Blue Marker

Mon, Feb 18, 2013 : 9:38 p.m.

Wow, it's just a line from Step Brothers....no need to neg.

DBH

Mon, Feb 18, 2013 : 3:49 p.m.

I think you are mistaking the traits you describe for confidence.

Bob Needham

Mon, Feb 18, 2013 : 2:55 p.m.

I'm a little surprised to hear you say this. I find his TV presence to be pretty low-key and likable -- quite a contrast with Guy Fieri or Emeril Lagasse

KateT

Tue, Feb 19, 2013 : 5:10 a.m.

We get some corned beef and some rye from the deli about once a year as a treat. It is expensive! As for the Roadhouse, Goober, you hit the nail on the head there. I used to go once a year or so, with UM professors and a dean! Okay, maybe they are not exactly the 1 % crowd, but the UM professors are among the local elite. I feel slightly better knowing that they have this Thrive-able wage policy.

longtime AA

Mon, Feb 18, 2013 : 9:43 p.m.

Kind of reminds me of the Yogi Berra restaurant comment: "No one goes there anymore--its too crowded." In this case, "No one else goes..." This of course explains why there are always lines and Zingerman's just expanded. Maybe not everyone can eat there every day, but they can have a great dining experience. By the way, can someone order me a #13 on rye? Thanks!

ThinkingOne

Mon, Feb 18, 2013 : 5:13 p.m.

Goober If you think that UM professors are generally the 1%-ers, you are off base. As found on Wikipedia, citing CNN & the New York Times, the average income of the top1% in 2009 was $960,000. If only the 1%-ers ate at Zingerman's, they would have gone belly up years ago. And if you never go anywhere to eat just because the food is better (and more costly) than what you eat every day, day in and day out, then you are missing out.

eom

Mon, Feb 18, 2013 : 4:04 p.m.

Nicholas Urfe, you hit the nail on the head. I don't eat at Zingerman's every week...but when it's time to enjoy a delicious sandwich, using all of the best ingredients...I hit Zingerman's. The fast food chains cost a lot more - as you said...$7 for one, crappy, bad for you meal...or $14 for an amazing meal with quality ingredients that you get to enjoy twice.

Bob Needham

Mon, Feb 18, 2013 : 2:53 p.m.

There was some interesting discussion about prices in the comments on this story: http://www.annarbor.com/news/zingermans-co-founder-weve-got-a-longterm-vision-and-were-not-going-anywhere/

seldon

Mon, Feb 18, 2013 : 2:38 p.m.

Plus, few UM profs are in the 1%.

Nicholas Urfe

Mon, Feb 18, 2013 : 2:18 p.m.

@Goober: "He has the money to eat at Zingerman's. No one else goes - oh, except the UM professors, deans, Mary Sue, etc. - the 1%-ers." How incredibly dramatic, and out of touch with the prices at any restaurant. You don't have to be in "the 1%" to eat out. It is all a question of where you choose to spend those dollars when you do. I don't eat there, but I recall that mcdonalds combos are pushing $7. Making a $14 Zingerman's sandwich last two meals would be so much more satisfying. Just making that comparison is comical, because you couldn't pay me to eat the mcdonalds. Subway? I recall a lot of subs are $7+. A lot of their meat has pink slime, and textured random mechanically separated meat bits that are pressed into solids, bound together with proteins, and then sliced to look like whole meat. A couple of chicago dogs, a cheese fry, and a soda at Rays Red Hots will set you back $12+. So I don't think a $13 sandwich at Zingermans is 1% territory. It's just where you choose to eat when you go out. I can't tell you how many times I've had food at a restaurant that cost nearly as much as a Zingerman's pastrami reuben and thought "man, this is really medicore and cost nearly as much as heaven". The fact is, you can't use the quality, no-compromise ingredients Zingerman's uses and not charge similar prices. It's very, very hard to even find pastrami that good. And you'll probably need to buy the bread from Zingermans, because there just aren't other sources unless you bake your own - with significant expertise. But hey, whatever floats your boat.

seldon

Mon, Feb 18, 2013 : 2:38 p.m.

OK, so what kind of defective would vote me down for saying that Guy Fieri claims to have been a chef? Right on his show, he's done this. "I've held every job in the kitchen," he says.

seldon

Mon, Feb 18, 2013 : 1:32 p.m.

I think he claims to have been one.

Jack Gladney

Mon, Feb 18, 2013 : 1 p.m.

Guy Fieri has never claimed to be a chef. He is the owner of several nationally known restaurants.

seldon

Mon, Feb 18, 2013 : 1:31 p.m.

I disagree with you about Roadhouse (there's some great food there), but my main point was that Mario eats there too.

Janis

Mon, Feb 18, 2013 : 12:58 p.m.

If he's as food savvy as he seems, he'll stay away from the overrated and just "meh" Roadhouse.

seldon

Mon, Feb 18, 2013 : 5:19 a.m.

Maybe he asked Mario for tips before coming here. If he did, he'll hit Zingerman's Roadhouse too.