You Can’t Eat Badly in (Fill in the Blank)

I’m one of those anti-“glass half-full half-empty” folks who can never decide: is the world full of great food joints or disappointing places? Am I an optimist or a pessimist?

I hear and read of people, who, exhausted after “doing” a morning at the Louvre “fall upon” a fabulous place nearby: not me, I plot and plan meals and Plan B’s far in advance, nothing is left to chance.  

Or I hear from folks who in Italy “chance” upon this unknown place that was astounding; not me, well, seldom me.

Tonight, or at least the night that this was written, I went to a place in Italy, recommended to me by a guy (who lives part-time here,) that I’ve eaten with maybe 20 times and with whom I think I almost always agree. And it was horrid.

The tempura of scampi’s batter was not burned but had a burned-taste. An accompanying salad’s dressing was tart and after one taste, unapproachable.

Risotto – OK, I wasn’t in Risotto-land – but with seafood that was expensive, it should have been great. Nope! Rice so undercooked it wasn’t al dente but al raw-way. Seafood one had to pick out of the risotto, like a Coney Island grabber claw.

Wine OK, water OK; but are wine and water why we come?

So, henceforth, when my numerous advisors tell me – “you can’t eat badly here” – I’ll beware. 

Blog: John Talbott’s Paris
© John Talbott 2008