April 19, 2006
Pam the Butcher, Cheese Doyenne
Pam the Butcher has dropped the moniker for the moment. After a lifetime of working with meat, Pam Ginsberg has laid down her cleaver to set up camp as cheese maven at Bowers' Fancy Dairy Products in Eastern Market. Despite a bumpy transition, Ginsberg is content in her new residency across from her father's former butcher’s stall in South Hall.
Pam's status as one of Northwest's best butchers was established long before press accolades in DCist and the Washington Post Magazine. "She walks down Connecticut Avenue and she's like a rock star," said one resident. Yet the Post's profile, in particular, upset Brookville owner Mike Shirgia, since it did not mention the market beyond the headline. "I'm so mad at you for being in the Post Magazine," paraphrased Pam of her boss' response. Shirgia requested that she stay home from work for awhile, or at least long enough to "calm down" after feeling slighted.
"I couldn't wait," Ginsberg said, about the unwelcome vacation. "I needed to get paid." In the meantime, customers and friends called to congratulate her on the profile, the Bowers among them. "They were friends with my parents," she said. "And I was straight up with them about being fired from Brookville." Next thing she knew, the Bowers were asking her to work for them. The following day, Ginsberg packed up her cards, letters, and carving accoutrements and relocated to her new haunt on the Hill.
Though she misses meat, working with cheese isn't far out of Pam's realm. Her unofficial status as a gourmet extraordinaire -- as noted on her business card -- has led Ginsberg to acquire expertise in anything from tri-tip roasts to truffles to Taleggio. And others are open to her suggestions, “Everyone is willing to try something new when it comes to cheese. Right now, it’s a nice cave aged gruyere and a naked goat cheese from Spain."
There are other facets of her new gig that she appreciates, as well. "I have a life," Ginsberg said of her shorter work day at Bowers. "It's interesting how things work," she mused. "Sometimes, to start something new, you have to go back to your roots." With her food expertise and her knack for pleasing customers, Eastern Market will surely welcome her home.
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Melissa - your first link isn't working.
Fixed
What did the Brookville guy want? Did he expect her to say that working at Brookville, what with its hand lettered signs and great location, defines her very existence? Asshat. That profile gave the market all kinds of publicity.
I'm glad she's moved over to the Hill where the Bowers' will treat her right. Sign me up for some fresh feta and d'affinois.
I am very sad that she is no longer in Cleveland Park, but I do wish her all the best on the Hill.
The management at Brookeville should be ashamed of themselves. She will be very hard, if not impossible to replace.
I went to visit Pam today in her new digs, sampled some cheese and catch up on her news. I haven't seen Pam this happy in, well, ever. I'll miss her terribly, but this was probably the best thing to have happened.
If you haven't been to Eastern Market in a while now is a perfect time to go. Her schedule is pretty steady Wednesday thru Sunday.
the only thing i think of when i see "doyenne" is the cheap seats episode on one of the spelling bees (i think the rebecca sealfon one) ... where an exceedingly nerdy and overly confident kid screwed up the spelling ... the look of horror on his face when he got dinged was priceless
mmmmmm. Cheeese.
Shout out to Pam and best of luck at the new gig. You're clear across town now but we'll make the trek (and decrease our visits to Brookville) given the news.
Have to say we're sad that our holiday roasts and nightly grills will surely be a lot less yummy without your excellent tutorials but so happy to hear you're happier and know your cheese recommendations will add a new flavor to our lives.
Must say I feel like a shlep for not being more vocal to B'ville mgmt in the past about how valued you were. Wish you all the best in a new role where you are respected and rewarded and hope it's a great gig.
Only reason most people went to Brookville was because of Pam. Good for her getting a new job. Good thing I read this because I was about to head over there and pick up some food from her.
Speaking of cheese, does anyone know anything about this Cowgirl Creamery that's moving into the space next to Central Liquor?
Cowboy Creamery is fantastic; if you've been to the one in the SF ferry building, you likely agree. The owners are from the area and are opening a branch here. Adam called a couple of weeks ago to find out the date of its opening, but they hadn't decided yet.
Ditto on Cowgirl Creamery. It is fantastic in SF's Ferry Building and they also have a mail order service that we've loved. Does anyone know if there are grander plans given their arrival next to Central Liquor? Is there a planned little gourmet strip or something like the Ferry Terminal or is Cowgirl just going it solo?
To all you Pam supporters I hate to burst your bubble: The Brookville deli was one of the filthest places in the city to eat from. What a nasty mess! Didn't any of you notice how filthy the butcher and the dept.was day after day? Didn't any of you notice that the same food was in the case two or three days in a row? The dept. looked more like a shrine to Pam instead of a working deli. I know many of you received the "Pam" discount so you are probably not a happy bunch but for most Brookville customers she and her deli should have parted long ago. I am sure she hasn't told you all the reasons for her dismissal and conduct that caused it.
This will give Brookville Market an opportunity to organize, clean, and to keep their profit from a good deli.
Hard working she was not but hard to get along with she was....ask any employee! I guarentee the next business she works for she won't last, they won't put up with her bullying or hang overs! Bower's take heed!
Come PJ do you really believe that most people went to Brookville because of Pam? She drove twice as many customers away as she attracted! She is truly one of the crudest people I have ever encountered in the food business. It is good she moved on. Now they can clean up the deli, sell fresh food, and I am sure make a profit! You have to be blind if you didn't see the mess she made of things.
Mgt. respected her ( although they shouldn't have)was very good to her more than she deserved. Now she is someone else's liabilty and I mean that with a capital L. Most companies would have sent her packing a long time ago.