illness

More information on Binny’s takeover of Sam’s…..  Time will tell how the consumers of Illinois will fare …

Many of you have written and called us in the few days since we acquired Sam’s asking about your unredeemed reward certificates and birthday coupons. In the spirit of our new beginning together, and out of respect for Sam’s old customers, Binny’s will honor Sam’s rewards certificates and birthday offers through Nov. 15, 2009. This limited time offer is valid at Sam’s former locations in Lincoln Park and Downers Grove, and all previously stated exclusions and expiration dates still apply. We’re also happy to announce that effective immediately we can now accept all valid Sam’s gift cards.

Questions have been pouring in (no pun intended) on the Binny’s Card. Signing up is quick, easy and very rewarding and can be done at any of our 24 Chicagoland locations. Benefits include a two percent rebate on wine purchases, a five percent discount on mixed case purchases and special email discounts and offers (including our much-anticipated 15 percent off everything in stock coupons). Visit a Binny’s near you for details.

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Kevin and I had a lovely conversation about how taste is influenced by smell. Now, I know this obvious from a basic understanding of gustation.

Why is this important?

Well first off, everyone here, at our house has a cold, except Kevin.

Second off, as the only person in the house with a full set of taste buds, Kevin has the ability to do something that the rest of us can only hope for…

Screw with our heads. Or as the only other adult person in the house… just my head.

Why?

When you have a limited palate due to physiology or illness, you are vulnerable to the whims of a goofball. They can make suggestions about what you are tasting. And that suggestion alone can inform your taste.

Case in point?

We are drinking the Gaetano D’Aquino Pinot Grigio in full flush out of the 42^oF out of the Kevin-a-tor. Kevin turns to me and says, “Wow! Is it just me? Or does this wine taste like circus peanuts?” Oh and by circus peanuts he referred to the crappy spongy, marshmallowy candy, not salted, roasted peanuts.

The problem is… as much as I tried to resist thinking it? I couldn’t help tasting circus peanuts. At least for a moment.

And then I remembered. I have had this wine before. I have NEVER tasted circus peanuts in my prior tastings. As I recall, it is exceptionally acidic and crisp (which is probably the same thing) fully of the sourest of Granny Smith apples (an Australian varietal, I would like to add for no other reason than that I know it. Yes. I am a know it all)

When I thought about it. I could taste the things that I remembered.

Now I would like to say that my taste was influenced by cold (if this is what you can call this fresh hell that prevents me from breathing properly). But the reality is when I remembered what I had tasted before? I tasted those things…. in a muted fashion… but I DID taste them.

The reality is influence is important. Which means you should take a moment to consider who you are getting your opinion from. Do you trust their opinion? Do they have tastes similar to yours? If not. Ignore them. They might influence your opinion in a negative way.

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