Here's What Happens When You Don't Listen

In his eponymous song, "The Piano Man",  Bill Joel said, "It's 9 o'clock on a Saturday and the regular crowd shuffles in".  I say "It's 9 o'clock on a Saturday and here's what happens when you don't listen."

I've just come home from my local Starbucks.  My aim?  Bring my laptop, spend an hour or two working peacefully and then come home with a Java for my wife, fulfilled that I've already knocked off a couple hours work before the day begins in earnest.  It wasn't to be - and I'm irritated. 

Why so?  It's not that their wireless was down (IT happens), but rather because no-one listened to me.

I logged in. Check.  Asked to select the wireless network.  Check.  Then got the "fail whale".  Called the toll-free number on my screen - Starbucks tech-support.   It was answered on the second ring.

"Hi, I can't get onto your network"

"Yeah - it's a known issue"

"Umm --- any suggestions or any idea when it will be up"

"None - nope"

"OK?" - anyone would have heard the irritation in my voice

"Well, I will have to go elsewhere"

"Fantastic - that's an excellent idea"

And then he was gone.  Quidam!

The guy on the other end endorsed me going elsewhere to drink coffee and work???  (((Hello???)))

That's exactly what he did. Clearly, the tech guy never heard a word I'd said.    And of course, I am now elsewhere.

Consequences:

1.  You destroy the brand

2.  You alienate the customer

3.  You lose sales

 And these are just the iceberg's tip

 Note to Starbucks: Selling coffee is the easy part.  Yeah, you make a great Java - no question.  But it's the experience too that counts and I was less than happy. Train your people!

Meanwhile, I have just arrived home with a couple steaming Javas.  One for me and one for my Missus bought from Tim Horton's where the wi-fi was fine - just sayin'

Yamchops - A Nugget of Wholy Goodness

Believing that plant-based proteins can be a staple of any kitchen or diet would have been a pipe-dream to Michael Abramson a few years ago.  Today it’s his reality at Toronto’s only vegetarian butcher shop – YamChops (www.yamchops.com) ---  (I just love the name).  In early 2013, Abramson and his wife Toni sold their 27-year old advertising agency and launched The SixCob (Six Communities of Business Inc.).  YamChops is The SixCob’s first community.

Nestled on the south side of College Street in a strip just west of little Brazil, (trust me, I know because I had to wend my way to the store, just after Brazil’s latest victory in the Soccer World Cup), it’s a nugget in an area dominated by greasy Mexican taco joints and fast food pizza shops.

“Our recipes appeal to all types of eaters: flexitarians, those who choose to reduce their meat consumption, vegetarians and vegans,” says Michael Abramson. “We have lots of fun and take some creative license when we turn a commonly understood animal protein on its head.”

Earlier this week, I sampled a great example of this - YamChops’ Carrot Lox.  Made with organic carrots cured in Abramson’s secret marinade, it’s topped with capers, red onion, dill, cashew and sour cream.   Lox is one of my favorite anytime snacks – and  YamChops’ Carrot Lox was about as good as I’ve ever had. 

From a walk around this bright and uber-funkily appointed store, it looks like YamChops’ mantra is to deliver an eclectic menu of unique plant-based food – and I like that thinking in Toronto – jaded by over-priced and over-rated organic cuisine (if you can even call it that).

Now, to note is that organic food in not cheap – and nor is anything at YamChops cheap either.  At first blush, the store’s Salad Day’s juice is priced at an eye-popping $9.50 a litre – expensive.  Not that expensive when the polite server mentioned that it contains a whopping  40 pounds or organic apple, celery, cucumber, spinach, romaine, kale, ginger and lemon.  I tasted some.  My verdict?  Worth every cent!

Abramson holds some impressive qualifications too – He is ACA certified in Natural Foods, holds a professional diploma in vegetarian cuisine from the Cordon Vert Academy and has a professional plant-based cooking certification from Rouxbe.

Also for sampling was YamChops’ Tuna-less Tuna Sliders.  Each was a silky-smooth-yet-chunky-in-the-right-places blend of free range chick peas, mashed to tuna-like consistency, dressed with vegan mayonnaise, dill pickle, red onion and nori.  Alas, these samples were at a station towards the back of the store --- and they were that good, they shoulda, coulda, woulda positioned them up front.

YamChops is at 705 College Street, three blocks east of Ossington.  Call them, email them or tweet them at 416.645.0117, TalkToUs@YamChops.com or @YamChopsTO. 

What I learned from my time in New York City

Since I was 17, I've had a love affair with a city -  New York City.  I know that sounds ridiculous, but it's the truth.  I return there fairly frequently and seemingly it's often enough but not too often.  The  city's never lost it's magic.  It's a great place!

I sojourned there last week --- lived large for a few days.  I'll spare the detail of the who, what, when, where and why - but here's a few things I learned:

1.  Make time for the people that mean something:  I've lots of friends in the city and as busy as I was, I made time for them all ... I was so glad to see Lisa, Gabi, Hilary, Hilton, Darren and their friends.  Yeah, I could have not told them I'd be in their city, but hey, people can make a city too.  We hung out - had fun and re-connected

2.  The love you make is equal to the love you take, or said another way - share the love - Tough to understand sometimes, but true everytime.   Again, will spare the deets.

3.  Know what's on your bucket list - and do something about it.  Crossing the Brooklyn Bridge on foot has been on my list for well - like 25 years --- I did it this time.  It is a magnificent structure connecting Brooklyn and Manhattan.  Majestic.  Takes like 30 minutes from shore to shore.  Well worth it and makes you appreciate architecture.   Completed in 1883 - yes, 1883, it's s a testament to mankind's genius.   Bet they didn't have today's technology then.

4.  Party hard.  Yup ... true every time and one of my maxims.  Hilton, Darren, Raphael and Alex ---- you know how to do that - damn well.  Never stop.  Keeps us all young.  Keeps us all thinking.

5.  Don't oversleep.  This is a biggie.  I know many people who insist on getting 9 hours of it a night, claiming they "need" it.  Disagree.  Try 7-8 - you'll be fine.  Yes, I know that sleep is important, but there's lots to do and accomplish irrespective of where you liver.  Go get 'em.

6.  Never forget your roots.  Walked past a record store by chance.  It's at 130 First Ave at 7th Street.  It's a throwback to the 70's and 80's.  Reminded me so much of my roots.  We met its owner, "Birdman" - (nickname that because he only eats chicken and turkey) - what a fascinating history he has.  He's closing this New York City landmark in the fall.  Don't miss a trip there - incredible.

7.  Be humble.  No more need be said.

Peace, love and understanding.