. I saw a lot of things in Pat’s arrangements that reminded me of some of those pieces, so I picked up the phone.

I needed an affordable arrangement for my boss who was home recovering from surgery. Two days later, we got a call. The flowers had been delivered, and were greatly appreciated and admired.

I hope to make some vessels someday for Pat to fill with flowers!

Thanks Pat!!!

You continue to deliver works of art, while other florists merely deliver flowers.

– Scott Montgomery, Geographic Expeditions

This place is a find! Pat, the owner, is extremely caring and will provide every client personal attention and tailor their arrangement to meet the recipients personality, colors, and dreams. The results: an awe inspiring piece of art that will delight the heaviest of hearts.

They deliver so if you are even considering ordering flowers over the internet for someone in the San Francisco area, forget it – call Pat instead. For about the same price, you will get a bouquet that is tens times better. Couple a treat from here with a dinner at Parcel 104 and you could get yourself one heck of a “get out of jail free” card with your honey.

IanS.
San Jose, CA
via Yelp

1. What heavenly place do you come from that you create such wonderful flower arrangements?
2. Are you a descendant of a famous painter? You must be, because the way you combine colors is exquisite!
3. Rumor has it that FTD is going out of business because of you. Is this true?

Adam Barnum

Just wanted to let you know that I received a delivery yesterday, a thank-you bouquet from ITVS. It was one of the most beautiful arrangements I’ve ever received. I worked at Chez Panisse for many years, and the flowers, branches and berries in the bouquet you made brought the poetry and sensibility of the arrangements at the restaurant right to my desk. I can’t stop gazing over at them. Just wanted to say thank you.

Wendy

There are painters and there are artists. There are florists and there is Pat Miller. The correlation is that simple.

Every detail is masterfully executed, creating combinations that challenge color, texture, space, line, and tantalizing all of the senses. You don’t get that from just any florist.

Joel Hendler, Hendler Design

Since I moved to San Francisco in 1995 I have used them both for my home and for my office and for personal and business gifts here and around the world. They are a creative, unique and cherished part of San Francisco.

Michael Tilson Thomas, San Francisco Symphony

If you have any reason at all to pay homage to a dear friend, special someone or just make a permanent impression on whomever should be so lucky, then your search for the perfect florist should end here. The creative genius behind ‘A Bed of Roses’, Pat Miller, creates such visually tantalizing pieces of artistry which undoubtedly leave no room for words due to ecstatic delight.

Whether you are looking for a weekly delivery for your work or office space, or want to show your love, ‘A Bed of Roses’ has proven to me again and again that they are creating pieces which are most certainly everything BUT the ordinary! With a clientele which has included Katharine Hepburn and Sharon Stone, to name just a few, I couldn’t help but have a new level of respect for their choice in floral artistry.

– Dara Roberts Design

Thank you for your on-going contribution to the general joy of the world.

David Bryan, Bear Stearns

I have sent flowers to many client before but never have I had a client write me to tell me how exquisite the flowers were–so Pat’s work really made the lasting impression I was looking for.

– Nancy Hom, The Hom Team

So we had a baby boy and our mantle was full of flowers, a big row of them all next to each other. A friend was over and I watched as her eyes went from left to right, almost studying the different arrangements. When she got about 3/4 of the way across, her eyes widened and, normally quite a shy and quiet woman, she exclaimed, “Whoa! Who did THAT one?” I looked at which one she was gawking at and it came from Pat Miller’s shop. “THAT one isn’t just a bouquet, that one is a work of art!”

Thank you, Pat.

– Bradley Charbonneau, Likoma

In 36 business years of sending flowers, I have never had such wonderful comments and feedback as I’ve had with A Bed of Roses! My favorite story is going to a funeral service and having the son of the deceased come up to me and, referring to the floral arrangement, tell me that I have such “class” and that I always do the right thing. With all that was on his mind he made a point of commenting on the flowers. It made me look good and as a result, made me feel proud.

– Dr. Michael Hack, DDS, Financial District Dental

I’ve never written a thank you note for flowers to the florist sending them before–but, thank you A Bed of Roses wizard! The arrangement was so artful…I felt like the Queen of England getting the royal treatment.

– Ro Logrippo, Burlingame

Flowers can say a thousand words, a Bed of Roses bouquets says a million!

– Brandon Bortnick, Cartelligent

Pat Miller is not just a florist, she is a gifted artist with flowers as her medium. To watch her work is like watching a master sculptor, and her creations are spectacular and absolutely unique.

– Julia Ten Eyck, Attorney at Law

Pat is able to make designs that say what you want to say and are well received because she works hard to reflect the personality and teh preferences of the recipient. In this case, it really is the “thought that counts.”

