Cafe Rouge – two different ways to think about a bad experience
A few years ago, things were rough at school and I was a bittermelon*. I got upset easily, turned people away from me, was critical of everything and mostly found faults in mankind. Long story short, I became a misanthrope and immersed myself in two things: anime and foreign language. Ironically, the former taught me to think more positively, and the latter brought me new friends. Then I realized that when I suppress my negative thoughts, eventually they dissipate on their own and I would feel so much better without bothering anyone with my complaints. In America, we are encouraged to express our negative feelings. People like to see and hear about problems (that’s why the daily news are mostly bad news and the reality shows are full of anger). Some people say that it’s good to let it out. That’s true, but it’s only temporary. Complaining is like eating chips, it’s impossible to stop**. Anger multiplies when it’s let loose. The more cynical I feel about a situation, the more depressing scenarios I envision, and it only goes downhill from there.
These days I try to appreciate everything more, and when some incident doesn’t seem so appreciable at first, I find it funny, which clears my mind and then I can see something to appreciate. But sometimes I lapse back into the critical mode, especially when it’s about food. It’s easy to lower my expectations and like everything. It’s also easy to write a very bad review. But it’s hard to find the good points while maintaining my high expectation. A bad review gives the temporary satisfaction of being in the position to judge. A good review for a not-so-good experience makes me appear goody-two-shoes and lose my credibility. One solution is that I only write about the good experiences. But I think that defeats the meaning of a blog. A diary doesn’t have only happy entries, why should a food blog talk only about the good food?
Every bad experience at a restaurant puts me into this dilemma. Cafe Rouge is the most recent one. Here’s my first draft when I sat down to write about it:
On my birthday, we went for drinks at Teance and then we got famished. Drinks for me are not alcohol but a few pots of tea. That’s the great thing about tea: it gives you an appetite. If you ever feel like you ought to eat something but just don’t feel hungry, drink some tea on an empty stomach, the next thing you know is that all you can think about is food. So we were famished, and we headed over to Cafe Rouge next door.
I should stress again that I was famished. Everything tastes better when you’re hungry, that’s a known fact. I could hardly wait to spread the velvety duck liver flan on my tongue and sink my teeth into a succulent slab of steak. The good thing is I didn’t have to wait too long. The problem, though, is that neither of my dreams came true. The duck liver flan was underseasoned and not smooth enough. The steak was so tough I thought I was chewing on a coil of rope.
Would a rare sear make it better? The full story goes like this: on the menu it said “Grilled bavette steak with sweet potatoes, broccoli, red wine cippolini onions and herb butter 24.” — I didn’t know what bavette steak was. The waitress asked me how I’d like my steak, I told her somewhere between medium and medium rare, she said let’s do the medium rare and if it’s too rare I can send it back to the kitchen for more sear. Turned out the cut was extremely sinewy. Even in the middle, where it’s still bright red. I told the waitress, and she said yeah well this is not like New York steak so hmm too bad…
So I gave up halfway and grudgingly waited for desserts.
We narrowed it down to 4 choices: vanilla panna cotta, chocolate streusel cake, granitas, and chocolate ice cream profiteroles, then we asked the waitress what she thought. She highly recommended the panna cotta, and said the following about the granitas: “it’s like a sorbet, if you’re into that kind of thing then it’s good”. We’re into sorbet, so we got the granitas. But granitas ain’t no sorbet, it’s water ice. Seven dollars for a tiny cup of water ice is too much. And not even very flavorful water ice at that. Huge disappointment.
So that’s my luck with Cafe Rouge. The seafood cioppino and the cassoulet that my friends chose turned out a little too seasoned for my taste, but a hundred times better than my steak.
I’ll file Cafe Rouge under “Won’t go out of my way to revisit”, although it’s really on the way every time I go to Teance.
The view from upstairs.
Here’s what I should think:
The restaurant is well-designed, I enjoyed looking from the upstairs at the people’s plates down below. My friends enjoyed their seafood and stew. Today Cafe Rouge’s dinner menu has “Grilled hanger steak with flageolet beans, radicchio and almond bread sauce”, so I wiki-ed “hanger steak”. This cut is “prized for its flavor”, which means its texture is tough. Then I clicked around and read about the other beef cuts. In the end, the steak taught me something new.
We should have listened to the waitress in the matter of desserts. Again, we went in not knowing what “granitas” was and went out knowing exactly what it was, so we got wiser by paying 7 dollars. That’s a cheap price for information.
Most customers around us ordered the burger ($14). While fancy burgers are like Rothko’s paintings to me, some people appreciate them. Maybe the rest of the menu also connects to people at such levels, which I simply couldn’t comprehend.
