We’re throwing a little Viewing Party tonight as I make my case to the Dragons on CBC. Will they fund my food truck expansion plan? Will they send me and my meat packing? Come find out tonight!
I spent an hour in the studio and it was a blast but they edit the thing down to 6 minutes so I have no idea how it will be portrayed – although I do know the outcome. Hehe.
I just called a gentleman to apologize. What had I done? It’s bad. It’s really really bad. I totally suck at this whole restaurant thing. On Sunday we hosted Sid Friedman and 75 of his nearest and dearest in the Deli to celebrate the life of Sid’s father Andy.
It was called for 4pm to 7pm and by 5 pm the place was full. Sid had a video tribute to his father. Everyone was eating. Some were drinking. It was lovely. But, wait. It gets bad soon. As happens when someone “buys out” a place there are always diners who come and have to be turned away disappointed. A couple came and I had to explain to them that we couldn’t seat them. I hate that but it gets worse.
A young couple comes in bearing gifts. ”We have a reservation,” they told one of my team. The words echoed through me like lightning bolt. I checked the Reso area and sure enough they were right. OMG. It was their father’s 72nd birthday. He wanted to celebrate with his children and grandchildren at my place.
Turns out the manager on duty had noticed this but because the person who took the reservation failed to take down a telephone number we had no way to contact them to let them know what a mistake we’d made. Ridic!
Now I’m faced with dealing with these shocked and disappointed people. ”I’m terribly sorry. I feel awful about this.” I said. They weren’t impressed. ”Who owns this place?” They asked. ”Uh, that would be me,” I said. I was standing about 1758 km from my proudest moment. “And did you know I’m going to be on Dragons Den on Wednesday night? 8 pm?” I did not say that.
Given the circumstances the couple were quite gracious. An hour later their mother left me a message on the answering machine at the deli. She was angry and certainly justified in that but at least she left me her phone number.
I called earlier this evening. ”This is Caplansky’s Deli calling,” said a gentleman’s voice to me. I took my lumps with occasional interjections of “I’m so sorry” and “I feel terrible”. The worst part was that he was suggesting that I had done this intentionally. Hey, now. I may be incompetent but I’m not mean. ”If I had intentionally ruined your birthday, why would I now be calling you to try and apologize and explain?” This is where the conversation turned in my favour.
At that point I believe the gentleman accepted that a mistake had been made. It was innocent, not malicious and I was taking full responsibility. I offered them a visit to the deli as my guests or even to cater for them in their home. “Perhaps in time,” he said “We’ll take you up on your offer.” And then the crusher: “You know,” he said “my wife made the reservation there because she knows how much I like your food. There are delis closer to where we live but your smoked meat is my favourite.”
I know he was being kind and very generous to pay me a compliment after I ruined his birthday dinner but the comment was like habanero in my eyes. I teared up and let em fly. “You know,” I said “the path I’ve chosen isn’t easy. Owning a restaurant is tough but the one thing that gives me more pleasure than anything else is to have 3 generations together celebrating a simcha and I blew it.”
I’m really sorry.
This stuff is really hard for me. It matters so much because its greater than just me. Last week I took a couple of days off and went to Montreal to celebrate the marriage of Claire and Victor. You couldn’t find better people. I love them and their friends and now their families too. Victor is the photographer who took that picture of me that I put on everything (truck, mustard, menus, bathroom doors, etc.). He wouldn’t accept a nickel for that photo either. He did it for love.
And when he wanted to show Claire that Montreal isn’t the exclusive home of good smoked meat can you guess where he took her? ON THEIR FIRST FUCKING DATE??? My place, that’s where. I balled my eyes out listening to Victor tell his loved ones that story at the wedding.
To be chosen to play such a part in people’s lives is such a deeply meaningful experience for me. We’ve catered weddings, bar mitzvahs, shivas and birthdays. We’ve broken fasts at Yom Kippur and matzoh at Passover. For all the stress, anxiety, worry, heartache and heartbreak those are the moments that I live for. I know its just food but isn’t it all about the food?
In fact, it isn’t. That’s why owning a deli isn’t the same as owning a restaurant. It’s about more than just the food. It’s about life. And I’m sorry but I love it.
There are moments that change our lives. Sometimes we don’t recognize them as they happen. Sometimes we do. Stress then ensues.
Today I’m being filmed for two national tv shows. This is an amazing opportunity. Bundle of emotions? Energy? Wish me luck.
