“Secret” things you ask for in shops

[PantTwizzler]

I realised today in Clarks (while buying shoes for DD who had bare feet necessitating asking for their pop socks) that there are some things you can ask for in shops that aren’t advertised but are available. Pop socks is a boring example because they’d probably offer anyway, but there’s also
— garlic oil in Pizza Express
— getting your cappuccino “extra hot”

Ok it’s a short list. Is there anything else?!

In Pizza Express, you can order pizzas which no longer appear on their printed menus. I quite regularly have a Soho (rocket and Parmesan), which I think has been officially off-menu for quite some time.

@twilightcafe than you so much for those recipes. I’m like 🤤🤤🤤. Can’t wait to give them a try x

@Intothe Re: trouser hangers... If you have those non slip velour kind you can get the coordinating clips from ebay to slot on :)

Slightly off topic, but I remember travelling home through a tiny, off the beaten track village in Norfolk and stopping at the local post office/village stores to get something for tea. I had some strawberries at home, and wanted some cream to go with them, but I couldn't see any in the chiller cabinet, so I asked the very sweet lady behind the till if she had any.

She ducked down behind the counter, emerged with a chipped enamel washing up bowl full to the brim with rich, golden clotted cream, plonked it in front of me and said, "How much would you like?"

Oh, the temptation to tell her to just bung the bowl in a carrier bag...

It was the best clotted cream I'd ever tasted, too.

Not getting all this coffee talk. I have an espresso machine. I warm the glass cup with boiling water first then tip it and then I put the espresso in, espresso is made using not too hot water to get max strength, then I top it up with very hot, but not boiling, milk.

Perfect, a hot, strong, flat white.

Tell me someone how that is wrong?

The ones I recall had brown shiny edging and a swirl pattern around the edge (I think, haven't seen one for years!) They were a decent size too. My Mum had some of these, and that's going back about 50 years!

Oh and I frequently ask (smiling sweetly) whether they can do me a certain a pizza or curry that isn’t too out of the ordinary but isn’t on the menu. Never refused.

At Leon the chicken and chorizo wrap is no longer on the menu but you can still order it (and wait 5 minutes).

There's a free creche at IKEA.

Well staffed and superb equipped, you get 1h child free. I often just sit and have coffee (also free*) for an hour, my daughter loves it in there!

• If you have a friends and family card, tea and coffee is also free weekdays.

In Pret I’ve worked out that if you have to wait for something you are likely to get something free eg if you want to check whether a product has nuts etc in it they have to call the manager to go through the allergy card with you. I’ve done that on a couple of occasions and each time was gifted my coffee. Never been offered the whole order free though.....

Also Majestic wine ‘warehouses’ have tasting counters for wines and sometimes also for certain spirits. Often by particular wines on the shelves there is also an open bottle for tasting. There’s also free WiFi available and free parking (but bring a friend to drive home if you are doing maximum tasting.....)

And don’t forget the free green tea in wagamama...

In Ikea if there is a queue for a kitchen/wardrobe design appointment they’ll give you a voucher for a free coffee and cake in their cafe while you wait.

Another one for Ikea - their ‘family’ loyalty card gives you free insurance on your items on the journey home and during assembly.

You can do the milk hotter in a coffee but only a bit hotter as it will burn - and that doesn't mean go black. You can smell when it's too hot. And people asking for off the menu stuff is great for them but annoying for staff who have to change the till options, prices and ask the chef to do something different when they already have a load of other food to cook.

OH and if you buy an adult meal in the cafe you can have a baby food pouch for free.

Luv it when people get all up themselves over extra hot coffee ☕️

We also have a farm/stables nearby that gives free manure, though you have to bag it yourself.

Affogato for afters in Italian restaurants when it's not on the menu.

Cue the "affogato order a pudding" joke ...

Pizza Express will slice your pizza if you ask (useful if you have arthritis or similar).

I didn't know Sainsburys sliced bread - will have to try that!

LonginesPrime My Saturday job as a teen was in a bakers in the 80s and we had a slicing machine there too.

I always have a double macchiato in Costa, which isn't like the Starbucks one but a double espresso with foam. It's not on their menu anymore but they don't care.

If you buy a bunch of flowers in Waitrose they will gift wrap them with tissue paper, ribbon and cellophane with a well for water.

Ikea pay your travel expenses if you have to return to the store with an item that’s faulty.

Not a store, but Hilton hotels have a second room half price for children which they nearly always agree to when I ask.

At my local Morrisons you can get a little lump of fresh yeast from their bakery section.
I think most supermarkets do this. Something to do with an old law.

In Starbucks two years back they were doing Pumpkin Spice Lattes after October 31st but you had to ask for it as it wasn't on the menu any longer but they had over ordered stock so it was still available.
Last year they ran out at the beginning of October across the whole country.
Just saying that in reference to Frappuccinos.