in search of the mighty frog

I knew it was going to happen eventually, I just wasn't really prepared.. A few moments ago I read our first negative review.... I read the three lines over and over again, trying to put it all together. The sad thing is, the review sounded true.

The writer calls himself the mightyfrog, and I long to know who he/she is.. Most of the customers who come in are overwhelmingly supportive; big smiles and lots of praises, but occasionally I wonder just how honest some are especially when I know that something is amiss with the cook that day... Really, I just wish that people would tell us when they don't like their food. The other day, for example, a customer remarked that his food wasn't hot enough. I know now to pay closer attention to the temperature, and am thankful for his help in getting it right. This weekend a customer said that her roots were too dry; no problem, I swept them away and we made new ones, and tossed the whole pot that were of complaint.

I know that not every person is going to tell me exactly what I could do differently to make their meal more enjoyable (and I'm thankful for that), and, at the same time, it is hard to here criticisms second hand. Perhaps one of my biggest fears is finding out about my mistakes while standing in the check-out line at the co-op and overhearing someone talking bad about me or kismet..Or, like this weekend when I overheard a gentleman at a table say he would never come back again!!! Why???I wanted to know right away, and fix whatever was making him unhappy, and yet I had to let it go, he wasn't actually talking to me but to his friend at the table...

I thought if I wrote about this in this blog, I would feel better about the mightyfrog's unhappiness and negative (honest) review. I need for kismet to work. I need to know what our weaknesses are so that we can make it. I guess reading the reviews is one way, but the mightyfrog may never let me make it up to him, and in the meantime how many people will he influence from ever coming in?

well, that's the business I guess

because i love you

As valentine's day approaches, I suddenly feel festive again, and am having to stop myself back from turning everything into cute little presents.. I am tempted to turn the salt pink, cut beets into little heart shapes, stash chocolate in every one's pockets, and sprinkle flowers everywhere... When we opened Kismet, I thought that valentine's day would be our big day- with loads of customers stopping in for our yummy chocolates and fancy truffles, or treating their sweeties to a delicious and nourishing brunch after spending the morning in bed together... But now it seems like I haven't had nearly enough time to prepare.. This last week at kismet has been our busiest yet, and I am, at times, feeling like I am just cruising through the rapids of this whole endeavor. I notice the hour and a half it takes to temper the chocolate, where as just a month ago, it was a welcome meditation had in the silence of the early morning. The stress of doing everything by hand requires a sort of patience and concentration that sometimes means focusing on the quality rather than the quantity. This week, for example, we have about 3 dozen outrageously dense and dark chocolate truffles (meant to be sliced and shared), gluten free chocolate covered yummies and a few of our hard-to-describe salt and pepper chocolate bars. It may not be a full-scale valentine's effort, but this is all in addition to our regular artisan foods and everyday menu featuring our hand-made butters, crepes made with local flour, and brunch and lunch things accompanied by our handmade mustard, ketchup, paprika oil, dressings, fresh pressed juices, and all the other simply perfect creations we offer each day... I still am thinking about making a special rose flavored hot chocolate with pink whip cream and everything... The dandelion latte is perfect the way it is...but wouldn't pink sprinkles on top be cute?

Funny though how holidays (even Valentine's) have so many layers to them.. Whether you are celebrating someone else, or celebrating yourself, remember to believe in all things that are meant to be..Kismet is real...and like a little chocolate at the end of your meal, or a smile when you needed it most, kismet is all yours to enjoy..

Because i love you.

because i love you I will not torture myself to make you chocolate

i will make you chocolate when it feels good and when i am in love with every part of it

because i love you i will sleep well tonight

i will drink a glass of wine and dip cookies in milk and put my feet up

because i love you i will not spend money i do not have out of fear that i am not enough

i will believe in my prosperity by creating you gifts from the center of myself

because i love you, you will know where to find me

i will feed you

feed you full and to the brim with good food and clean water

because i love you i will not act carelessly

i will pay attention

because i love you i will not hide my whimsical pink sprinkles

my heart shaped beets,

my ridiculious heart balloons...