Today Sucked
We bought a pair of used fryers from a used restaurant supply place on Ossington when we opened. One of the fryers never worked right and after much pestering the vendor finally agreed to replace the fryer. Today at 10 am a fellow shows up with the new (used) fryer. He turns off the gas, disconnects the fryer and POOF! At some point some gas was ignited and a small fireball appeared in my kitchen. Unfortunately, the technician was burned. In the confusion he grabbed for the extinguisher and sprayed it despite the fact that there was no fire. Then he fled.
However, the ball-o-flame did set off the gas alarm which brought the firefighters from across the street. The fire guys called the police, EMS, Toronto Public Health and the Ministry of Labour. Oh and TSSA too. Everyone wanted to know if the technician was okay. We called the fryer vendor who hired the guy. He came to the deli and told the police that he was the technician who installed the fryer despite the fact that he was not. The police arrested him for obstruction.
Seeing your kitchen equipment guy being cuffed in your dining room and led away by the police is an experience I never imagined I’d have and I’m not grateful for it.
As I mentioned the fire guys called the Health Department. Inspector looks around and says that because the fire extinguisher was used we couldn’t reopen until we clean up the powder and that means a total kitchen clean down. But hey, its been a few months since our last inspection so how’s about we do one right now, he asks? Sure, I say, let’s inspect. Meanwhile, the Enbridge guys show up and put tags on my gas equipment so I have to call a very expensive installer who luckily does make it out same day.
Then we all do full interviews with TSSA and the Ministry of Labour and wait for the trades people to show up. All the while I’m trying to keep my staff, customers and suppliers informed. We can’t re-open until we get the health inspector back tomorrow morning. I’m confident that will happen even though its out of my control.
It could have been worse. We lost a day and labour cost took a hit. I really feel for the fryer technician and for the equipment dealer too although, as mentioned, it could have been worse.
Bottom Line: if the Inspector comes back first thing tomorrow, we’ll be fine.
February 5th, 2010 at 9:04 am
anyone as devoted as you and your staff deserve easier. try to remember that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. best of luck we need your great soul food.
steve
February 5th, 2010 at 10:05 am
I certainly feel for you! Being in business today means catering to your customer and the bureaucracy at the same time. I am surprised you didn’t get hand cuffed and taken away for being a profit driven capitalist! I am from out of the GTA and planned a meeting close by today just as an excuse to visit your restaurant. Hope everything gets worked out soon.
Chris
February 5th, 2010 at 10:20 am
Zane: I hope today goes well after that nightmare. Some day you should write a book about your experiences with the deli!
Regards.
February 5th, 2010 at 11:21 am
I’m just glad that no one else was injured. You’ll be back to business as usual soon enough, and remember, any press is good press. I’m sure you’ll get some sympathy patronage.
February 5th, 2010 at 1:13 pm
So why did the fryer technician bale? Was he working he illegally or something?
February 5th, 2010 at 3:13 pm
This is Keystone Cops. Call one and they all arrive.
Buy new!
February 6th, 2010 at 1:40 am
Sorry this happened,Zane. Hope things soon get back to normal for you. Toronto badly needs you + your incredible,super-fantastic deli! Your family may know of or remember my late father,Jack Bernstein,Famous Players President, as well as my Zaida, Cantor Akiva Bernstein: Cantor at both Beth Tzedec and Goel Tzedec Synagogues from 1937-1956. I’ll bring you a free gift,a special CD transfer that I’m making of my Cantorial family, “The Four Borenstein Brothers”. Oh,for a smoked meat sandwich,hot tongue on rye,chicken soup with matza balls,roast brisket.
February 6th, 2010 at 4:57 pm
You are an outlaw Zane Caplansky! Did any of these officials hint about a growling tummy?
February 8th, 2010 at 10:08 am
Your talent and passion will make-up for these life blunders!
February 9th, 2010 at 12:28 pm
It may be Karma for those horrible sandwiches I got a couple of weeks ago. I have been a customer since the days on Clinton, but when I grabbed take-out the other night I came home to 2 smoked meat sandwiches that my dog couldn’t even chew. Some bastard in your kitchen gave us the dry ends and a clump of fat. There is no way that was an honest mistake and you just lost this customer for good. You are a weak attempt at a proper Montreal deli anyway.
February 10th, 2010 at 2:05 pm
screw that mr. vinziki idiot. i ate at your deli with a party of five for the first time last week, and we all left fully sated and very impressed. here’s hoping all goes well from here on. what a debacle!
February 11th, 2010 at 4:37 pm
If you manage to catch the”technician” please let him know that we have just received our vintage false eyebrows in for Spring. They come in either the Tom Snyder or the Joan Crawford.
Illegitimi non carborundum
Cheers,
Leslie
February 12th, 2010 at 3:31 am
I agree with Joel: This “Mr.Vinizki” (is he a chowhound?) There is a chowhound that sounds like him, he is obviously “A Boychik From Nada”!!
February 12th, 2010 at 9:03 pm
Ever read a Chowhound poster by the name of Vinnie Vindimangi? “Boychik From Snob-Hound”. Vinnie Vindimangi’s posts in Chowhound (Toronto board) who is this joker? Buying bread before he goes to Caplanskys? In the woids of a certain rabbit: “What a Maroon!”
February 13th, 2010 at 2:32 pm
I hope you’ll soon be open again,Zane,I really look forward to visiting you at your wonderful deli and treating myself to another smoked meat sandwich. As for the “Chowhound” named Vinnie Vindimangi, he is totally ignorant and biased,a snob. Calling a terrible Jewish-Chinese restaurant on Bathurst + Wilson Jewish food is rubbish-Sea-High is among the worst places for anything! I grew up with legendary delis of years past,like Shopsys when it was owned by Sam Shopsowitz, (who both my father and Zaida and I knew and loved) the original Switzers downtown, plus long-missed Bennie’s Bagel on College. Marc. 53 years old but I still recall those glorious days!