November 23, 2007

  • Dinner is served

    My bf and I had dinner the other night at a restaurant near his place.  We've eaten there a couple of times and the food was good for a franchise type restaurant.  We waited for about 15 to 20 minutes for a table.  What I didn't enjoy was several people who came in after us and gotten seats because they seem to know the hostess.  Grr....

    My bf ordered soup and an entree while I had a fish with veggies, rice in a lime broth.  I've had it before and enjoyed it.  The waitress brought the soup first.  Within minutes, the entrees came out while my bf was still having the soup.  We chatted briefly and decided to overlook it.  My fish was perfectly cooked.  The rice was undercooked.  I tried a few spoonfuls to see if it was just an isolated grain but it wasn't.  I looked around for our waiter but he was nowhere to be found.  Fortunately the manager was walking by and I explained the situation to him including the fact that my bf's entree was getting cold. 

    He apologized profusely and took away my dish.  My bf could see into the open kitchen and told me that the manager was gesturing to someone.  He came out afterwards and explained that the entire rice they had that evening was undercooked and would I like something else instead.  So I ordered another dish.  Every so often, my bf would be saying things like - "I think I see them making your meal, he's peeing into your steak and glaring at us.   No wait, I think he's just picking his nose.  Uhm.. I guess he has an itchy spot."   I didn't dare turn around.
    The manager got the food out again, told us my dish would be complimentary & apologized profusely again. 

    I don't know, maybe I'm getting cranky in my old age but good service in a restaurant should be a basic skill.  And how could you even serve undercooked rice?  Especially to a Chinese guy. 

    Changing the subject....

    I've been trying to learn how to cook bitter melon.  I didn't like to eat this when I was a kid and started to eat it a few years ago.  It's loaded with nutrients and it isn't as bitter as you might imagine.  This is bitter melon with pork and black bean sauce.  The pork has been marinated in soy sauce, sesame seed oil, corn starch and a bit of pepper.  The black bean sauce is made from scratch and I added garlic, scallions, ginger, soy sauce and oyster sauce. 

    A good chef would wipe the side of his plates.  But a hungry chef who was in a hurry to get the pics doesn't.

     

Comments (18)

  • haha poor restaurant owner dood... what did you order instead?
    and it looks like you did a good job with the bitter melon.

  • oh, thanks for the recipe for us to try! I've often looked at bitter melon too. As to the restaurant adventure, heavens, I hear you on that and don't apologize. As someone who does a lot of work in quality management, good restaurants truly want to know how they're doing ... I think these folks handled this quite well.

    The challenge you and your bf should set is to return this week and see if things have improved.

  • hmm, an ampalaya. i think i'll request that on today's meal. i remember way back then whenever it's served, we kids go stand up and check the canned section right away or the freezer for hotdogs. lol!

    have you tried adding some quail eggs? it lessens the after taste.

  • I hope the restaurant would improve its service and food quality.  I had tried bitter melon before and there's actually some hints of sweetness in between!

  • Interesting recipe - I need to try that one. I am the same in any restaurant. I am paying for the food and I expect it to but up to par. Sometimes my friends get upset with me but I refuse to eat cold food, uncooked food and overcooked food. Well, McDonald being the exception lol lol lol.

  • Heh, I remember I used to hate bitter melon when I was a kid too. Somehow the taste seem to get better with age :D

  • x_x
    haha
    lol
    anyways
    i think i should make more entries
    so that it wont draw that much more attention

  • haha...ironic how that post came Right after the protected one :]

    =] how is your weekend going?

  • Bitter melon still tastes bad to me...I guess I never developed a taste for it.

  • Sometimes just sitting quietly with a close friend and being mutually circumvented is all that I need for happiness. I really never thought about it being undefinable until one of the patients at the office ask the question about how to be happy.
    RYC: Thanks for the cooking tips. I could always use them!

  • that's how my mom cooks bitter melon, with black beans and pork.  over the years i've gotten to be tolerant of it lol.

    my bf, his mom, and i went to a restaurant last night, and sat for about 15 minutes with no menus, bread, water, or anything more than a brief "i'll be there in a moment" about half way through that wait.  we finally gave up and went to another restaurant where we had excellent service.

  • You are a great cook!  Thanks for the recipes you so graciously give out.  Enjoy life!  -D

  • Thanks for your comments!!  It's nice to see you back blogging!!

  • they're interesting to a certain point...
    but it got boring kinda fast to me- car show

    x_x you're pretty good at catching stuff
    my friend glanced that over without even noticing i wrote it :D
    *hug*
    x_x
    tomorrow's monday again...

  • RYC: Burp, burp lol lol

  • isn't scruffy younger than evy?
    btw, is he still lost in the online game?

  • all your posts make me hungry.. it's hard to follow the other content because of the food pics.. -Lan

    ps. but i'm not complaining.. i'm just hungry i guess.

  • RYC: It is the hectic time of the year. That post was a reminder to me to take time to breathe. By the way, I am remiss - forgot to welcome you back, my friend.

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