Half Cut Grapes - One of the 1%'s

After we opened the doors in August 2009 we started to recognise two gentleman who came in virtually every weekday, sometimes up to two or three times in a day. Breakfast, lunch, snacks, coffee. Impeccably dressed, very well-mannered and very good friends, they worked in the design industry in the local area.

If you ever worked at Great Titchfield street over the years you will probably remember Dave and Bertie. They have moved out of Fitzrovia now, which we and they are not too happy about, but they still pop in now and then and it is a pleasure to see them.

Dave in particular loves our fruit salad. We only make a certain amount each morning, so once it is gone it is gone, but a frozen 10oz glass filled with fresh fruit salad is a perfect way to start the day. We usually make it with strawberries, green and purple grapes, pineapple, pomegranate seeds and mango and when in season you may find peaches, plums or blueberries too. It is seriously delicious and very popular. Dave likes his plain but we also offer yoghurt or paleo granola with it if that takes your fancy.

One day back in 2014 I saw them both in store and I said ‘Can I ask you? Is there anything at all that we can make better?’ Dave says ‘You know the grapes in the fruit salad? They are very hard to eat with a fork, they often bounce out of the glass. Can you cut them in half maybe?’

(Have you ever tried to stick a fork into a grape whilst it is in a fruit salad in a glass? It’s pretty hard)

I went down to the kitchen and spoke to Chef Khan with our idea. ‘Yes of course, we can do that’.

From that day on, when we make our fruit salad each morning in our own kitchens, the chefs will take the time to cut the grapes into halves, making it so much easier to eat with the small cake fork that we provide.

I often wonder do today’s customers realise that the grapes are cut in half when they have a fruit salad? Might they know the reason why? Or do they just eat it and enjoy it. It certainly makes for a much more pleasurable dining experience.

One of the best managers I ever worked for taught me that in order to be perfect you need to focus on the 1%’s. The small details. It is a lesson and an ethos that we use every day. Even down to the grapes.

Because if having a delicious fruit salad where you do not lose half your grapes over the side makes even just a small part of your day, then we’re happy.

Half cut grapes – who knew?