A time to talk: Columnists can sometimes change their minds

Mary Magee

guest columnist

As I pondered what to write for my April column, I was thinking along the lines of something light and fun. I’d been raving to my friends and family about a special kind of cream puff that I’d first eaten in Hawaii, so I thought that would be an entertaining topic.

I titled my column, “Cream puffs in Honolulu were the best I’ve ever tasted.” In it, I wished that one of its franchises would open in Gig Harbor, so I, and others, could indulge at any time.

One week after the column was published, my editor called and said there was a plate of cream puffs that had been brought there by Susanne’s Bakery and Deli, and he wanted me to hurry over and get some before they were all gone.

I knew the puffs had been delivered because of my column, and I was curious about the pastries, so I drove to the Gateway office.

On my way, I thought about all of the times I’ve frequented Susanne’s over the years. I love the location on that idyllic stretch of Harborview Drive, and have enjoyed many lunches there.

When I want to indulge in pastries, it’s the first place I think of to shop. I’m especially fond of their Strawberry Whipped Cream Cake, and I’ve had it many times on special occasions.

I had not, however, had the pleasure of tasting their cream puffs.

At the Gateway, I was shown to the refrigerator in the staff room, where a plate with several mini cream puffs awaited me. Plate in hand, I sat in my car, and — without further delay — ate the little treasures.

The cream puffs were delicious, tender pastries filled with custard and whipped cream and topped with a dollop of rich chocolate. I was duly impressed.

Clearly, Susanne’s cream puff offering was a very gracious way of letting me and the Gateway staff know there were excellent cream puffs available in my own community. I appreciated the gesture.

To show my appreciation, I drove to their establishment to thank them for enlightening me. I had a friendly exchange with Mike, one of the owners, during which I told him how scrumptious his cream puffs were, and he explained that he’d been making them in a variety of ways for many years.

During our conversation, a couple came into the shop and overheard me comment on how I liked the bakery’s strawberry cake. The woman said their cream puffs were especially good.

That led me to divulge that I was the person who’d written the cream puff column the week before. She said she’d written a letter to the editor in response, but it didn’t get published. I told her it might well be in the paper the next week.

Mike smiled at me and said my column had caused “quite a stir.”

The next week, a letter did appear citing my column and singing the praises of Susanne’s Bakery and Deli. The author, Bobbi Scott, pointed out that one doesn’t have to “look 3,000 miles away for a lip-smacking cream puff.”

The owners of Susanne’s are lucky to have such loyal customers, and I’m glad I’ve been informed that there are excellent cream puffs in my very own town.

In fact, I’m thinking I might make a habit of writing about great food and beverages I’ve had elsewhere, just to see what freebie offers I will get from my community.

The possibilities are endless! Let’s see: The best lemon drop martini I’ve ever tasted was in ...

A Time to Talk columnist Mary Magee can be reached by e-mail at marymagee@harbornet.com.