Friday, July 13, 2012

Callebaut

Future significant other, beware: I have high standards when it comes to chocolate. Giving me crappy chocolate is no way to my heart. 

Now that I've been raised in a family that has always frequented the shop of our professional chocolatier friend -- who has run a successful business for over twenty years handcrafting truffles and other products from the finest Belgian chocolate (not to mention liquors)-- I will probably forever decry anything but Callebaut. If you don't know what I'm talking about, I recommend looking it up. 

Sweet snobbery aside, working at that friend's chocolate and gelato shop this summer has been teaching me quite a few other tidbits of lifelong wisdom. 

For example, it is impossible to describe what a guava fruit tastes like, so don't even try. 

If you've made the choice not to consume ANY sugar, dairy, gluten, or nuts, a chocolate shop probably isn't the place for you to wander around complaining that your options are severely limited. 

If indecisive people are given too many choices to make, you may be standing there for a very long time.

People like to talk about themselves. And if you give them even the slightest chance, they will. 

Always be nice to salespeople. Berating them to the point of tears for not having your personal favorite variety of chocolate gelato on hand every single time you come into the store will not make you a favorite customer. If you are nice to them, however, they'll serve you generously. And maybe you'll even brighten their long day.

WARM HANDS MELT CHOCOLATE. 

Labeling things doesn't always help people identify what they're looking at. Hence why a customer might point to a tray of gelato designated "LEMON" flavor with a little tab and ask "What flavor is this?" It is best to maintain a neutral facial expression in these scenarios.  

Showing even benign interest in the details of what someone is selling to you makes their job much more pleasurable, and shows them that you care about the product they're preparing for you, which means you'll probably get a richer mocha or more luscious hot chocolate or more delightfully decorated slice of cheesecake out of the deal. 

Smile as much as possible. You have no idea how many people are visibly shocked to be smiled at and greeted warmly. So shocked that they'll leave a generous tip, enthusiastically smile themselves, and thank you profusely for doing a simple job that you would have done anyways. 

Don't let your children, if or when you have them, lick display cases. This is all at once unattractive, unsanitary, and inconsiderate. 

Tactfully sharing something about yourself with strangers will often open up impressively fulfilling conversations. 

Savor good things. Like good chocolate. 

And if you really want to impress a girl, give her the quality stuff. 


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