![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
stoney321Um, this wine should be in my mouth all the time. Y'all, I don't drink wine. At all. Ever. Because I don't like the taste. I drank many, many glasses of that Silver Oak, and it was delicious. There was a wardrobe malfunction before we left for the restaurant, and I panicked, thinking I wasn't dressed up enough - these were the partners of a major company we were dining with, in a major restaurant. (Just voted the best in the nation by Esquire, I thank you. Go, Dallas!) Turns out... I really really didn't need to worry.
Pardon me while I get a little sniffy.
Okay, this PAINS me to say, but it's pretty much across the board for Big Wigs in Texas: very good at the wheeling and dealing, very good with numbers, very uncouth. *wince* These guys didn't degrade to the level of gum chewing at the table, but we weren't going to have a conversation about art, literature, or philosophy. Dollars and cents? Yep. And the voices were VERY LOUD. THEY TALKED IN CAPS. Ack. Also, I said something in response to a question that referenced Dickens, and they all looked at me like I had grown an extra head. *siiiigh*
Now, fine dining is really easy: use your silverware from the outside in. Unless, haha, Richard Gere tries to trip you up by ordering snails. But you can be charming and have a horsey laugh and after George Costanza tries to get a piece and you slap each other, and Richard Gere walks in and knocks him out while you put your shoes on, you can live happily ever after. Wait... (And here, they whisked away your silverware after every course, something I've seen in many places. New silverware is brought before the course is set before you. Easy peasy.)
We had an amuse bouche (Top Chef watchers? You know what I'm talking about.) ONE. BITE. It's one bite. You don't dissect it with the tip of your spoon and daintily eat teeny chunks of each individual ingredient. 1) You look like you don't like it before you've even tasted it - the ONE BITE - and 2) you don't dissect your food at a dinner table! Also, it's ONE BITE. Like, the SIZE.
One of the up-and-comers that was there with her husband (both Mormon) just gave off that rube vibe. Sorry, but there it is. He came back from the BATHROOM, marveling at how "classy" it was. Don't call things "classy." Elegant, lovely, well appointed. Otherwise, it sounds like: "Gosh darn, them fancy-assed crappers done flushed on they's own! How the hell they know when to do that? *hitches up pants* Them's classy shitters, y'all!" They also picked apart every dish that they were served and made FACES when they got something they didn't recognize. BEFORE THEY EVEN TASTED IT. And... believe me: there was NOTHING on that menu worthy of making a face at. She did admit to liking BENNIGANS. Yeah, that really compares. *head desk* "um, can you take away this pan-seared, honey glazed halibut and bring me an Awesome Blossom? Thaaaaaaanks."
And, I get it. I get that people like burgers and fries or their mom's meatloaf, or something like that. As in, that's the food they crave, they're used to, etc. But for Pete's sake, why not live a little? We're talking ONE MEAL. You'd rather have chicken tenders from Wendy's than a delicious Maine lobster caught THAT MORNING from one of the best restaurants in the country? Or hey, you like burgers? Have the steak! Goodness. And this was relaxed fine dining. You didn't have to wear a tie, in other words (but men did need a jacket. It's not like The Mansion where on Saturday it was Tops and Tails - which... Okay, I've been there one time, and it was AWESOME. Same chef, btw.)
Also, and I cannot stress this enough (all bartenders will agree) DO NOT ORDER A VIRGIN COCKTAIL. It's lame. It's time consuming for the bartender. Also, WHY? What's so delicious about frozen mixer?? Freaking BYU coeds, I'm telling you... (my cousin does the same thing every time we went out, and it drove me nutso. Also, she would always complain about how it tasted. BECAUSE IT IS MIXER. Without the KICK.)
Okay, the FOOD I ATE, hogod.
Amuse bouche: halibut and fingerling potatoes with... dill? A cream sauce pulled it together. YUM. One bite, woe.
Appetizer: foie gras on caramelized grilled peaches, scallop on tangled greens. The foie gras was FLAWLESS. The duck did not die in vain... (I really shouldn't like foie gras, but it is SO DELICIOUS.)
