food for the boy scouts

Charity Dinner, part 3

Without much thought, I agreed that my husband and I would put on a charity dinner for the Boy Scouts.  Then I panicked.  Then I freaked out.  Then I formulated a plan.

I would beg and plead with everyone I knew in the food industry. I suspected I would have to trade my soul for the help, but I was willing, it’s for the Boy Scouts after all.

The Noho Bistro was kind enough to donate space for the dinner.  Now I need some food to cook.

I’ve been buying La Cense Beef for a while now. It’s beef that tastes like beef. New York Strips that are robust with deep flavor and Ribeyes that are fork tender. Awhile back I did a column for the Tribune all about glorious beef and where to buy it. Through this, I met Laura Baddish, La Cense Beefs PR rep. She and I hit it off instantly. We spent a good three hours just chit chatting over coffee while she was down for the Rum Festival (one of her clients was being represented). During our conversation, I mentioned the Boy Scout dinner. Without a hitch she asked, “Would you like La Cense to donate the beef for the Boy Scouts?”

I could have kissed her. Like clock work, Laura had 30 individually packaged petit sirloins at my doorstep the night before the dinner.

***

My husband spends the majority of his life in grocery stores (it’s a Personal Chef thing). Together, we have shopped at just about every grocery store in Tampa. One store, hands down, is the friendliest, the cleanest, the most efficient, and offers a great selection. Because of this, he shops at this store whenever possible.

Enter Publix Store #0582 at the corner of Habana and Hillsborough Ave.

Just to give you a glimpse as to how fantastic the people are at this store, the Produce Manager; David, takes his personal, company mandated break at the same time every morning just to take a customer (a little old lady who can not drive) to the hospital just down the road, so that she can visit with her terminally ill husband.

Okay, I know. You’re a little stunned. I was too. I didn’t even know people like that still existed! (And yes ladies, he has a girlfriend.)

Now top on that this store has amazing produce, an extremely helpful deli and bakery, a very fresh seafood counter, a great meat case selection, cashiers who smile and actually speak to you, managers who are helpful and visible at all times and the 15+ rows of everything else one may ever need. Have a special order item? No biggie, they handle it with a smile. Need a suggestion? Ask anyone. I have witnessed on several occasions, stock boys and girls, helping customers choose the right product. Yeah, they actually know and CARE what they are selling.

When I approached David about the charity dinner, with out a hick up he responded, “I’m sure Alex (the store manager) would be fine with it. It’s for the Boy Scouts.” James, the Assistant Store Manager came over. “Oh, I’m sure it will be fine. It’s for the Boy Scouts, right?”

Sure enough, Alex had no problem. “I’ll leave a message for David, what ever you need.”  These guys were so easy going about it that I wasn’t really sure they had even agreed.

Venue?  Check.

Food?  Check.

This is just going too well.  But I still need some wine.

To be continued…