This post comes to you from some recent dining out experiences. The picture on the left is of my family at a lovely restaurant in San Luis Obispo, and even though it was a lovely evening...I hate...
When a server clears the plates off the table before everyone is finished eating. Call me crazy, but I absolutely can't stand when a server takes my plate before my partner is done eating or takes everyone's plate when one person is still finishing up their meal. I find it incredibly rude. I think this gesture not only says, "We are rushing you out of the restaurant because it looks like your party is almost done and we would really like to turn your table again before the night is through." but also, "We sort of care about your dining experience, but certainly not as much as we care about making more money tonight." In addition, it sends the message to the person who is enjoying a longer meal that everyone else at the table is done, so you better hurry up before A. everyone else gets impatient, and B. they snatch you plate away too. I just hate that! I don't go to a restaurant to shove food down my throat at a blistering pace before running off the the next event, I go to a restaurant to enjoy myself and the company I am with at whatever languid pace we so choose. Even if it looks like I'm done with my meal, perhaps I'm not. Perhaps I am sitting back to let the glorious mixture of flavors settle in my stomach before I begin licking my plate. Perhaps it looks like I'm done, but I fully intend on savoring that orange wedge garnish in roughly five minutes, which taking my plate early would completely rob me of.
Despite this pet peeve of mine, however....
I love...
Dining out. Anyone who is the primary cook for their household like I am knows that dining out at a nice restaurant is a welcome respite from your daily routine. When you eat out (even if they clear the plates too early) you get the special privilege of being served, instead of serving others. When you dine out, you don't have to set the table, and if the food isn't on par, you aren't the chef everyone complains to. When you're at a restaurant, the TV isn't on, nice music is often playing, you get more options than just, "whatever is in the freezer", and the dog isn't whining to come back in from the deck. Also, dining out means that when you get home, the kitchen doesn't look like a time bomb just went off inside it, but rather is just as pristine as you left it and will stay that way until when next you need to cook. Possibly the most enjoyable thing about eating out, however, is the "doggy bag" you get to bring home and put in your fridge for an easy and delicious lunch the next day, that is unless of course, your boyfriend eats it before lunch even rolls around and you have to cook all over again. Shoot.
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