– Maria Poroy, Access Benefits Group

I would give this 10 stars if I could. Since 1991, I have been sending gorgeous arrangements from A Bed of Roses. No matter what the occasion, Pat makes sure the arrangement is custom designed and personalized and she has been with me through celebrations, special events, birthdays, thank yous and even funerals, with arrangements that say far more than words ever could. With my fooderati friends she incorporates herbs, fruit and even vegetables (baby artichokes are my favorite). For a baker glorious wheat grasses were added and for a fly fisherman she even found flies! Just this week a last minute thank you arrangement to a client resulted in an immediate, enthusiastic call.The client was ever so impressed and grateful as am I for A Bed of Roses. Thank you Pat!

– Roberta Klugman

Two pastry chefs who have traveled the world studying in the major cities and visiting flower shops as their second love said, “A Bed of Roses is the best shop in the world and we had to come back to tell you.”

I first saw the quality of Pat’s work when I referred her to a general contractor I knew. They have now used her repeatedly to send gorgeous bouquets and unique arrangements to their clients.

Then, I got the personal touch by asking Pat to create something for my wife for Valentine’s Day. “Oh my God,” I said when the arrangement arrived. My wife loved it. I loved it. And everyone was thrilled with her service. I can’t recommend her highly enough.

– Gil Zeimer, Zeimer Advertising Shoppe

Many thanks for the lovely flowers–now & all year!

Danielle Steel

You literally feel as if you could step into one of her bouquets and get carried away to Never Never Land. She brings detail, beauty and transformation all in one! I could not have asked for a more beautiful creation than one of Pat Miller’s designs:)

- Janice Ruiz

The work was the aesthetic counterpoint to the uninspired, symmetrical cones of flowers that are standard in virtually every other shop and look the same, whether the outlet is in Boise, Idaho or Sarasota, Florida.

Bill Knickel, Partner, First Team Environmental

Even the smallest arrangement is an Eden in miniature. They combine colors and shapes with a subtle flair that astounds.

James R. Gaughran, News Producer, KPIX-TV

For many years our company has used and depended up the excellent service and high quality that has become a trademark of “A Bed of Roses.”

Tom Leonardis, President, Whoop, Inc. (Whoopi Goldberg’s Company)

The flowers flowed so naturally from its vase that I thought I sat in an English garden.

– Ira Potovsky, retired teacher

After seeing the reviews on yelp I decided to give Pat a try. Flowers are a bit intimidating to me, I hardly know a carnation from a rose. To further the issue, my girlfriend is an interior designer who took classes in flower arrangements. I left the decisions to the professionals and GF was duly impressed–Not something that would happen (as much) from Safeway flowers. This is a great choice for a special occasion. These are not the cheapest flowers you can find–but people definitely notice the difference.

Pat went above and beyond to clear up a misunderstanding on the phone that was probably my own fault. She obviously wants very satisfied customers.

Thank you, Pat!

A Bed of Roses does outstanding, artful floral arrangements of all kinds and for all occasions. Very reasonable and great service!! I use them regularly to reward my real estate clients at transaction closings, “open houses,” etc.”

– Richard Hippard, Realtor

I own a Japanese restaurant and catering company. We use Bed of Roses on a weekly basis at our restaurant. Their flower arrangements are uniquely different and stunning! I have many customers ask who I use.

Recently I sent one of Pat’s flower arrangement to a friend of mine who opened up a huge restaurant (non-Japanese). He took the time to come to our restaurant and said, “Thank you SO much for the BEAUTIFUL arrangement. If it dies, I’ll have to fire someone!”

At our catering company, we recommend using A Bed of Roses for weddings. It’s a once in your lifetime show, so the flowers better be as beautiful as the brides.

Mari T.
San Francisco, CA
via Yelp

Pat’s work is exquisite it’s true. Her arrangements evolve and bloom over several days, and serve as a meditation on the beauty of impermanence.

I sent some of her flowers to a client recently, only to have them call in awe an hour after they arrived.

I’ve heard people talk in hushed tones about the old shop on Union street and what a marvel it was. The good news is Pat now offers a custom service, and same day delivery. Her prices are also extraordinarily reasonable.

– Stellah DeVille, Graphic Designer

“These comparisons may seem extreme but I can think of no better way to put it: Just as gifted musicians are greater than the sum of their parts under the direction of a great conductor so too are the beautiful flowers arranged by Pat Miller at A Bed of Roses. I have seen their arrangements literally arrest the attention of an entire room of the most discriminating people as they gather around and exclaim their delight. What could please a sender more! Their creations are so engaging they are not unlike a master’s painting that makes you stop and take note of it and then impels you to be still and be with it as you explore and get lost in its nuances. Each thoughtful arrangement is unique and yet has a signature quality- more than once I’ve heard someone exclaim that “It must be from A Bed of Roses!” Masterpieces, symphonies, whatever you like, if you want to make a lasting impression I heartily encourage you to send A Bed of Roses arrangement or experience one for yourself — they are simply amazing!”

– James Wells, Travel Writer

Pat is an amazing floral designer. When you want something truly special and unique she is the only one you need see. Rather then all the generic flowers and arrangements everyone else carries, Pat makes each bouquet into a true work of art! I highly recommend her!

Mischa P.
via Yelp