I probably won’t go out of my way to revisit Cafe Rouge, but its menu changes often and I go out of my way to Teance all the time anyway. When I have a more forgiving heart, and maybe a lot of hunger, I’ll stop by.
I prefer the mild, more positive view, although it’s like steamed rice. Next, I need to figure out how to make it funny. 😉
FOOTNOTE:
(*) Actually, I LOVE bittermelon! Bittermelon soup, bittermelon stir fried with egg, stuffed bittermelon. I love it so much that the first word I could think of that contains “bitter” was “bittermelon”.
(**) In high school health class, the teacher showed us a video about two anorexic twin sisters. When asked how they became anorexic, the surviving sister said that they were chubby when they were little, so one day they decided to lose weight and competed with each other to see who could lose more weight. The only detail that I remembered is that they would eat only 2 potato chips when they ate any chips at all. The interviewer asked her “How could you eat only TWO chips?!” With a lot of willpower.
Housemade charcuterie plate ($15) – rabbit pate: ok; duck liver flan: I’ve had better’s; air dried beef: well, it’s dried meat… Good pickled onion though.
Cafe Rouge bar ribs ($7) – Not fall-off-the-bone tender, but I liked the sauce.
Cioppino ($27) — dungeness crab, rock fish, mussels and clams in red wine tomato sauce. Good but too spicy for me.
Cassoulet of duck confit, garlic sausage, pork, baked beans and bread crumbs ($24) – good beans, tender duck, the sausage was too grainy (and doughy(?!)). Read more about it from Kristen’s point of view.
Blood orange and grapefruit granitas with shortbread cookie ($7) – The flavor wasn’t there.
This design is wicked! You most certainly know how to keep a reader entertained. Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Great job. I really enjoyed what you had to say, and more than that, how you presented it. Too cool!
1I think this site has some rattling excellent info for everyone :D.
2Happy bday fuck babysitterAlex alex ass du hast denLaura j orgasmWet pussy jammedAss sex tgpPneumatic plate vibratorsDifference between european asian gypsy moth and gypsymothForced deepthroat cryingFirst time male masturbation xnxx Cock holsterFinger fuck her fast and
3hardThumb miles dysonAdulterous wife pornFree tattooed alternative nude girlsBlack college girl titsTeen mastubating tequinquesAmateur boyfriend watches girlfriend
fuckFuck team gay https://xnxxfree.win/ Lindy lane porn videosPeople who like
to cyber sexSenior lesbian personals los angelesAmateur mom stripPics of james woods nudePornography video sharing sitesAdult sextape sharing xnxx Gay
netherlands rodenVirtual female cigarette smoker fetishOlivia
olovely porn star14 and eroticShowing sexual attractionCommunity revitalization corelated to gay enclavesUsagi screaming orgasm
Along with every thing which seems to be developing within this subject material, many of your viewpoints tend to be relatively radical. Having said that, I beg your pardon, but I can not give credence to your entire idea, all be it exciting none the less. It seems to everybody that your commentary are generally not totally validated and in actuality you are yourself not thoroughly confident of the point. In any case I did take pleasure in examining it.
4I like this web site very much, Its a rattling nice position to read and find information.
5Greetings! Very helpful advice on this article! It is the little changes that make the biggest changes. Thanks a lot for sharing!
6My brother recommended I might like this web site. He was totally right. This post truly made my day. You can not imagine simply how much time I had spent for this information! Thanks!
7Hello, i think that i saw you visited my blog so i came to “return the favor”.I am trying to find things to enhance my website!I suppose its ok to use some of your ideas!!
8I’ve recently started a website, the information you provide on this website has helped me tremendously. Thanks for all of your time & work. “If you would know strength and patience, welcome the company of trees.” by Hal Borland.
9Pretty! This was a really wonderful post. Thank you for your provided information.
10hi!,I like your writing so much! share we communicate more about your post on AOL? I require an expert on this area to solve my problem. Maybe that’s you! Looking forward to see you.
11Just a smiling visitor here to share the love (:, btw outstanding design. “The price one pays for pursuing a profession, or calling, is an intimate knowledge of its ugly side.” by James Arthur Baldwin.
12I’ve been exploring for a little for any high quality articles or blog posts on this sort of area . Exploring in Yahoo I at last stumbled upon this website. Reading this info So i am happy to convey that I have an incredibly good uncanny feeling I discovered exactly what I needed. I most certainly will make sure to don’t forget this web site and give it a glance on a constant basis.
13I am glad to be one of the visitors on this great site (:, appreciate it for putting up.
14Way cool, some valid points! I appreciate you making this article available, the rest of the site is also high quality. Have a fun.