Main: the Buffalo tenderloin on grits with a butternut squash taquito. I cannot stress how perfect that cut of meat was. And the grits weren't Flo grits, they had a wonderful flavor (this is the sort of food Tre on TC made on occasion - it's Dallas eating, y'all.)
Intermezzo: honey ginger peach shooter (so grood!)
Dessert: Blueberry Ginger Almond Crisp with lemon sorbet. If I hadn't been about to pop, I would have licked the dish clean. Except that I know better. :D
Is this a southern thing? (Jess, I know you know this stuff.) Is it those boring cotillion outings we all had to do down here? I mean, if you're not sure, watch other people. That wouldn't have done you any good at *my* table, but still. GOD I SOUND SO BITCHY. I just hate standing out because of foolishness, if that makes any sense. As mothers here would say: Act like you've got some sense.
As I must have ingested a million calories, and that's from the wine alone, I'm off to do a loooong walk. Hoo, my tum is still happy. And I would really like one of those intermezzo shooters in my mouth this very minute. YUM.
Pardon me while I get a little sniffy.
Okay, this PAINS me to say, but it's pretty much across the board for Big Wigs in Texas: very good at the wheeling and dealing, very good with numbers, very uncouth. *wince* These guys didn't degrade to the level of gum chewing at the table, but we weren't going to have a conversation about art, literature, or philosophy. Dollars and cents? Yep. And the voices were VERY LOUD. THEY TALKED IN CAPS. Ack. Also, I said something in response to a question that referenced Dickens, and they all looked at me like I had grown an extra head. *siiiigh*
Now, fine dining is really easy: use your silverware from the outside in. Unless, haha, Richard Gere tries to trip you up by ordering snails. But you can be charming and have a horsey laugh and after George Costanza tries to get a piece and you slap each other, and Richard Gere walks in and knocks him out while you put your shoes on, you can live happily ever after. Wait... (And here, they whisked away your silverware after every course, something I've seen in many places. New silverware is brought before the course is set before you. Easy peasy.)
We had an amuse bouche (Top Chef watchers? You know what I'm talking about.) ONE. BITE. It's one bite. You don't dissect it with the tip of your spoon and daintily eat teeny chunks of each individual ingredient. 1) You look like you don't like it before you've even tasted it - the ONE BITE - and 2) you don't dissect your food at a dinner table! Also, it's ONE BITE. Like, the SIZE.
One of the up-and-comers that was there with her husband (both Mormon) just gave off that rube vibe. Sorry, but there it is. He came back from the BATHROOM, marveling at how "classy" it was. Don't call things "classy." Elegant, lovely, well appointed. Otherwise, it sounds like: "Gosh darn, them fancy-assed crappers done flushed on they's own! How the hell they know when to do that? *hitches up pants* Them's classy shitters, y'all!" They also picked apart every dish that they were served and made FACES when they got something they didn't recognize. BEFORE THEY EVEN TASTED IT. And... believe me: there was NOTHING on that menu worthy of making a face at. She did admit to liking BENNIGANS. Yeah, that really compares. *head desk* "um, can you take away this pan-seared, honey glazed halibut and bring me an Awesome Blossom? Thaaaaaaanks."
And, I get it. I get that people like burgers and fries or their mom's meatloaf, or something like that. As in, that's the food they crave, they're used to, etc. But for Pete's sake, why not live a little? We're talking ONE MEAL. You'd rather have chicken tenders from Wendy's than a delicious Maine lobster caught THAT MORNING from one of the best restaurants in the country? Or hey, you like burgers? Have the steak! Goodness. And this was relaxed fine dining. You didn't have to wear a tie, in other words (but men did need a jacket. It's not like The Mansion where on Saturday it was Tops and Tails - which... Okay, I've been there one time, and it was AWESOME. Same chef, btw.)
Also, and I cannot stress this enough (all bartenders will agree) DO NOT ORDER A VIRGIN COCKTAIL. It's lame. It's time consuming for the bartender. Also, WHY? What's so delicious about frozen mixer?? Freaking BYU coeds, I'm telling you... (my cousin does the same thing every time we went out, and it drove me nutso. Also, she would always complain about how it tasted. BECAUSE IT IS MIXER. Without the KICK.)
