Two Things You Don’t Know About Trader Joe’s
It took me years to fall in love with Trader Joe’s. Then when I moved to upstate New York, I went years without one. Finally, Trader Joe’s opened a store in Albany and my life improved immeasurably. All of my favorite staples returned.
What was fascinating was watching the locals explore this strange new store. There are still people who don’t understand what all the fuss is about. And that’s okay. The place is always crowded, and it never pretends to be for everyone.
However, I’m constantly amazed that even regular shoppers to the Trader don’t know two of their time tested policies which make TJs such a delight.
Hot Cuts
Can we talk about the supermarket deli counter?
Admittedly, this is one of my big blind spots when it comes to food. As a kid, I remember the deli counter being one of the most crowded sections of the supermarket. My mother would always have to take a number, and sometimes the wait to be served felt interminable. Then she would order things mostly in half pound increments.
But even back then, I remember how much better the roast beef was at the independent German deli down the road. Instead of the bland, tough, and brown meat slices, the German deli had roast beef that was rosy, tender, and delicious.
Still, I have fond memories of the traditional deli counter. It was part of our regular routine. And I still recall when my father had to go on a reduced sodium diet, by our switch over to Alpine Lace cheese back in the 80s.
These days, however, I consider the supermarket deli counter to be no man’s land.
Three Thousand Steaks
Official Yelp Events make dreams come true. Working to organize these affairs with local businesses is one of my favorite parts of the job. Sometimes the dreams are mine. Sometimes they belong to members of the Yelp community. And on occasion, a business owner has a vision of the event they would like to host. Although usually it’s a collaborative process.
If you’ve been following the blog for a while, you know that I’ve developed a relationship with the New York Beef Council over the last year. Let me just tell you, it has been a fantastic learning opportunity.
It’s true that I may not always see eye to eye with the beef producers on everything that they do. However, they are open to having these respectful conversations, and eager to share their love for raising cattle.
On this last outing we went to Trowbridge Farms in Ghent, where Phil Trowbridge told us more about collecting, delivering, and selling units of bull semen than any of us knew before. Right now I’m doing my best to try to forget.
And while we were touring his farm, Jean O’Toole, the NY Beef Council Executive Director was back at the barn grilling more than thirty Certified Angus Beef (CAB) New York Strip steaks for the Yelpers who made it out to the farm and the entire Trowbridge family. Phill raises CAB beef, but these came from Fred the Butcher in Clifton Park, and not directly from Phil’s cooler.
Of all the things we got to experience, for me, these grilled steaks were the most surprising.
The Emergency McMuffin
Things have been intense lately. All around.
Thankfully, at least on the home front, things will be returning to normal. Mrs. Fussy is back from her quick trip to Copenhagen and Lund, and she brought me some caviar paste in a tube. I’m not sure exactly what I’m going to do with it, but I’ll let you know.
For the past few days, I was working hard to prepare for last Sunday’s Official Yelp Event with the New York Beef Council at Trowbridge Farms.
Now that the OYE is over I am on to the next big thing. I think I might be guest lecturing at SCCC on Tuesday. Or at least, that’s the rumor. Later this week I also have three different food events to judge. That is not a complaint. Food judging is an honor and a great responsibility, and I love to do it as much as I can. However, I’m finding it does take a physical toll.
The other thing that takes a physical toll is not eating. We’ve talked about this before, and maybe it makes sense to bring it up again in the context of the benefit for The Food Pantries for the Capital District coming up on Thursday.
But mostly I felt the need to talk about my not-so-secret shame.
Media Blackout
People have been telling all kinds of stories. Brave stories. Powerful stories. Upsetting stories.
Over the years, I have had close friends tell me in private their encounters with rape and sexual assault. But the volume of stories I’ve heard this week from a much broader network of friends and acquaintances has beens sobering.
I could not bring myself to watch yesterday’s hearing. The very thought of what was going to take place literally made my stomach turn. And as I got bits and pieces of how the testimony was unfolding over social media, it affirmed my decision of a media blackout.
Today seems like a good day to talk about drinking. Apparently it’s National Drink Beer day, which feels a little tone deaf. But whoever decides these things had no idea it was going to fall the day after yesterday’s hearing. Although I don’t blame anyone on either side who feels the need for a drink.
