Exceeding Expectations

This week I traveled to Cleveland for a building products show. Since it was only 6-ish hours away, I drove instead of flying. I tell people that anything within 7 hours I usually drive to because to fly it would be: 1 hour to the airport, 1 hour at the airport, 1 hour to Detroit, 1 hour in Detroit, 1 hour to Cleveland, and 1 hour to the hotel. This assumes 0 delays. HA!

While this travel timeline is true, I did have an ulterior motive for this road trip. The drive from Holland to Cleveland goes past Ann Arbor. While I am a Michigan fan, the real draw for me is Zingerman’s. So on the way home I made a 5 mile detour and stopped.

For the 15+ years I have been a fan of Zingerman’s, I always wonder if they will continue to meet my pretty high expectations. I am happy to report they exceeded my expectations once again.

As I wondered the deli while I waited for my sandwich (a vegetarian Rubin made with brined tempe), I was drawn to their tea section. I have just learned the papaya extract is one of the few things that can help your body build platelets. I couldn’t find any myself, so I asked. The first person to help found the second person. The second person found the third person. The third person went and found their actual tea buyer. No papaya tea. However, as I was picking up my sandwich, the tea buyer found me and gave me a place that I could find papaya tea online. There is zero benefit to Zingerman‘s when I buy from someone else. But I will go back and I’ll tell everyone I know about my experience. The tea buyer knows this. And that’s why he did it.

So, it was a great time in Cleveland. The drive (both directions) was easy and beautiful. Zingerman’s exceeded my expectations and the chocolate covered peanut brittle that I had after my vegetarian sandwich was not bad either. Ha!