Okay, the FOOD I ATE, hogod.
Amuse bouche: halibut and fingerling potatoes with... dill? A cream sauce pulled it together. YUM. One bite, woe.
Appetizer: foie gras on caramelized grilled peaches, scallop on tangled greens. The foie gras was FLAWLESS. The duck did not die in vain... (I really shouldn't like foie gras, but it is SO DELICIOUS.)
Main: the Buffalo tenderloin on grits with a butternut squash taquito. I cannot stress how perfect that cut of meat was. And the grits weren't Flo grits, they had a wonderful flavor (this is the sort of food Tre on TC made on occasion - it's Dallas eating, y'all.)
Intermezzo: honey ginger peach shooter (so grood!)
Dessert: Blueberry Ginger Almond Crisp with lemon sorbet. If I hadn't been about to pop, I would have licked the dish clean. Except that I know better. :D
Is this a southern thing? (Jess, I know you know this stuff.) Is it those boring cotillion outings we all had to do down here? I mean, if you're not sure, watch other people. That wouldn't have done you any good at *my* table, but still. GOD I SOUND SO BITCHY. I just hate standing out because of foolishness, if that makes any sense. As mothers here would say: Act like you've got some sense.
As I must have ingested a million calories, and that's from the wine alone, I'm off to do a loooong walk. Hoo, my tum is still happy. And I would really like one of those intermezzo shooters in my mouth this very minute. YUM.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2007-10-09 02:17 pm (UTC)As a vegetarian I can sympathize with wanting to know what is in everything, but if you're not sure you can eat it, just don't. A few hours of hunger isn't deadly. Making a huge fuss is rude!
And people who actually prefer chain restaurants to good food? Are insane. No two ways about it.
no subject
Date: 2007-10-09 02:28 pm (UTC)I cannot imagine preferring Bennigans (I mean... BENNIGANS!) to the excellent food we had last night. Some people... (Heeeee!)
I tucked in to my own fare and was very happy, so there's that. :D
no subject
Date: 2007-10-09 02:31 pm (UTC)And hell, I like Bennigan's. Not a bad place to grab a burger. And am perfectly okay with the concept of the virgin cocktail (though I would not order one in a fine dining restaurant--in Bennigan's, though...). And with people dissecting their food carefully if they have a serious food allergy.
But in general? Eat the food, act like you have some home training, and do NOT rave about the classiness of the toilet. *g*
no subject
Date: 2007-10-09 02:46 pm (UTC)And yeah, I'm not above a big bacon classic from Wendy's, nosirree, but we're at an excellent restaurant!! *head desk*
But in all seriousness, those toilets were badass. HEEEEE.
no subject
Date: 2007-10-09 03:01 pm (UTC)(And well. If they asked, then yes, you can eat the food because the restaurant covered it. I've been in fine dining restaurants where they didn't ask.)
And... jeez. Even a lot of fine dining restaurants have *something* relatively simple on the menu, if you're intimidated!
no subject
Date: 2007-10-09 03:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-09 04:03 pm (UTC)Then my high school quiz bowl team went to New Orleans, and somebody's parents paid for us to go to Antoine's. And I was the only one of the four of us kids who did not embarrass our teacher by freaking out about the food. I was tired, I was stressed, I looked at the menu and ordered the cheese omelet. It was a damned good cheese omelet, and I did not embarrass myself by making a fuss about there being no chicken nuggets on the menu.
no subject
Date: 2007-10-09 02:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-09 03:57 pm (UTC)I loved having you there, and Carlos was such a nice guy! You will come to all my parties! Eleventy One!1!!
no subject
Date: 2007-10-09 07:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-09 09:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-09 03:21 pm (UTC)As soon as I'm breathing properly again, I'll respond.
...Okay. First, ignore the green pallor to my skin. Merely envy--despite the hoo-hahs you had as dinner company. I mean, if they'd had any sense, they would have done as you suggested--taken cues from the surrounding patrons, behaved in a reserved manner.
