Oct 21 2008
Fine dining
I've been reading about the state of American dining lately. It's made me think about how Paul and I teach our children how to appreciate good food.
Last night, we wanted to hear some gypsy jazz at a local coffee house. Thinking that Nana and the kids would also enjoy it, we decided to go out to eat as well. The coffee shop was in the old part of town, a place where mom and pop stores and privately owned eateries still exist. It's also home to one of the better casual dining spots in town. It's an Irish pub that also serves Greek, American, and Mexican dishes and good local beer. (Only in America.) It's also home to the best prime rib in town.
As we waited for a table to open -- and were visited by the manager to make sure the kids were entertained with crayons and potato chips -- I thought back to reading that most Americans don't appreciate good food as they're used to pizza delivery, fast food courts, and chain restaurants. They're impatient and aren't adventurous. Yet here we were showing our kids that the best food was at a small, one-of-a-kind restaurant with excellent service. I was glad we were able to share that with them.
Later we walked down the street to the coffee shop and listened to the band as Paul and I sipped our coffee drinks. Lucie danced around, showing off her new ballet moves. Nathan carefully studied the guitar work while Nana kept time by tapping her fingers. I marveled to myself what a special evening it had been, yet so simple. A nice meal, good music, spending time with grandma, and showing the kids what's important in life -- it's something we should all do more often.