I just called a gentleman to apologize. What had I done? It’s bad. It’s really really bad. I totally suck at this whole restaurant thing. On Sunday we hosted Sid Friedman and 75 of his nearest and dearest in the Deli to celebrate the life of Sid’s father Andy.
It was called for 4pm to 7pm and by 5 pm the place was full. Sid had a video tribute to his father. Everyone was eating. Some were drinking. It was lovely. But, wait. It gets bad soon. As happens when someone “buys out” a place there are always diners who come and have to be turned away disappointed. A couple came and I had to explain to them that we couldn’t seat them. I hate that but it gets worse.
A young couple comes in bearing gifts. ”We have a reservation,” they told one of my team. The words echoed through me like lightning bolt. I checked the Reso area and sure enough they were right. OMG. It was their father’s 72nd birthday. He wanted to celebrate with his children and grandchildren at my place.
Turns out the manager on duty had noticed this but because the person who took the reservation failed to take down a telephone number we had no way to contact them to let them know what a mistake we’d made. Ridic!
Now I’m faced with dealing with these shocked and disappointed people. ”I’m terribly sorry. I feel awful about this.” I said. They weren’t impressed. ”Who owns this place?” They asked. ”Uh, that would be me,” I said. I was standing about 1758 km from my proudest moment. “And did you know I’m going to be on Dragons Den on Wednesday night? 8 pm?” I did not say that.
Given the circumstances the couple were quite gracious. An hour later their mother left me a message on the answering machine at the deli. She was angry and certainly justified in that but at least she left me her phone number.
I called earlier this evening. ”This is Caplansky’s Deli calling,” said a gentleman’s voice to me. I took my lumps with occasional interjections of “I’m so sorry” and “I feel terrible”. The worst part was that he was suggesting that I had done this intentionally. Hey, now. I may be incompetent but I’m not mean. ”If I had intentionally ruined your birthday, why would I now be calling you to try and apologize and explain?” This is where the conversation turned in my favour.
At that point I believe the gentleman accepted that a mistake had been made. It was innocent, not malicious and I was taking full responsibility. I offered them a visit to the deli as my guests or even to cater for them in their home. “Perhaps in time,” he said “We’ll take you up on your offer.” And then the crusher: “You know,” he said “my wife made the reservation there because she knows how much I like your food. There are delis closer to where we live but your smoked meat is my favourite.”
I know he was being kind and very generous to pay me a compliment after I ruined his birthday dinner but the comment was like habanero in my eyes. I teared up and let em fly. “You know,” I said “the path I’ve chosen isn’t easy. Owning a restaurant is tough but the one thing that gives me more pleasure than anything else is to have 3 generations together celebrating a simcha and I blew it.”
I’m really sorry.
This stuff is really hard for me. It matters so much because its greater than just me. Last week I took a couple of days off and went to Montreal to celebrate the marriage of Claire and Victor. You couldn’t find better people. I love them and their friends and now their families too. Victor is the photographer who took that picture of me that I put on everything (truck, mustard, menus, bathroom doors, etc.). He wouldn’t accept a nickel for that photo either. He did it for love.
And when he wanted to show Claire that Montreal isn’t the exclusive home of good smoked meat can you guess where he took her? ON THEIR FIRST FUCKING DATE??? My place, that’s where. I balled my eyes out listening to Victor tell his loved ones that story at the wedding.
To be chosen to play such a part in people’s lives is such a deeply meaningful experience for me. We’ve catered weddings, bar mitzvahs, shivas and birthdays. We’ve broken fasts at Yom Kippur and matzoh at Passover. For all the stress, anxiety, worry, heartache and heartbreak those are the moments that I live for. I know its just food but isn’t it all about the food?
In fact, it isn’t. That’s why owning a deli isn’t the same as owning a restaurant. It’s about more than just the food. It’s about life. And I’m sorry but I love it.
Everyone needs a Bubbie. Someone to pinch your cheeks. Someone to feed you even when you’re full. Someone to offer sage advice. Someone to point the way to the Afikoyman at Passover time. You know what I mean: A Lean (well…) Mean (never) Spoiling Machine.
In my case I need four or five Bubbies to serve as judges for Matzoh Ball Smackdown 2011 being held @ 4 pm on October 1 at… Caplansky’s Deli, where else?. You can’t call it Bubbie-licious if it hasn’t passed muster with the Bubbies themselves. This is the ultimate test. Celebrity? Schmelebrity! Bring on the Bubbies.
Bubbie Judges receive a free lunch for two.
Interested? Please send me an email to Zane@Caplanskys.com
