Laura B.

Jerusalem Bakery & Grocery

Just getting within 100 feet of this small business, if the wind is going towards you, be prepared to salivate over amazing scents... and if it's your first (or second or third in my case) time there, be prepared to get a little extra something for stopping in (pistachio or cheese kollage, much like baklava, is often what they share with me, and it's GOOD STUFF, especially perfect if I've just had some spicy Ethiopian food across the shopping center at Abyssinia, for instance)...

Onto why I really go there... quality and prices, easy as that. I get great spices, perfectly textured pine nuts, and dish components like golden raisins there and come out happy and hungry with money still in my pocket. The curry they call hot... is HOT and not for the faint of heart--we're not talking Madras, we're talking mahmahmahmouthisonfire style. The cumin and coriander are pure and lovely. The best spice in terms of distinctly better than whole foods or the hugely overpriced stuff at A Southern Season... well, oddly enough, nutmeg. Seriously, smell it and you'll wonder who was adding extra stuff in there... no one. It's just that they didn't process out the lovely stuff and didn't let it sit in a factory for 5 years or, worse, let it get mixed with fillers and dirty messy dust in leaking bags being sent here there and many middlewheres. The color is nothing like other nutmegs because it is JUST nutmeg from the best region to source it. Their goods in cans and jars is just beautiful, and I've had NO problems with any of what I've purchased (even some stuff I had no idea what to do with until the workers explained to me that "this goes in rice for this dish" and so on. I've gotten wonderful dates, and I mean medjool, and... as others will hint you into, wow oh wow the pita bread there puts just about anyone else's to total shame!

Maybe what speaks loudest is this: I have to travel 80 minutes each way to go to Jerusalem Bakery for the aforementioned stuff... and a few times a year, I pay their rent for the month because it's totally worth it (and I live in a town of ~225K people, so it's not like we lack Jewish markets--we have more, actually... but the people at this one are so wonderful that it's well worth supporting them in their business endeavor. Well well worth it.

West Market Veterinary Hosp

The first time I had to take my cat (December 2005, then nearing 6 years old) to West Market Veterinary Hospital was because she was traveling and needed a health certificate. I chose them (since I had not lived in Greensboro very long and hadn't needed to take her to a vet for health or maintenance reasons) based a bit on location but even more on the cost-she's never been anything but frantic and panicky with vets since getting fixed as a kitten, so I dreaded it. Imagine the surprise when my cat is COOING at this doctor and chattering with him, letting him scratch her cheeks as he checks her teeth, stomach, etc. instead of hiding in his cabinets or running away. Maybe he rubs tuna juice perfume into his palms beforehand, but whatever his method is other than being calmer than the dog whisperer, it's very clear that Dr. Murray (who is the only vet I will take her to as long as I live within 50 miles of him) absolutely loves animals and is totally at ease with them. I found his prices were far more reasonable than many, and my scaredy cat is a definite testimony to his very gentle, compassionate nature.