As any casual reader will know, Tuesdays have become my Day Off but today was different.  Today, Caplansky’s and The Monarch hosted the Toronto Jewish Film Festival’s first ever Media Launch.  Off? Up at 6 and buying Bagels.  I got the lox and cream cheese the day before and by 8.30 we were hopping.  Raf and Laura helped with the food while Vishanti took care of the bar.  James Russo, by far the most pleasant and helpful of the Monarch ownership group and I moved tables back and forth at the behest of Ingrid Hamilton, TJFF’s media person.  

Interestingly, no one noshed until after the talking and then it turned into a schmoozfest.  I have to confess that TJFF President Aviva Zuckerman Schure and I were friends in our junior high school days.  Her mother Helen really hasn’t changed and having sister Yona together at the event was very special.  Actually, Evan Soloman deserves the thanks.  Evan’s wife Tammy works with the TJFF and quick-thinker that he is, he put us together not even knowing that Aviva and I used to be good friends.  As his prize, he took a sandwich to his brother.  Anyway, it was a wonderful even but now I must nap the nap of the truly tired.  

40 years in the desert.  Worth it?  Yep.

Please be aware that we’ll be closed for Passover on April 8 and 9.  I’d like to wish all of our friends and customers of the Jewish persuasion a warm and wonderful seder (or two).  And to our gentile bretheren and sisteren a Happy Easter.  You know, a Caplansky’s smoked turkey goes wonderfully at seder and and any family feast.  Delicious? Don’t get me started. I’m doing a few this year – Kosher too.

I got a call early this morning from a gentleman concerned about the stairs at the Monarch.  ”There are 19,” I told him.  Fortunately Dr. Hugh Klein (94 years perfect) had recently counted them for me.  As an aside, Dr. Klein knew my grandparents and aunts and uncles on my mother’s side very well.  It was such a pleasure to talk about them with him.  Anyway, the caller this morning mentions he’s just read about us in The Toronto Sun.  I rushed out and got a copy and my heart sank when I read the headline:

“Don’t Go… You Won’t Like It”

My first bad review.  What had we done?  How did this happen? Is it over?  Oh.  No.  What?  Keep reading.. The reviewer loved it.  The headline was a ruse.  ”Best sandwich ever,” she wrote.  I love what she wrote but you gotta get past the headline.

So?  Whadyathink?  Nice, eh?  Designer Rob Wiggington and webmavin Steve Ishiwara have made my site something I’m really proud of.  It looks and feels like the restaurant and its going to get even better.  We’re going to offer online ordering and delivery soon plus we have a first anniversary coming up in a few months.  I even like the idea of posting a webcam of the dining room so you can sit at your desk and dream about a sandwich or knish with a Vernor’s or Black Cherry.

Steve fixed the comments problem so feel free to fire away with your ideas and suggestions.  The “Complaints Page” is coming soon so you can hang onto those for the moment.  I kid.  I like to hear it all – constant improvement is what we’re all about.  That, and listening politely to everyone’s suggestions on how to improve.  Nod and smile.

I’ve just spent the last few moments looking at a world map showing all the places web visitors have come from.  Almost as mind-blowing as directing traffic on a Saturday afternoon.  The latest mention in Toronto Life certainly hasn’t hurt us.  I remain astounded by the level of media attention we get but maybe I shouldn’t be because at least a few of Toronto’s best food writers are also regular customers.  That being said, I still have no idea who Joanne Kates is.  All rumors to the contrary are untrue.

Yesterday was crazy.  Paul and Lucy Sadowski celebrated Paul’s B-day with friends and family and then the place filled up for the next three or four hours.  In the madness, Stephen Lewis, Michele Landsberg, her brother Allan, son Avi, wife Naomi and sister Jennifer lunched heartily.  Towards the end of their meal, a fellow walks in with an accordion and orders a combo. No case, just the instrument.  Seeing the man, I approach.  ”We trade food for music,” I said.  I think he thought I was joking.  ”What do you play?” I asked.  ”Russian, Jewish music,” the young man said. “Hit it,” I said.  He played a few songs – he was really good and then left.  I love stuff like that.

Next week we host the media launch for the Toronto Jewish Film Festival. I intend to showcase my catering with a stunning array of traditional deli fare presented lavishly atop the pool table on the second floor of one of this city’s dingiest bars.  lol  Look for pics soon.

Its been busy the last couple of days but the good kind of busy.  I really like it when its steady and we successfully get people exactly what they ordered in reasonably quick times.  I know we make mistakes and although we feel bad about it, the truth is no one’s perfect.  What I really love about my customers is that they forgive us. And that they keep coming back and bringing new friends. No, it doesn’t take a genius to get you some ketchup but when we have a full dining room stuff gets missed.  It happens.  The best thing you could do is call or email me if you aren’t happy with us.

The Mines Action Canada event was fantastic.  Thanks to all who came and gave and ate.  

Seems its been a while since I wrote.  I think sometimes about posting something or some theme but I don’t make it here to share it.  To tell the truth, the last couple weeks have been painful.  A recurring ski injury makes it unpleasant to walk.  I took two days off 10 days ago (and unfortunately standing up Howard Drukarsh and friends) hoping the pain would subside.  Last week I went to my doctor to see why its taking 9 months to get in to see an orthopedic surgeon.  Bottom line: I wait and I limp (and I have a cold too).

However, all is not suffering, I’m happy to report.  To borrow from Dickens January and February are typically “the worst of times” in the restaurant world and I might even go away next January now that I’ve seen what it does to business.  February was good thanks to a National Post story about the culture clash we’ve created at the Monarch.  It also ended very well thanks to a wonderful mention by Joanne Kates in this weekend’s Globe and Mail.  

The weekend also saw me cutting sandwiches in the hallowed lunchroom of Lax O’Sullivan Scott LLP on Friday.  Saturday was the very definition of insanity with the place filling up because of the lovely and talented Ms. Kates’ piece in the Travel Section.  It just didn’t stop.  Sunday I was up at 6.30 am to cater lunch service for Moses Znaimer and his team of over 100 at Zoomer.  I rested for a bit before heading back to help Tamar and Chris close Sunday evening.

Sunday evenings are usually slow unless Tamar’s family and their friends come down.  As I climbed the stairs and heard the din, I knew: Fradkins and friends were in the house.  Such lovely people.

Other news? Last week I got a message from Corey the Monarch bartender that my smoker had exploded late at night.  Seriously.  Gor the message first thing in the morning too.  Luckily Chris was there and reset the smoker and it’s working fine but do you know what happens if my smoker breaks?  Contemplating that very possibility for the first time I decided to buy a replacement.  It should be here next week via Orlando.

Of course, almost every other conversation I have at the deli relates to “finding new space”.  No news there although I am starting to realise that the need to smoke more meat to keep up with demand will necessitate doing something sooner than later.  

Menu changes are on hold until I’m sure we can do everything at a level of quality I can be proud to serve.

Otherwise… life is good.  I had a lovely time at my niece’s bat mitzvah last week.  I was miffed they didn’t hold it at the Monarch until my sister told me it was going to be totally vegetarian because Talia’s veg.  The party was incredible with wonderful food and music by Soular.  I love that band and used to go see them at Bar Italia.  Dionne Taylor?  She’s amazing.

Okay.  That’s it.  I’ll try write less but more often.