When I decided to open my salad bar, I was thinking of what name I could call the place. How about Lettuce Entertain You… well that was too long. I decided on Ruffage.
You know what Ruffage is good for…lol..
I used to eat at a store that sold vitamins and had a small restaurant. When I say it was small…it was small. There was a counter and six stools. The lady behind the counter was a Filipino lady named Mina. I told her that I was opening my own place and I wanted her to come and help me. I told her I would double her salary.
My salad bar was around six feet long filled with all the salad fixings. We made our own salad dressing. Dijon Vinaigrette, and Ranch dressing made with fresh buttermilk ,chives and parsley.
All these veggies took a long time to chop. I had a client who owned a unique store. She came in one day with a box. She told me no one in LA had this product. It was called a Cuisinart.
This machine was amazing. You‘d change the blades and this Cuisinart could shred, slice, and dice whatever veggies you wanted. Back then they cost $500.00. Ms. L. Sold them to me wholesale. I sold twenty to thirty of these machines every week.
Once the word got around, it was crowded. People would get a tray then a white styrofoam plate and white plastic utensils. We made a vegetable soup that people could not get enough of. The soup consisted of vegetables that we had from the day before, Tomato juice , vegetable broth , and spices. Many of my clients would make a salad and take it back to work.
Three ladies came in and sat in the corner. I went and introduced myself. The lady in the middle said “I love this place and I heard that you lost weight. You must have a story to tell.” Her name was Chris Conrad. “I am the west coast editor of Warner books. You should write a book about your weight loss and the exercise s that you do.“
I let her know I was in the process of finishing the outline for the book. That was a little white lie. When I was in grammar school I lied to everyone and said my grandfather created the Simmons mattress empire. lol. Maybe you have told a little white lie too. lol
“Do you have a name for this book? Ms C asked me “ I said ”Yes, It is called Never Say Diet.” “Why don’t you come to my office next week and bring me the outline?”. I went home and began to work on the outline for the book. I worked for three nights putting all of my ideas on paper. I do not type… So I paid a friend to type the outline for me.
“I like all of your ideas” she said. “Give me your address and I am going to send you an advance check.” Three days later there was a check in my mailbox for $50,000. I called my mom Shirley and told her the advance that I got. “Mom what can I buy you?” She told me just put it in the bank.
Warner books hired a ghost writer named Suzy K. She liked the names of the chapters that I created, and helped me fill in the rest she thought was missing. The book had a healthy eating program, and page after page of me working out. I included face exercises.
When the book was finished I went to New York and met with the executives. When I got off of the elevator I went in and said hello to everyone in the offices. Then I went to meet the two big bosses. The first person I met was Nancy Neimans. She was sassy and extremely smart. She had one of those laughs that you could not help but laugh with her. The next person I met was Mark Greenberg. He was sophisticated and a very smart dresser. A month ago I got an email from Mr Greenberg’s son. He told me that his father would always come home and tell funny stories about me. To be continued…
