Saturday, January 24, 2015

worst thing about restaurant food

We tried a new place last night before going to the theatre, and enjoyed it immensely.  We started with a shared appetizer, "pork three ways" which included some Italian-style smoked jowl, a rillette, and a terrine.  Both of us tried a different cocktail, which were beautifully crafted; i then went on to a nice pinot noir while J tried a different drink -- also delicious (we shamelessly sample each other's choices...).  As entree, he got steak au poivre and i opted for the rack-of-lamb special.  They were both very tasty -- good-sized servings of quality meat -- and as usual i didn't relinquish my plate till the bones were gnawed clean.  Then we had dessert, a banana pudding for him, and chocolate cake for me; for some impossible-to-understand reason, this restaurant did NOT OFFER COFFEE!  How weird.

Yes, i was "bad."  It was an allowed indulgence, planned-for in every respect (including pre- and post-fasting), but i was surprised at myself for inhaling it the way i did.  True, it WAS probably the best chocolate cake i've ever tasted, but why was it that compelling?

FAT.  The only significantly fatty food in our meal was in the smallish appetizer.  The lamb was too well trimmed for my taste, and J's ribeye seemed to have very little of the signature fat-pocket.

If we don't get enough fat in our meals, we have a biological drive to satisfy our needs with SOMETHING (also, in the wake of my head-cold-induced anorexia, my appetite has come back).  For those who haven't got the memo about fat vs. carb, ... a huge proportion of people in the food business are going to try to fill you up with the latter.

This is not the first time i've noticed the phenomenon.  Even fine restaurants frequently go too low-fat, because that's what they think their patrons expect.  "Scrappy" meat with too much fat left on???  Some customers will think they're being cheated.

We'll know what to do next time -- because the food was so good it deserves more visits.  We'll go there when we'll be returning home right after, so we can have our beloved after-dinner coffee!  :-)  We'll ask for the fattiest cut the kitchen has, when we place our order.  We'll probably also order the appetizer cheese-plate in lieu of dessert.  Once one knows the characteristics of eating-places, it's easier to maneuver in the territory.

12 comments:

  1. Fat, indeed! I can't do more than the sugar in 85% chocolate... and I know it, but fat is what keeps me full. I carry a whole avocado with me and/or some packets of olive oil or coconut butter when eating out.

    If I can't get enough fat and/or protein, then I can be in trouble with binge urges later that night or the next day.

    Glad you found a good place to eat, the meat sounds delish. I'll bet the kitchen has some fatty cuts of meat around... Good luck. :)

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    1. St. Louis's restaurant scene is VERY good -- it blows the other cities we've lived in (except New Orleans) out of the water! :-)

      Your plan is very wise, taking supplementary fats with you. If i'd observed how lean the chops were when served, i should have just asked for some butter. ...But i hope you noticed -- no photos, and no real description of the desserts! :-D i remembered what you wrote about "food porn"....

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  2. Agreed. I once had a hamburger at a fine restaurant that was so lean and tough it got stuck in my throat. This is one reason I eat at McDonald's.

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    1. LOL -- 90% lean ground beef costs more, so it's better, right? :-P

      ^^^irony alert! ...But YES, it's not as easy as one would expect to get a really stellar burger! Ground too fine, packed too tight, too lean, weird cheese preparation, ... there are lots of ways to screw it up. When i'm on the road, i often get myself a McD double quarter-pounder w/cheese and no bun -- it's usually hot, juicy, and tasty!

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    2. We are going to a skiing trip again to the Winter Park in Colorado at the end of a skiing season. I plan to bring some butter with me, because when we went there last year, I had an unusual for me constipation due to eating a very lean food. Others did't suffer because they also consumed fried in oil potatoes, but meat+vegetables options were abnormally lean.

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    3. :-) You all would be amused at how many people bring along their own Kerrygold, on the low-carb cruise.... The butter the ship PROVIDES may not be grassfed, but at least there's plenty of it!

      Have a great time, Galina! :-)

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  3. Give them your feed-back. I am sure they would continue trimming all visible fat for general customers, but may be you can get what you want if you book in advance and inform them about your preferences.

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    1. I will, next time we go! J found that this place doesn't accept reservations, but we know that going to such restaurants for an early dinner-hour usually reveals no trouble being seated. Since their staff is so attentive and the kitchen so skilled, i'm sure they'll indulge our wishes to the best of their ability.

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  4. Well I've eaten at restaurants that do not offer tea - but not to offer coffee is a new one on me.

    All the best Jan

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    1. and a restaurant not offering tea is also a bit looney! what do these places expect one to drink in cold weather, if one is not into alcohol?

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  5. that is SO weird about no coffee or tea! Crazy! Sorry the lack of fat got you a little outside your zone. ;)

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    1. :-) it could have been a lot worse -- as i said, this was a planned indulgence, with pre-fasting included. i just don't usually INHALE desserts like that!

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