PENMART01 wrote:
> Anyone else take a gander at the cover of Penzeys Holiday 2004 catalog, the one
> supposedly depicting a Thanksgiving turkey dinner... am I the only one who
> thinks that's the saddest/sorriest looking plate of food, what an awful
> presentation... all that white-ish food on a white plate too (must be
> Norwegian), couldn't even afford a measly sprig of parsley. Just look at that
> turkey (guessing it's turkey - actually looks more like over done pork), looks
> like really dried out scraps that were hacked with the dullest of knives...
> potatoes look lumpy, and the dressing, if that's what it is, looks exactly like
> the hairball vomit my cats cough up... don't even want to mention that the
> gravy looks more beefy than turkey, and well congealed. That plate of food
> sure doesn't look very appetizing, makes me feel like forgoing the turkey thing
> this year and having a ham sandwich instead. I'd love to know who they paid to
> cook that meal, I'd fire the kitchen fraud on the spot, along with whoever did
> the hiring.
>
> On another MORE SERIOUS topic; a few days ago I placed an order to Penzeys, not
> very much stuff, only five items... a pound of peppercorns, 8oz msg, 4oz
> oregano, 4oz marjoram, and 4oz bay leaves. Immediately upon opening the
> package I knew instinctively that something was wrong, all I could smell was
> cardboard, there wasn't even a hint of spice aroma. As soon as I looked at the
> big bag of bay leaves I was very disappointed, they were kinda brown and very
> broken, not just a few broken leaves, but I'd guess about 30% were broken, and
> not just a piece broken off here and there but lots of itty-bitty slivers.
> These are the worst bay leaves I've ever seen, looks like a herd of elephants
> trod all over them, but the box arrived in perfect shape and well padded.
> Perhaps not many order so large an amount of bay leaves so these are really old
> and well handled. In fact the order taker kinda admonished me by asking in a
> rather stern tone if I had any idea how many bay leaves are in 4ozs... yeah,
> must be a friggin' million of em I thought to myself... right there I missed
> the clue not to order large quantities of anything from Penzeys... most orders
> are from cheapo *******s who typically order the smallest [sampler] size, so
> the bulk sizes get no turnover, they sit around 'bout forever.
>
> My next disappointment was the marjoram, it's more dust than leaves... but the
> worst part (or the best part, depending on point of view), upon closer
> examination I noticed something thin, long, and white inside the bag
> intertwined with the marjoram, and then upon even closer scrutiny it hit me,
> yup, sure looks like the twisted string from a tampon.
>
> I didn't open the bags. Was too late to call yesterday so this morning I
> called Penzeys to complain. Naturally they will replace the items (figured
> they would) and they will include a remailer so I can send back the products in
> question... I guess they'd rather I didn't destroy the evidence. But now I am
> very nervous about using Penzeys products... I mean I can actually see the
> tampon string but what else is in there that I can't see? Reminds me why I
> grind my own meat... do I need to grow *all* my own herbs too?
>
> I also for about the umpteenth time suggested that Penzeys date stamp their
> products, and for the umpteenth time my suggestion was met with defensive
> indignance. I suppose a date stamp is pretty meaningless anyway, who knows at
> what point the product would be dated.
>
> I am among Penzeys very first customers, from since long before they had a
> retail store, a website or even a real catalog, for about ten years now... and
> have always in the past did my best to give them good press, especially here on
> rfc. But I can no longer in good conscience recommend Penzeys... I suppose
> success has gone to their heads, they are way too busy counting long green
> instead of ensuring the green of their products. I don't know if that is
> really a tampon string but it sure looks like one, and there definitely should
> not be any kind of string chopped up in a bag of marjoram.
>
> Also, I re-examined the oregano this morning, better light now (it was dark out
> last evening when I opened the carton so only had artificial light). Last
> evening I simply tossed the unopened oregano bag into the freezer as I still
> had some in my spice bottle. Upon closer examination this morning the oregano
> looks kinda brown and very dusty, like floor sweepings. I will be calling
> Penzeys back momentarily to tell them about the oregano too.
>
> The peppercons look okay, they're the special extra bold, expensive ones. The
> msg looks okay too, simply white powder.
>
> But now I'm ascared, very ascared... I'm thinking maybe I should tell Penseys
> not to replace anything, that I will be returning my order and they can credit
> my Visa. I don't know what I'll do yet, I'll wait to see what kind of
> replacements they send. I hope they haven't become so full of themselves with
> all their growth that they turn away repeat customers and kill a good thing.
>
>
> ---= BOYCOTT FRANCE (belgium) GERMANY--SPAIN =---
> ---= Move UNITED NATIONS To Paris =---
> *********
> "Life would be devoid of all meaning were it without tribulation."
> Sheldon
> ````````````
Say Sheldon, did you find any rodent feces as well ; )
Some time ago, I nearly was decapitated by the NG, by stating that I
found Penzeys expensive. I still consider them expensive, and continue
to buy my spices (carefully inspected of course,) from my wholesale sources.
Rich
--
"Dum Spiro, Spero."
As long as I breath, I hope.
Cicero (Ancient Rome)
ø¤°`°¤ø,¸¸¸,ø¤°`°¤ø,¸¸¸,ø¤°`°¤ø,¸¸,ø¤°`°¤ø,¸¸¸,ø¤° `°¤ø,¸¸,ø¤°`°¤ø
><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·.¸. ><((((º> ·´¯`·. , .·´¯`·.. ><((((º>
Let there be fish!!!
|