I realize it’s technically Saturday, but I got home late and since I haven’t gone to bed yet, I’m counting it as Friday night. The universe toyed with me today by making Friday feel like Monday. Fridays aren’t supposed to be overcast and rainy. There aren’t supposed to be Friday morning meetings that require a lot of preparation and getting up extra early to finish in time.
My planned reward for these Friday injustices was a chai tea latte from Panera. I’d say I love chai, but I don’t want to mislead you. I’m nothing if not accurate. I love the chai tea latte from Panera. I have tried chai from other places and they don’t do it for me. The chai at Starbucks, for example, tastes like dirty water with a slight hint of spice and a drop of liquid smoke. The chai at the overpriced little café in my building is cloyingly sweet and grainy. Panera’s chai, on the other hand, is creamy and delicately balanced between spicy and sweet. The fragrance is floral and intoxicating to me.
Like I’ve done hundreds of times before, I picked up a chai on the way to work, carefully carrying it on my long commute like a treasured prize, switching hands when the heat got too uncomfortable, guarding it against spills. As I finished my preparations, I looked forward to reheating and then nursing that chai during the meeting.
Panera had other ideas. Here is a picture of the abomination they gave me this morning. In retrospect, the girl who made my chai this morning was someone I’d never seen before and I didn’t watch her pour it into the cup today. The weight of it didn’t feel right as I carried it either. O Precious Chai, my meeting felt extra long without you.
Ooooh, that’s so gross looking. I would have been so bummed too. I wonder what could have possibly be done differently to get that end result. Send that pic to Panera, maybe they will promise a free do-over for you next week.
Yeah it baffled me too, since as far as I can tell, they just heat up a pre-made mix. If I hadn’t been going out that night, I totally would’ve saved it and carried it all the way back there on the way home, because I’m crazy like that.
Ewwww.
I know, right?!?
Nice !
Oh that’s terrible, but I couldn’t help laughing. It reminded me of a time when I was running late for an appointment and my usual 15 minute commute was already taking over an hour because of subway construction. The only thing that was keeping me calm was knowing that I had a yummy bacon, egg and cheese sandwich waiting for me in my purse. When I had a chance to unwrap it it was drenched in ketchup. YUK. And I specifically asked for no ketchup. Before I knew what I was doing, I threw the sandwich across the subway tracks in a fit of rage. Ketchup flew everywhere. Yes, I was that crazy lady on the subway. I hope you didn’t throw your chai across the office!
OK Tracy, now THAT’S funny. I don’t understand why you would even need to say no ketchup–is ketchup on an egg sandwich the default where you live? Ick.
I have a hot temper and have totally taken out my frustration on inanimate objects before. I didn’t throw my chai, but I was muttering “shit, shit, shit” just as the person running the meeting came over to find me (on top of the chai fiasco, I was also running late to the meeting), so now I’m that crazy person who talks to herself.
Tracy that is a horrendous let down! It is probably worse than waiting all that time and then with your mind and taste buds anticipating Chai you find hazelnut passing over your lips!
Hey JT! My husband hates flavored coffee and would be so annoyed if he got some by accident. I hate all coffee so that would have been a big let down too! I probably would’ve noticed that before leaving Panera though, from the scent (my chai actually smelled like chai). I can only hope next week goes more smoothly.
Well now, since I’m a coffee-lover, all I can share is a recent encounter with a “hair” floating in my DDonuts iced coffee. Since I always get a Coconut-flavored one, I never add a sweetener but…recently, when I plunged the straw through the unyielding plastic hole in the top, then took a sip, it was bitter.
So I opened it.
There…was a hair. Long, black and (gagggg)…curly.
Drove right back to DD where the counter person (dark brown hair) tried to tell me it was mine.
I did a dramatic hair-toss of my blonde tresses and asked for the Manager who simply said…”Sorry. This happens once in a while; would you like another?”
I passed…
By the way, big Congrats on Writer of the Week!!!
Oh Patty, hair in my food totally grosses me out! Although given the rate at which my hair falls out, I’m surprised I don’t find more hair in my food when I go out.
Thanks!
My condolences on a horrid Friday. Fridays are supposed to be easy and full of lollipop daydreams, not difficult and full of stress. I, too, have turned to my favorite comforting food items to help soothe the pain of a day, and I have also experienced the backlash.
I’ve spilled entire cups of patiently-waited-for coffee without having a sip, I’ve had ruined sandwiches, received the wrong order but don’t know it until I get back to my desk, etc. I really can sympathize.
I am not a tea lover by any means but I have had one or two decent cups of chai before. Panera is huge where I live and I may have to try it sometime, though the picture here doesn’t inspire confidence that it’s tasty. I hope you get your regular girl to mix you a good cup soon.
Zoe, you reminded me of the time I didn’t get a chance to eat lunch until around 4pm and my hands were shaking with hunger so much that I spilled 75% of my leftovers onto the floor. So in addition to not being able to eat, I had to take time to clean my office floor. Then I had to go forage for take out long after most lunch places near my office had closed. Bad tea is relatively easy!
I think some days I’m just supposed to stay home!
That looks disgusting! But the tag “heartbreaking disappointment” made me laugh right out loud….sorry!
What a week for you. I meant to stop in and say hooray for you….writer of the week at the Lightning and the Lightning Bug. Then I noticed that you are one of Mama Kat’s picks of the week too! Congratulations!
Thanks, May. It was quite the week!
It’s OK to laugh, I was sort of laughing at myself too! It’s funny how much you can look forward to something so simple.
We’re on vacation this week and there’s no Panera here. What I wouldn’t give for a (good) cup of their chai!
maybe that happened as a roadblock to addiction
Panera was just trying to be helpful!