| Do you know the difference between a Super | | | | Soggy, lifeless little clumps of fried squid? |
| Bowl Champion and the runner up? Or a perfectly | | | | Absolutely NOT! |
| played piece of music and one that is not? | | | | It was a dish excellently prepared and very tasty. |
| Every team prepares to win, every orchestra | | | | Crispy and as fresh as the second it left the |
| practices to play. What is the difference between | | | | fryer, seasoned perfectly. |
| the two, Winner and Loser, Great Performance | | | | However, the one little detail, the one little piece |
| and Money Back Guarantee? (Could you imagine a | | | | of information you need to make this story |
| world class orchestra with a money back | | | | relative to you is this. |
| guarantee on their handbill? Laughable) | | | | The container the Calamari came home in.....was |
| Is it size in the case of the football team? Nope. | | | | modified. |
| You could line both teams in exactly the same | | | | Right now you might be thinking "I read this far, |
| uniforms and find a match in size and strength for | | | | this much of the story for this?" |
| every possible scenario. It is what the coaches do | | | | Yep. |
| all game long. | | | | That modification is the small attention to detail |
| Is it the instruments in the case of the orchestra? | | | | that made the difference. |
| Nope. Every single member of the orchestra has | | | | Joey knew that if he sent the carefully prepared |
| an instrument that they know and can play | | | | Calamari home in the wrong container that did not |
| because they have been using it for years. | | | | allow steam to escape, well, lets say that it would |
| So what is it? What is the factor between hearing | | | | have turned into lifeless, tasteless ball of mushy |
| a wonderfully played selection and cats in heat? | | | | squid. |
| Or the winning kick in the waning seconds and | | | | Instead, when we opened that happy little |
| defeat? | | | | container, we found Calamari Fritti. |
| I call it the "Calamari Theory." | | | | Joey knew that in order for his CUSTOMER to |
| My wife and I enjoy good food and good wine. | | | | enjoy the freshest, tastiest dish he could prepare |
| She has worked in the restaurant business as a | | | | he needed to do something to ensure that what |
| Professional for the better part of her life and we | | | | the CUSTOMER took home was exactly how he |
| have lived and dined on different continents in | | | | prepared it and intended it to be eaten. |
| different countries. Like you, we have a definition | | | | He needed to CARE enough. |
| of what is a "good, better, best" meal. | | | | He needed the KNOWLEDGE to know the |
| We frequent a family owned Italian restaurant not | | | | difference between the right way and the wrong |
| far from our home and are constantly ordering | | | | way. |
| take out to supplement what we have prepared | | | | He needed to TAKE ACTION after he |
| for dinner. And it so happens that one of our | | | | determined what he needed to do so his |
| favorites is a dish called Calamari Fritti. It comes | | | | CUSTOMERS could take home the exact same |
| with a side of dipping sauce and is quite delicious | | | | dish as if you had ordered it sitting down in his |
| (especially paired with a nice wine). If you have | | | | restaurant. |
| ever had it prepared properly, you know that | | | | He had to DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT! |
| there is a big difference between "good, better | | | | His ATTENTION TO DETAIL is the reason my |
| and best" especially in Calamari. | | | | wife and I spend a small fortune there on a |
| Recently we phoned in an order and I went to | | | | monthly basis and in fact the last time we actually |
| pick it up. While waiting for it to be bagged, I | | | | went in and had a sit down dinner, I spent enough |
| made small talk with the owner who also happens | | | | to finance the Pinta, the Nina, and the Santa Maria. |
| to be the chef. Joey is a professional chef and his | | | | I TELL ALL MY FRIENDS what a great place it is |
| dishes not only look and smell fantastic, they are | | | | to eat and all of my family dine there on a regular |
| really, really good. | | | | basis. |
| He takes great pride in his restaurant. The staff | | | | ARE YOU GETTING THE PICTURE? |
| are a reflection of his professionalism and are well | | | | It was his overall professionalism coupled with |
| trained.. Being a family owned restaurant, you get | | | | knowledge, attitude and caring that has made his |
| to know the people, including his wife, who is the | | | | restaurant a success in hard times. |
| maestro directing the wand behind the success. | | | | Do you want to hear how he changed the |
| I made it home with the Calamari safely secured | | | | container? What he modified? How he overcame |
| in the bag. I opened the door and the table was | | | | one small challenge? Used his knowledge and |
| prepared and beckoning. The wine was opened, | | | | thinking? |
| breathing comfortably, the cheese was resting | | | | He tore a small hole along the edge of the top of |
| awaiting its masticated fate, the bread with the | | | | the container allowing the steam to escape. |
| olive oil and balsamic was ready for dipping, in | | | | And that is the difference between the Super |
| fact, it was a perfect setting for a happy little | | | | Bowl winner and loser, the difference between a |
| fete. | | | | finely played piece of music and cacophony, the |
| I presented my package and its contents to my | | | | difference between a great meal and industrially |
| bride, and we both took in a breath of delicious | | | | prepared bag food. |
| Calamari air when we opened the brown paper | | | | So, Mr. or Ms. Service Professional, what are you |
| bag that had carried the contents to its destiny at | | | | going to do different? How knowledgeable are |
| my table. | | | | you? How caring are you? How is your attitude |
| We eagerly peeled back the paper cover on the | | | | for 2010? |
| aluminum pan and guess what we found. | | | | |