Zingerman’s – Ann Arbor, MI by Patty

Saturday, September 1. As any University of Michigan grad can tell you, Zingerman’s is the place to go in Ann Arbor. Since I am one of those U of M grads, I tried to prepare my fellow bus passengers for what we were about to experience. But I don’t think they believed me until we walked in the front doors of Zingerman’s Deli. Because it was game day (the season opener for Michigan football, the outcome of which we will try to forget) and lots of students were still moving back to campus, it was kind of crazy. But it’s always kind of crazy at Zingerman’s on the weekends because it’s a really popular place.

We navigated the line and ordered some yummy sandwiches with help from Grace Singleton (pictured below right), a managing partner at the store. She sat with us while we ate and explained how the Zingerman’s philosophy – to provide their customers with full-flavored traditionally made foods – has resulted in the company using lots of local and organic ingredients because these are the foods that meet their high standards for taste. There were notes on the menu about where the meats, eggs, cheese, and veggies were from as well as enthusiastic descriptions of why these products made the cut and got on their menu.

With the slogan “You Really Can Taste The Difference” as their guide, Zingerman’s has grown from the deli that started in 1982 to the Zingerman’s Community of Businesses that employs more than 400 people and includes a mail order operation, a creamery (where they make cheese and gelato), a bakery, a coffee roaster, a coffee house, and a catering company. They even offer seminars to the public on how they do business and on topics like “the art of giving great service.”

I knew when I was a grad student in Ann Arbor that Zingerman’s was pretty cool but I had no idea that their commitment to high quality food would bring me back all these years later (especially as a passenger on a big green bus.)

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