15It’s hard to find knowledgeable people on this topic, but you sound like you know what you’re talking about! Thanks
16It’s really a great and useful piece of information. I’m satisfied that you simply shared this helpful information with us. Please stay us informed like this. Thank you for sharing.
17Some truly interesting information, well written and generally user genial.
18Howdy just wanted to give you a quick heads up. The text in your article seem to be running off the screen in Firefox. I’m not sure if this is a format issue or something to do with web browser compatibility but I thought I’d post to let you know. The layout look great though! Hope you get the issue resolved soon. Cheers
19You made some decent points there. I seemed on the web for the issue and located most individuals will go along with together with your website.
20I was reading some of your content on this website and I believe this site is real informative! Retain posting.
21I am not certain where you’re getting your information, but good topic. I needs to spend some time studying much more or figuring out more. Thank you for fantastic info I was searching for this information for my mission.
22It’s in point of fact a great and helpful piece of info. I’m satisfied that you simply shared this useful information with us. Please stay us informed like this. Thank you for sharing.
23I have recently started a site, the information you provide on this website has helped me greatly. Thank you for all of your time & work. “If you see a snake, just kill it. Don’t appoint a committee on snakes.” by H. Ross Perot.
24Hello there, simply turned into alert to your weblog through Google, and found that it’s really informative. I am going to watch out for brussels. I’ll appreciate in case you continue this in future. Many people shall be benefited from your writing. Cheers!
25you are really a good webmaster. The website loading speed is amazing. It sort of feels that you’re doing any distinctive trick. Furthermore, The contents are masterwork. you have performed a great task on this matter!
26Keep working ,impressive job!
27I’d have to examine with you here. Which is not one thing I usually do! I take pleasure in reading a post that may make folks think. Additionally, thanks for permitting me to comment!
28Good info. Lucky me I reach on your website by accident, I bookmarked it.
29I am now not certain the place you’re getting your information, however great topic. I needs to spend a while learning more or figuring out more. Thanks for wonderful information I used to be on the lookout for this information for my mission.
30Very interesting topic, thankyou for putting up.
31I’d have to examine with you here. Which is not one thing I usually do! I take pleasure in reading a post that may make folks think. Additionally, thanks for permitting me to comment!
32Woh I love your posts, saved to my bookmarks! .
33Hi, just required you to know I he added your site to my Google bookmarks due to your layout. But seriously, I believe your internet site has 1 in the freshest theme I??ve came across. It extremely helps make reading your blog significantly easier.
34After study a few of the blog posts on your website now, and I truly like your way of blogging. I bookmarked it to my bookmark website list and will be checking back soon. Pls check out my web site as well and let me know what you think.
35Very instructive and good complex body part of written content, now that’s user friendly (:.
36Glad to be one of several visitors on this amazing website : D.
37I liked as much as you’ll obtain performed right here. The cartoon is attractive, your authored material stylish. nevertheless, you command get bought an edginess over that you wish be turning in the following. in poor health indubitably come further formerly again since exactly the similar just about a lot frequently inside of case you protect this increase.
38I was recommended this blog via my cousin. I am now not sure whether this submit is written by means of him as nobody else realize such unique about my trouble. You’re wonderful! Thanks!
39I like this internet site because so much useful material on here :D.
40I conceive this website has some rattling fantastic info for everyone :D. “This is an age in which one cannot find common sense without a search warrant.” by George Will.
41Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wished to say that I have truly enjoyed surfing around your blog posts. In any case I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again very soon!
42Greetings! Very helpful advice on this article! It is the little changes that make the biggest changes. Thanks a lot for sharing!
43Wonderful items from you, man. I’ve keep in mind your stuff previous to and you are simply too excellent. I actually like what you’ve got here, certainly like what you’re saying and the way during which you say it. You’re making it enjoyable and you continue to take care of to stay it wise. I cant wait to learn far more from you. That is actually a great site.
44I really like your writing style, superb info , appreciate it for putting up :D.
45I happen to be commenting to let you know what a wonderful encounter my friend’s child obtained reading your web page. She came to understand many details, which include how it is like to have a marvelous coaching style to let many more really easily learn a number of extremely tough subject areas. You undoubtedly exceeded our expected results. Many thanks for churning out such priceless, safe, edifying and in addition unique thoughts on this topic to Evelyn.
46I’ll immediately grab your rss feed as I can’t find your email subscription link or e-newsletter service. Do you have any? Please allow me know so that I may just subscribe. Thanks.
47I am continually searching online for articles that can help me. Thanks!
48This is a very good tips especially to those new to blogosphere, brief and accurate information… Thanks for sharing this one. A must read article.
49I’m curious to find out what blog system you’re utilizing? I’m experiencing some minor security problems with my latest site and I would like to find something more safeguarded. Do you have any recommendations?
50