Two Bakeries, One Street!
While walking between the two establishments, I wondered if La Chatelaine was concerned about the Paris competition. The aroma between these two establishments baking fresh bread and pastries nearly brought me to my knees. Two bakeries are never a bad thing.
I remember the nuance of going to La Chatelaine when it first opened with the ambiance of the café and the unbelievably unique fresh baked goods. It was impossible to choose between the layered chocolate cake with mouse and ganache, or the fresh fruit tart, or warm cherry pinwheel croissant. I wanted to dive headfirst into the dessert case. Being with my family at this place was as delightful as the food was delicious.
Those memories cannot be taken from me. And yet, I wanted to try the new café too, especially since it promised award-winning Italian coffee.
Upon entering the multi-story building, it wasn’t cozy, rather, it was open and bright, and I don’t hate that when I like to see what I am eating. The woman who waited on me gave me the maluch when I interrupted her conversation with a coworker. One sip of coffee hit my taste buds like an Italian Stallion punch. I opted against trying any food item. I wouldn’t say the experience brought me joy, outside of drooling over the mouthwatering pastries in the case.
While continuing my walk, I thought about the people who go to places or hold onto something or someone out of consistency or habit. And then I thought about the other people who love to try something new to add spice to life or perhaps are never satisfied or purely enjoy something different.
I am married to the first camp. He and his family prefer the same restaurants, hotels, narrow food categories, music, and vacation destinations. I have my feet in both camps but tend to be more in the second one. I love variety and trying anything new. One camp isn’t necessarily better than the other, but it does make me wonder why camp one members hold onto the same thing over and over and over. Is it holding onto a memory? Food, music, and travel all have their own embedded place in our soul, and I understand the desire to repeat a good experience. But I’ve never been able to do that. It is never the same experience twice. It’s never as good as the first time.
Admittedly, I have been disappointed in trying something new too. Yet, change and being different are inevitable and not all bad. Someone once told me “You’ve changed.” I tried to get greater clarification on exactly what she was referring to, but she couldn’t or wouldn’t name it. I said, “thank you, I hope so, because when we stop changing, we die.”
I don’t believe in sticking with the same anything just because that’s what I’ve always done or known. There are people who go to the same coffee shop, bookstore, vacation spot, church, restaurant …just because that’s what they’ve always done. I am not a “just because” kind of gal. My husband has his few favorite restaurants, fewer favorite foods, and even fewer favorite musicians. He listens to one musical artist 24/7. Not an exaggeration. In this moment, I am on a continuous loop of Bob Dylan, but he is totally new to me. And it’s his music from the 1960s that has enamored me with him as a lyrical genius and his music from the years when I first came into the world. It’s connecting with my genuine spirit and self.
Are you a tried-and-true kind of person or up for trying the new? I think there’s room for both.
Back to La Chatelaine being worried about the competition, they don’t need to be. And this leads to my current situation of a new competitor on the market with the drug I am selling. Our management is in a tizzy over how this new product will take away our market share and kill our business. But I am not worried. I believe there is enough difference between our two products and enough business to go around. Some people prefer proven and established products while others are willing to give it a go with shiny new drug. There isn’t one café best for everyone and there isn’t one drug best for everyone.
I believe in my product, and I believe change can be good, but more than anything, I believe choices
are even better.