But we're talking about inherently senseless people. Financial engineering does not a social engineer make.
Surprisingly, this situation is also true of many Long Island BigWigs. Same crassness, different accent. More spandex (for the wives!).
And slightly on the topic of chain restaurants v. real ones--every time I see somebody walking into a Domino's or a Pizza Hut in New York City, I wan to DECK THEM. Get a real slice, you university transplant yokel half-wit frat reject!
So, er, yeah. I'm glad you got to enjoy mind-bogglingly yummy food!
no subject
Date: 2007-10-09 04:00 pm (UTC)I cannot understand how someone could eat chain pizza in NYC!!! That is sacriledge. And when I was in Europe, I boggled at people going to Subway and *gasps* McDonalds! YOU'RE IN FRANCE AND ITALY, omg. What on earth!!
no subject
Date: 2007-10-09 03:29 pm (UTC)AHAHAHAHAHA YOUR ICON!!!!!!!!!!
Date: 2007-10-09 03:56 pm (UTC)And what I like about Dean Fearing (he's been a staple here for over 20 years) is that he's Texan through and through. He likes the finer things in life, but he wants to be comfortable while enjoying them. :D He specifically left The Mansion so he could have his regulars come eat without worrying about the dress code. (Basically, what you'd wear to a nice reception. I wore dress pants.)
Mmmmm, food!! Anne, I love it. I LOVE FOOD. (And you!)
Re: AHAHAHAHAHA YOUR ICON!!!!!!!!!!
Date: 2007-10-10 12:19 am (UTC)*listens for the sound of rats in the walls*
Hee!
no subject
Date: 2007-10-09 03:48 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-09 03:53 pm (UTC)And natch, I had the blueberry dessert based on our chat yesterday. *beams*
no subject
Date: 2007-10-09 03:56 pm (UTC)YAY! Oooooooh, that dessert sounded ah-may-zing!
no subject
Date: 2007-10-09 04:02 pm (UTC)(And ooooh, what a pretty icon you have! I love those shoes!)
no subject
Date: 2007-10-09 04:05 pm (UTC)Isn't that lovely? Ah, pretty shoes! In the interests of full disclosure, though, I'm wearing my shiny silver ballet-mary jane flats. :D
no subject
Date: 2007-10-09 04:11 pm (UTC)Oooh, you are tres fashionable with those mary jane flats!! Oh, how I love the mary jane...
no subject
Date: 2007-10-09 03:57 pm (UTC)I love good food, but for people who don't, don't waste your money on a good restuarant. It's insulting to the chef.
(Thanks for the birthday wishes yesterday.)
no subject
Date: 2007-10-09 04:03 pm (UTC)(Absolutely! I felt terrible for missing it on the actual day! And many more, sweetheart!)
no subject
Date: 2007-10-09 04:05 pm (UTC)What Southerner *doesn't* know table settings/silverware/appropriate fine dining behavior? I mean, we're not the only two boggled by this, right? I know every region will say "we have manners!" (which yeah, you do. Or at least I hope you do) but southern manners are a whole 'nother ballgame. WE INVENTED HOSPITALITY. At least, that's my story.
KEY-RIST.
no subject
Date: 2007-10-09 04:14 pm (UTC)That buffalo was so delicious, Lee. It absolutely melted on my tongue. (The foie gras was also like the best piece of meat ever. Good lord, I love me some duck liver.)
I'm debating a croque monsieur or a recreation of the amuse bouche for my lunch. You know, in lunch portions. DECISIONS DECISIONS!
no subject
Date: 2007-10-09 04:32 pm (UTC)I'm not a huge fan of foie gras but when it's good? HOLY HELL SO GOOD. Suddenly my lunch is not sounding so appetizing. :\
no subject
Date: 2007-10-09 06:06 pm (UTC)That butternut squash taquito sounds intriguing. I was going to make ravioli, but maybe I should be more adventurous...
no subject
Date: 2007-10-09 07:49 pm (UTC)The butternut squash taquito was SO GOOD. Spicy, flavorful, creamy. And crunchy outside. NUM.MY!
no subject
Date: 2007-10-09 06:40 pm (UTC)I'm jealous reading this.
no subject
Date: 2007-10-09 07:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-09 08:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-09 06:58 pm (UTC)And, man, could those people you were with be any worse if they wore t-shirts emblazoned with "RUBE" across their chests?
