I’m finding out that success brings its own challenges. Yesterday, Canada’s top food writer, the Globe and Mail’s Joanne Kates wrote a wonderful review of our little place and as a result we will run out of meat later today. Yesterday was incredibly busy and I expect today to be more of the same. I hope that those we disappoint will be understanding enough to give us another try. The problem is that it takes time for the meat to cure and if I’d known about this three weeks ago we’d be okay but following on the heels of Toronto Life and NOW Magazine mentions, we’re close to having to close for a few days just to give the meat time to cure.
Irving Abella told me last night that running only adds to the mystique. He may be right but I still don’t like it. It really does blow my mind to have him, his wife Madame Justice Abella, Joe Rotman and Lionel Shipper in my deli. Frankly I’d rather have happy customers than mystique but I’ll take what I can get.
Don’t get me wrong: I appreciate the recognition and am grateful that people like what we do. However, this kind of attention has consequences and never having gone through this before, I can report that I am being pushed to my physical and mental limits. If I can get through today I’ll be able to rest a little tomorrow and then do it all over again on Tuesday.
