Super Suppers

At first, I was really impressed with Super Suppers. They made a huge donation of dinners to the American Cancer Society, their staff was helpful, the menu items were awesome and the concept was amazing.

They have a punch card- 12 full meals (serves 4-6) or 24 half-meals for a very reasonable price- far, far less than you would pay buying that much in groceries!

I used to go with my daughter to fix meals which we could freeze and use later, or just to fix something a little different without having to do all the shopping and prep work, and work at learning an unfamiliar dish. All of the ingredients are fresh and ready to go, the directions are easy to follow, and the end result is always flawless and delicious.

My girl was well-behaved (or we would leave and she didn't want that.) She enjoyed it more than I did. We made braided pizza breads, coconut encrusted tilapia, bbq pork ribs, chow meins, swedish meatballs, stuffed shells- the menu is ever changing.

I was their biggest cheerleader. I brought in at least 5 of my girlfriends to get stamp cards and to bring their kids to make meals.

One time ruined it, however. The manager was out and the girl running the front was more intrusive than helpful- part of the fun is that we get to do it ourselves and she couldn't quite get it through that we really just wanted to muddle through and do it in our usual perfectly imperfect way. We felt rushed.

There were other families with children there at the time so I understand how this might've been stressful for the staff.

However, I received an email from the group leader who had initially introduced us to Super Suppers saying that the store manager had contacted her with information that the girl from that night had given to him: That MY daughter had been running loose the whole evening and it would be best if I didn't bring her back again.

My daughter had left my side once, to return a bowl to the dirty-dishes window, and had come right back to me, so I knew it was a case of mistaken identity. They'd mixed us up with a family whose children were really all over the place.

However- that the manager couldn't contact me directly and that there was so much drama attached was just too much. It embarrassed me in front of my friends and completely killed an activity that we had both loved. We'd been regulars and knew all of the staff by name, and them us. They should have known better on all counts.

They have a new rule that kids under 12 are not welcome "for health reasons." I can't say I'll be back when my daughter turns 12 anyway.