When I sit down at a new restaurant, I always look at the menu. And I take my time doing it too. Trying new things is both an excitement and a challenge for me. I'm very picky about the things I eat. I have a lot of ingredients that I enjoy and, if I see options with those ingredients transformed in a way I have never tried then I am more likely to pick that dish. If that dish happens to have an ingredient I've never tried, I'm more likely to try it over a dish with more ingredients I haven't tried. I like to carefully think about my meal choices before I commit to one.
If I have recently tried a new restaurant, and the experience didn't go well, I am increasingly cautious at the next one. A dish really has to catch my attention and make me feel adventurous. The wait staff can give me their opinions on the best dish, the house favorites, and the specials for the day but at the end, I decide.
Some dishes sound fabulous as a concept but then I start asking questions. How is the steak prepared? Do you steam the broccoli? What herbs are in the herb butter? A buffet is a bit more challenging. So many variables. So many questions.
I believe the best meal has everything you're comfortable with and enjoy eating with a side of something new or unexpected. The preparation and ingredients are crucial. Not enough salt, too much spice, not cooked long enough. All of it can change how you see that dish. It can change your expectations should you decide to come back to the table.
I have been away from the table for a while and I'm ready to try a new restaurant. However, I'm still reading the menu and I'm waiting for something to catch my eye.
