Tonight, instead of telling you what I think of me I’ll let you read two messages I received the last couple of days. The first is from a customer named Kurt and the second from the CBC’s Evan Solomon. Evan and my friend Natalie Ruskin were comparing notes and reviews on my food and Nat asked Evan if he’d mind if I posted his comments on my blog. He told Natalie that, at this stage in his career, being featured on my blog would be an honour.
The only further comment I’ll make is this: the kindness and generosity shown by Kurt and Evan and all who say such wonderful things to me and my team is the force that propels me out of bed each morning and keeps me going 12, 13 and 14 hours each day. Toronto, I don’t care what anyone thinks or says: you rock. Caplansky’s patrons: you rock hardcore. Thank you for supporting us, for your patience and your grace.
From Kurt: (note from Zane: this is unedited and posted without permission)
Subj: Your Awesome Deli
Hi Zane,
I just wanted to take the time to tell you how great your deli is. My fiancee and I basically get to eat out one day a week, and although we try to mix in as much variety as possible – ie one week it’ll be BBQ, the next thai, the next Indian, etc. – we’ve found ourselves eating at your place 3 out of the last 4 weekends. Your sandwiches have absolutely been on par with Schwartz’s, your fries are the best I’ve EVER had, and the portions are very generous. (I also pulled you aside a few weeks ago and told you the same thing.)
We discovered your website today, hence the EMail. I have to believe that in the coming months you are going to become ridiculously successful. I wish you the best of luck, and I imagine we’ll be stopping by to eat at your place very, very often.
From Evan:
Well N(atalie): I finally took the deli dive at Caplansky’s. As I wrote to (David) Sax: It was a very tasty, deeply satisfying sandwich–hickory smoked, unique taste, fresh, moist, the homemade mustard adds a new twist, and not altogether unpleasant….though it does take a turn away from mustard expectation. The dipping sauce for the fries was meaty, fatty and delicious. The kind of authentic gravy I crave. All in all a very delicious, deep tasting, historically based but
modernized smoked meat that adds to the tradition rather than merely trying to imitate or, worse, simply act as an attempt at gastronomic nostalgia. I will be back.
