Read Online Chow Down by Laurien Berenson - Free Book Online Page A

There was no way I was going to be able to top these performances.
    â€œI’m Larry Kim and this is my wife, Lisa,” Larry said from the other end of the table. Lisa inclined her head slightly. “And this lovely Yorkshire Terrier you see in my arms is Yoda. Others have told you about their dogs’ lofty accomplishments. Of course I could do the same but instead I would rather get right to the point.
    â€œYoda loves to eat. Yes, she is a small dog, but don’t let her size fool you. This is a dog who always enjoys a good meal. We feed only Champions dog food in our kennel and Yoda was raised on it. She has been eating, and loving, Champions since she was a tiny puppy.”
    Approval wafted around the table like a smooth wave. The committee was lapping up this pitch.
    â€œRecently we were fortunate to receive some free samples. You should have seen Yoda dive right in. I barely had the bag open before she was begging for a morsel to eat.”
    Seated beside her husband, Lisa was nodding as he spoke. I wondered why she didn’t say anything herself. It occurred to me that she was the only one in the room who had yet to speak. Well, except for me.
    â€œLet’s be honest,” Larry said. “What you’re looking for is an adorable canine representative who loves your product and can sell it to others. Yoda is that dog.”
    Another top-notch appeal. As I listened to my fellow contestants speak, they had me half convinced to vote for them myself.
    â€œMelanie?” Doug turned to me. “What would you like us to know about Faith?”
    Oh right. My turn. Unfortunately I hadn’t prepared something to say like the rest of the participants clearly had. Now I needed something fast. Something fresh and catchy. A slogan. A sound-bite. An irresistible anecdote . . .
    And my mind was a total blank. I hate it when that happens.
    â€œUmm . . .” I said, “she’s a Standard Poodle.”
    Doug smiled encouragingly. Cindy nodded. Chris, waiting with fingers poised above his keyboard, was reserving judgment. As for Simone, she already looked bored.
    â€œThe thing about Poodles is . . . that they’re a terrific breed of dog. It’s true of Faith, but I can’t take too much credit because, really, it’s true of all of them. Poodles are just wonderful members of the family. They’re intelligent, they have a sense of humor, they’re empathetic. They’re the perfect pet.
    â€œWhatever their owner’s lifestyle, they adapt and fit right in. That’s why so many people have owned Poodles over the years. And why others have fond memories of the Poodles they knew when they were children. Poodles make people happy. They’re evocative of everything that’s good about owning a dog.”
    â€œI see,” said Cindy.
    I don’t think she really saw anything. I think she just wanted to stop my disjointed rambling. And it was probably just as well that she had.
    â€œYou know,” Chris said, “now that you mention it, our neighbors had a Poodle when I was little. Smaller than yours. A Mini, I think. His name was Chester and, man, that was some great dog. I bet plenty of people would see a Poodle in an ad and be drawn to it for just that reason. They might not even know why, but seeing a Poodle would make them feel good.”
    â€œSubliminal,” Simone said thoughtfully. “I like it.”
    â€œDefinitely something to consider,” Doug agreed.
    The other contestants shifted in their seats and regarded me with wary respect. Desperate for something to say, all I’d done was describe how great Poodles were to be around. It was the committee members who had taken my idea—or lack thereof—and run with it. Unexpectedly, it looked as though I’d pulled a rabbit out of a hat.
    Doug leaned forward and braced both his hands on the table. “Okay, now we know who we are and why we’re all here. Cindy and