Still, the food sounded to die for. Glad you at least got to enjoy the experience.
no subject
Date: 2007-10-09 07:51 pm (UTC)And yeah - if you don't have the perfect seasoning here in the States, it's just not right somehow!
AHAHAHAHA - that would be a terrific T-Shirt! Heeeeee.
no subject
Date: 2007-10-09 07:38 pm (UTC)I will always prefer something unrecognizable to a Big Mac.
no subject
Date: 2007-10-09 07:53 pm (UTC)I mean honestly? I would eat that weird Chinese fruit that smells like a dirty baby's diaper, but tastes like creamy goat cheese. I WOULD TRY IT!
no subject
Date: 2007-10-09 08:10 pm (UTC)Also OH GOD with the virgin drinks. Shall I tell you about the virgin margaritas that my brother's wife (still can't quite call her the sister-in-law) is Known For in Provo? OH HOW IMPRESSED YOU WILL BE.
Also also I don't get people who won't try crazy things. I can understand sticking to one thing if it's the hole-in-the-wall Chinese place down the road and you always get One Thing because you're pretty sure it isn't anyone's pet and if it is, there's enough sauce on it that you wouldn't be able to tell, but COME ON. FINE DINING. LIVE A LITTLE. Order something you can't pronounce!
no subject
Date: 2007-10-09 08:23 pm (UTC)And it's not like they didn't have normal fall back items. They were just REALLY REALLY GOOD fall back items. Sheeeeesh. I mean, chicken breasts! Everyone can eat that, bar vegans.
no subject
Date: 2007-10-09 08:43 pm (UTC)SUCH a Utah thing. Because nowhere can actually sell alcohol but they have to have SOME fun, amirite? And we all know that FUN = APPEARANCE OF EVIL >:D Or, in fact, FUN = EVIL and EVIL = FUN.
Oh MY. The Bride For The Eternities. Apparently she and my brother MET at one of her "Margarita Mixers" (puke). She can really blend some ice and some margarita mix and put it in some festive glasses. Boy howdy. At the horrific dinner in Yoo-tar where the two families had to meet and BOND AND LOVE EACH OTHER FOREVAR AND EVAR AMENS over barbecue and store-bought rolls, she and the mom made their SIGNATURE MARGARITAS. Which came from cans. .......
...well, she's a nice girl. She swears. She's originally from NC and she has huge knockers. BUT. Okay, her family - her mom is like...okay, you know those women who sort of relish appearing haggard because they think it makes them seem really hardworking and saintly, when really they just look rough? One of those.
Mostly I think she's just a very nice Utah girl who thinks she's not a Utah girl at all. Uses the words "randomly" and "gay" inappropriately. Has big hair and wears too much eyeliner. Also wears earrings that are way too big for her in an attempt to balance the huge tracts of land and the v prominent chin. Rented her wedding dress and had Gerber baby daisies as her flower for the reception. In the cultural hall. ......
Things like that.
no subject
Date: 2007-10-09 09:31 pm (UTC)I am boggling over the BFtE's mother and her joy at haggard = saintly. That does not compute to this Southern Girl! How does she misuse randomly? The mind boggles.
Oh, Laura. Do you feel happy knowing you are leagues better than these people? Because you should.
no subject
Date: 2007-10-10 01:53 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-09 09:59 pm (UTC)But the food sounds amazing.
no subject
Date: 2007-10-09 10:17 pm (UTC)(OMG, the food was divine. I want to eat there right now!)
no subject
Date: 2007-10-10 03:53 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-10 01:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-11 12:24 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-11-03 12:17 am (UTC)The best part was that I actually lost weight that week from all the running around we were doing when not eating like pigs (the truffle snuffling kind, of course). I think that's what you call a win-win situation.
When I get around to posting about my Hawaii experiences I'm going to have to remember to talk about the food which usually I never, never do. But now I'm inspired :-).