Tonight was a very special night. We hosted two book launch parties for David Sax. The first was public and the second was private. Both were enormously fun, busy and thrilling for me personally and professionally. Because of all the press he’s garnered I was pretty sure the first event would be packed and since his mother Julia and fiancee lauren were in charge of the second event I was sure that one would be packed too. In fact, except for my parents and investors I didn’t invite anyone to either party. Well, except for Ron Grebler, Jeff Peters and Manny Blatt but those guys are special.
Better, Sax had invited all the deli guys in the city and most showed up. Yitz Penciner, a man I consider my mentor and the godfather of deli in Toronto was there with Mrs. Yitz (lovely wife Bernice). Leslie Wong was there from the Steele’s Deli. Lorne Pancer from… where else? Moe Pancer’s was there and he even sat on MY knee for the photo we took. Carol and Jody Silverberg were there from Coleman’s. Ted Bernholtz waved the Chicago 58 flag and Charise Beck from Switzer’s came just after that photo was taken. These are the people on whose shoulders I stand. I couldn’t mess this up under any circumstances and I didn’t.
We had a team meeting following lunch service and before the party where I told my peeps about the blog yesterday and discussed with them my expectations. I was frank and direct. I accepted full responsibility for our failures and shared responsibility for our success. I believe I’ve turned a corner and that I’m finally able to accept that my best is good enough. If I put the right people in place, teach them well and get out of their way magic can happen. And tonight was magical. I felt none of the stress and pressure of the past weeks (alright, truth be told I had a minor freak out this morning when I discovered Silverstein’s sent us 24 loaves of double rainbow rye instead of 24 loaves of cocktail rye – but that was it ).
A couple of days does not a changed man make – said my fortune cookie the other day. With that in mind I’ll try not to strain my shoulder patting myself on the back.
Last: I’ve heard your cries and I feel your pain. Thanks to Megan the Mustard Mavin and Alan Gordon’s urging CAPLANSKY’S HOUSE MUSTARD IS BACK. Danny also wants us to bake our own rye bread and if things work out right, that may happen sooner than you think.
