Jan 29th, 2022 Saturday Cloudy
Do you like visiting the same restaurant and ordering the same dish?
Not for me, generally. After the first visit of a restaurant, if it was a good one, I probably hope to try other dishes on their menu to see whether the tasty meal I had was a fluke 😉 If it was a bad one, well, I am not inclined to give a second chance.
There are of course exceptions to this rule, as I just found out this Thursday, when my husband and I wanted to order from a new restaurant that we have never been to. The local restaurant week was going on, and this restaurant was featured in the local news as well. Maybe because of this unprepared popularity, or maybe the pandemic-created staff shortage added some challenge too, my husband’s phone call was put on hold for so long that even the patient guy as he is hung up in frustration. In an effort of finding dinner as soon as possible to appease a grumpy cat (yeah I am usually grumpy when I am hungry 😛 ), he ordered from an Italian restaurant.
It turned out to be the Italian restaurant that my current in-laws took us to the first time.
I was a little nervous to meet them, and we had not been dating for long. Before this meeting, I chose a light blue shirt with pastel-colored stripes, with a subtle puff sleeve design, to present myself in the way that I think parents usually like. My-then-boyfriend brought me flowers that morning that definitely made my heart sing. I found a vase and arranged them to decorate the dining table. After a sniff of the blooming perfume lilies to take in all the elegance I need, I was ready.
Then they came. The brief introductions happened. I would admit that small talks with near strangers whose backgrounds are unfamiliar to me are not my strongest suit. Nevertheless, they were both nice, unassuming, easy-going, and smiley. Without further ado, we headed out to the restaurant for lunch.
I do not remember what I ordered that day, but it must be something with a tomato-based sauce – because half-way into our meal, my current father-in-law said, “what is that on your shirt?”
I lowered my head to check. To my dismay, there were little red spots on my light blue shirt, all over from my chest up to the neckline. Before I could apologize for my clumsy manners, my current mother-in-law scolded her inconsiderate husband, “don’t point it out!!” This made me chuckle, but did not chase away my embarrassment. I quickly excused myself to the bathroom to clean up, only to find that the stains were a little stubborn. A good soak in soapy water seemed absolutely necessary.
The parents’ visit was not long, so in a couple of hours I was able to retrieve to my apartment with my then-boyfriend for a relaxing afternoon tea (and changing out of my stained shirt). We walked into the dining room. On the table, where the lovely bouquet was standing, were a circle of little red spots that looked exactly like the ones on my shirt. All of a sudden, it dawned on me that I did not make a mess while eating at all – the culprits were the pollens from the perfume lilies! I turned to my boyfriend with a pouty face, “now your parents are going to think I am a messy girl who cannot handle pasta properly, even though I didn’t do anything wrong.”
My boyfriend sighed, and gave me a big hug, “they will think you are very cute and lovable. Even if you did make a mess, they will love you all the same.” “Are you sure?” “Yes, I am sure. Because I love you.”
Moments later, he added, “and I will remember never to get you perfume lilies again.” 😛
That is a shame, because I like lilies. I love orchids of any kind. But I can live without having them randomly staining my tablecloth, I guess.
Now I am eating the same dessert that I ordered on that day, shared with my now-husband. The signature Italian dessert, tiramisu, tastes just as delicious. 🙂
So that might be why some people like visiting the same restaurant and having the same dish. It is not the food that they miss. Instead, it is the memory, brought back by the food, the atmosphere, and many cues specific to that place. And for one moment, the past and the current overlap.