My personal story isn’t nearly as disturbing as those I’ve been hearing lately, but it’s not pretty. Mostly I’m sharing it to demonstrate just how dangerous drinking can be. Even for someone who is generally a responsible and upstanding member of the community.
Okay. Here it goes.
Farms and Conflict
Food comes from farms.
Food is important for our survival.
Therefore, farms are important for our survival.
Logical syllogisms were never my strong suit, but I think that works. Even if I got the logical syntax wrong, the conclusion remains the same. Farms are a critical component of our society.
We could argue about the definition of a farm, and if there is a fundamental difference between large farms and small farms, or family farms and industrial farms. Perhaps one of the problems we have is painting farms too broadly with the same brush. I’m not entirely sure.
What I do know is that over the years I have wanted to deepen my relationship with the region’s farms and farmers. And it’s not easy. Mostly because of time, and the fact that farmers are busy with the hard work of farming.
But I do think it’s important for more people to get to know farmers, and vice versa. Because after talking with some farmers, there is an underlying belief—expressed by far too many—that they are under attack from consumers.
That’s not good. And in part, this is why I am leading a bunch of Yelpers out to one of the region’s beef producers on Sunday. So we can meet Phil Trowbridge and see how he raises Angus on his farm in Ghent.
However, there are some other regional farm events that you don’t have to be part of the Yelp Elite Squad to attend. The only problem is that I’ve got conflicts with two of the very best ones.
The Diner Pancake Conundrum
Apparently today is National Pancake Day. Although a quick peek on the Internet will tell you that IHOP® National Pancake Day® was on February 27 this year.
I’m not sure why the famous pancake chain, turned burger franchise, and back to pancake house, felt the need to create a second National Pancake Day. Presumably the obvious answer is to sell more pancakes. Or maybe they weren’t aware that September 26 already held the distinction?
These “National Days” all feel a little fishy to me. For example, today isn’t just National Pancake Day, it’s also National Dumpling Day. Tomorrow it’s both National Chocolate Milk Day and National Corned Beef Hash Day.
Really? They had to put corned beef hash and pancakes back to back? What is this National Diner Month? No. But it is Better Breakfast Month. However, it’s also National Italian Cheese Month, National Chicken Month, National Blueberry Popsicle Month, National Honey Month, National Papaya Month, National Papaya Month, National Potato Month, and Whole Grains Month. Ugh.
Speaking of diners and pancakes, there is one thing I want to share.
More Death in a Cup
Just last week we were discussing how there is no such thing as bad foods.
Of course, someone brought up the idea of eating endangered animals. And to that I answer that the animals aren’t bad food, but the people who would choose to eat them are simply terrible people.
That said, I could imagine a situation where I might eat a threatened species. If it showed up on a plate at a dinner party where I was an invited guest? If that means I would be counted among the terrible people, so be it.
As long as we’re on the topic, it seems like a good day to talk about “Death in a cup”.
Nibbling Away At Hunger
Fifteen dollars may sound like a lot of money for an order of macaroni and cheese. But the serving at Druthers in Schenectady was literally enough to feed ten people last night. Ten. At a nearby table, we saw three people, with three orders of macaroni and cheese. Each diner sat behind a massive cast iron skillet with enough fat and calories to be dinner for a family of four.
The crazy thing is that the serving sizes at Druthers are not an anomaly. Welcome to America, land of the large. I’m old enough to remember when a half pound burger was something monstrous and a little absurd. Now it seems to be par for the course.
With all the abundance that surrounds us, it can be hard to imagine that there are people among us who do not know where their next meal is coming from.
Over the years I’ve been proud to partner with The Food Pantries For The Capital District, and I’ve learned a lot about food insecurity. It’s not something that just afflicts the homeless and destitute. You may not be able to tell just by looking at someone if they have been going without food. It strikes people of all backgrounds and socioeconomic levels.
It could happen to you. Or me. And nobody would know. Because people feel ashamed and don’t seek the help available to them.
Okay. That got pretty heavy, pretty quickly. Let’s turn it around.
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