Eat Like a Rabbit

Too dark for pictures.

I was invited to a dinner by a drug rep. The speaker as he stood up said he couldn't believe the turnout. He said the restaurant must be good. The 60-ish number of medical professionals laughed. A waiter came around asking our orders. There were three options, but being a vegetarian, I didn't catch what they were. I simply requested a vegetarian plate. Some time later, a waiter came by with salads and atop mine (just like all the others) was a nice strip of crispy bacon. By this point, the lecture had started and I quietly whispered a request for a bacon-less salad. The waiter very kindly obliged, but failed to remove the offensive salad. I suppose if I had thought about it, I would have just passed it down to the next individual. Instead, I shoved it toward the center of the table and out of my line of sight.

The main course was served. Each plate came out with just a slab of meat. There were individual plates in the center of the tables with asparagus and mashed potatoes to be shared by every four or so people. Now, my thoughts about the veggies were that it was wise to spread them out because many meat eaters I know turn their nose up at vegetables. But, wisdom would also dictate bringing the vegetables out last because they are cold before you get a plate to put some on. Perhaps you may say "But it was such a large group." However, this restaurant is known specifically for catering to larger crowds. You would think they would have learned these things by now.

My main course was sweet corn in a white sauce, baby mushrooms, and spaghetti with one tablespoon-sized pad of butter on top and sprinkled with parsley. Sadly, the butter wasn't even melting on the pasta. Butter was the main seasoning for the potatoes and asparagus as well. I wouldn't be too hard on them since vegetables aren't really the specialty of the house. I will simply remember this and be more specific in my order should I be invited again.

As for the decor of the building, it has been remodeled recently. When I was in the restroom, I overheard a conversation of three women (likely from the pulmonary lecture in the room next to ours). One of the women said she had been at Del Frisco's a week before with the same drug rep. She said that the design had improved, but that it was still a "men's restaurant." I suspect she was referring to the dark wood. But I couldn't help notice at least two large tables of men as I walked out the door. No women were present without men, and there was almost always a larger number of men than women in the rooms that I passed.

In case you're wondering, I didn't accept the to-go box offered by the waiter. But the lecture was the reason I went, and it was well worth the tough dinner experience.

Would you like to know what we're eating next?