Nightmare
Last week I went to Borders and found that the cafe had been taken over by Seattle's Best and was closed for some remodeling during the transition.
My first thought was, gosh dang it, they're closed. I can't have chai tonight.
My second thought was, oh no...what if they don't serve the chai I like anymore??
I only like Borders original chai. I don't like the chai at Starbucks, or Panera, or at Barnes and Noble, or Books-A-Million, or anywhere else I've ever tried it. They always put too much ginger in it (and this has been confirmed to me by a friend who has been to India and tasted authentic chai. She served me real, brewed chai in her house once, and it was so very much like Borders' chai I wanted to cry).
My fear is that Seattle's Best will not appreciate the distinction. I actually had a nightmare about it early this morning.
In my dream, I walked into Borders to find most of the cafe enclosed behind the counter (LESS SPACE, PEOPLE! Borders cafe has always been short on tables and space. This would only make the problem worse). I approached the counter and asked to sample their chai. There was no way I was going to pay good money for chai that could turn out to be swill. The barista handed me a cup and said "Let me know if you like it hotter."
Not only was it LUKEWARM, it had hardly any taste at all. No honey, no cardamom, no cinnamon. At least there was no ginger either, but that hardly helped matters. I said, "Yes, MUCH hotter, and MUCH stronger." I tried it again. It was crap.
I spoke to the manager and explained that my trips to Borders were how I spent my nights "off" from my kids, and that the chai formerly served was the main reason I came to the Borders coffee shop instead of somewhere else. I politely requested she contact the national office (or whatever...this was a dream, you know!) and ask them to look into the original Borders chai recipe.
Her reply? "Nobody liked that chai."
She called me a nobody. I was so indignant I promptly woke up.
In reality, the remodel should be finished by now. The new cafe opened yesterday, I think. I don't know when I'll have a chance to get up there. But I'm already feeling anxious.
My first thought was, gosh dang it, they're closed. I can't have chai tonight.
My second thought was, oh no...what if they don't serve the chai I like anymore??
I only like Borders original chai. I don't like the chai at Starbucks, or Panera, or at Barnes and Noble, or Books-A-Million, or anywhere else I've ever tried it. They always put too much ginger in it (and this has been confirmed to me by a friend who has been to India and tasted authentic chai. She served me real, brewed chai in her house once, and it was so very much like Borders' chai I wanted to cry).
My fear is that Seattle's Best will not appreciate the distinction. I actually had a nightmare about it early this morning.
In my dream, I walked into Borders to find most of the cafe enclosed behind the counter (LESS SPACE, PEOPLE! Borders cafe has always been short on tables and space. This would only make the problem worse). I approached the counter and asked to sample their chai. There was no way I was going to pay good money for chai that could turn out to be swill. The barista handed me a cup and said "Let me know if you like it hotter."
Not only was it LUKEWARM, it had hardly any taste at all. No honey, no cardamom, no cinnamon. At least there was no ginger either, but that hardly helped matters. I said, "Yes, MUCH hotter, and MUCH stronger." I tried it again. It was crap.
I spoke to the manager and explained that my trips to Borders were how I spent my nights "off" from my kids, and that the chai formerly served was the main reason I came to the Borders coffee shop instead of somewhere else. I politely requested she contact the national office (or whatever...this was a dream, you know!) and ask them to look into the original Borders chai recipe.
Her reply? "Nobody liked that chai."
She called me a nobody. I was so indignant I promptly woke up.
In reality, the remodel should be finished by now. The new cafe opened yesterday, I think. I don't know when I'll have a chance to get up there. But I'm already feeling anxious.
posted by Andrea | 6:44 AM
7 Comments:
Wow, wouldn't it be freaky if it all went down like that? At what point would you just lose it and go running out of the store screaming like a maniac? -)
I worry about little treats that I've come to depend on ceasing to exist. I mean, if the Pizza Hut Express ever leaves Target, I will have serious nightmares!
Hi! I'm here from kalki's. Just wanted to say that I am seriously craving a chai right now. I'm a coffee drinker and haven't had a chai in years, but I'm honestly wanting a tasty chai. I REALLY hope Seattle's Best does it right! Let us know!
I hope they have your Chai. Its a horrible feeling to go to a usual place, and then its NOT THERE!
I love Seattle's Best.
Shhhh don't tell Starbucks that I cheat on them.
oh man, what a true nightmare! anyway, i too am addicted to borders chai and am really bummed that borders does not have it anymore. i live in boston and i had a few cups earlier this year and bought a couple of the big cannisters to take home. little did i know that by summer "seattle's best" had taken it over. i went back to buy another few cans and they were no more!
have you had any luck finding it anywhere other than ebay? or maybe even a place that makes their chai even close to borders taste? i don't understand why they would discontinue such a great drink. all my friends love it too!
Eric, I have to confess that I've stopped looking. I've given up! And did you see my update on March 6? Other parts of this nightmare were eerily REAL.
When I go to Borders, I now just drink the caramel mocha. It's no chai, but it's the best they've got right now. I still think sometimes I'm going to write to Borders corporate HQ and tell them I am NOT pleased with their new cafe (besides the chai issue, they just have fewer choices period.)
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