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February 25, 2007
Dubliner
A friend of mine recently said, "What cheese should I buy if I'm not at la fromagerie? What if I'm just at [gigantor supermarket] and want some normal cheese to eat? What should I buy then?"
Well, without digressing into what exactly a "normal" cheese is supposed to be, or why it's so worth the extra trip to a well-stocked cheese monger, I thought, "okay... what would I buy?"
I can tell you what I would not buy. I would not buy a cheese that was labeled "cheese product" or "cheese food". Nor would I buy a "brie" that comes in a plastic container. Why not just spread paste on your baguette?
But there are some decent mass-market cheeses that are pretty tasty and easy to find in many major chain groceries. Today I give you one such cheese: Dubliner.
Dubliner is marketed under the Kerrygold brand but is actually made by a large dairy/food ingredients manufacturer in Cork called Carbery. Their website lists several varieties of Dubliner, but I've only encountered the "Vintage" and the "White". Today, I'll be tasting the "White" as it seems to be the most commonly available.
Dubliner is an aged cheese, similar to a cheddar. (The Kerrygold website calls it "not unlike a cheddar...") Well, if you like aged cheddar, you will probably like Dubliner. It's not a sharp as some aged cheddars I've had, but it is pleasantly sharp and nutty. It has a nice, tight curd and is dry--slightly flakey, but melts nicely in your mouth. Those Carbery folks do have a good sense of "mouthfeel". Even the white, which I gather is not aged as long as the "vintage" has a few calcium lactate crystals, which I just love encountering in an aged cheese.
Overall, Dubliner is a very nice mass-market cheese and a great snack cheese. This recipe for Guinness Dubliner cheese soup also sounds pretty good. So if you are in the local mega-mart and you want to grab some cheese without making a special trip to a cheese shop, I'd say Dubliner isn't a bad way to go at all!
Posted by Dave! Permalink | Comments (3)
February 15, 2007
Why I'll Never Do Business with LaSalle Flowers Again
I am never using LaSalle Flowers again. Which makes me sad because I used to love this shop. Here's why...
Each year for Valentine's Day, I get my wife a bunch of white tulips because she loves them and I love her. I always used to get my flowers from the LaSalle Flower shop in Chicago, because they have quality flowers and do an outstanding job with arrangements.
This year, I went in and placed my order a week before Valentine's Day. I wrote out a card. The shop let me know that they couldn't guarantee a delivery time, being Valentine's Day and all, which was fine with me, so long as the flowers were delivered on Valentine's Day. And while her office was open.
They weren't.
They were delivered at 5:02pm. Two minutes after her office closes. The deliver person did catch the receptionist and was able to squeeze them in. My wife had already left for the day. I'd picked her up myself at 4:55. We probably passed the delivery van on the road. On our way home, I called the shop to find out where the flowers were. They told me they would look into it and then never returned my call.
Now, I do understand it was Valentine's Day and they are super busy. I'm not trying to be unreasonable. But when you count on a business like this and they don't deliver, I think customer service demands stepping up to the plate.
The only thing the shop was willing to do to make amends in the situation was deliver the flowers to another location (i.e. pick them up at my wife's office and take them to our home) or take them back for a refund. Take back a bouquet of flowers from my wife??! Yes, they seriously suggested that as an option!
I buy, or rather, bought flowers from LaSalle Street on a regular basis. My wife always loves their arrangements. Unfortunately, after the employees and manager today were rude, unapologetic, and unwilling to give me any kind of credit for what was their mistake, I'm not buying flowers from them again.
It's about customer service. If they had returned my call in the first place and offered a credit of some kind, I'd be a really happy customer, writing a story about a great local business. Hell, even if they had just apologized profusely--I do understand it's a busy day for them. Instead, here I am, writing a warning to others not to patronize a business that clearly doesn't get customer service.
When I called again this morning, they were rude and completely unsympathetic. Do you know they didn't apologize to me once? Not the employee who took my call. Not the manager she handed me off to. A simple apology would have created a lot of good will. Instead, here's how my conversation with the manager ended today:
"So, you're telling me that even though I'm a loyal customer, and it was your mistake in not getting the flowers out on-time, there is absolutely nothing you're willing to do to make amends and keep my business?"
"That's right."
"I'm sorry I will never be doing business with your shop again."
Anyone know a good florist in Chicago?
Update: Oh. My. God. You are not going to believe this!! My wife was out of the office and she got a call from the receptionist... the shop sent someone to take back the flowers!! Unreal. I specifically told the manager this morning that we were keeping the flowers (and they already charged my card.) My wife told the receptionist to let them take them, at least she's pissed off at them, not me! Still, can you believe that??! Maybe they read this post and decided to retaliate. :)
Posted by Dave! Permalink | Comments (1)
February 8, 2007
Dear Canada
Thank you for the frigid blast of arctic air. We do not mean to seem ungrateful, but we find the sub-zero temperatures are not to our liking. With so many wonderful things to export, perhaps next year you might consider sending down national health care? Respectfully, Your Neighbor to the SouthPosted by Dave! Permalink
February 1, 2007
Fish gotta swim and hearts gotta bleed...
Molly Ivins passed away after battling cancer. Like many people, my first exposure to Ivins was with Bushwhacked which is a great book. I'd highly recommend checking out it and some of her others, as well. She had a great heart and great humor.Posted by Dave! Permalink