Reclaiming Some Normalcy

Recently, I found myself in Amarillo. I needed to run a few errands and thought I would knock them all out in one trip. When I finished the last of my tasks, I realized it was a little later than I had anticipated and I was hungry. I needed food. What to do?

I could always grab fast food through a drive-thru, but I wasn’t really in the mood for a sandwich that had sat under a heat lamp. Honestly, I didn’t want to eat while driving either. That’s when I began to contemplate reclaiming one of my favorite relaxing activities – treating myself to dinner in a restaurant.

When COVID-19 first began to impact my world in March of this year, I ended all visits to restaurants. I was very selective about drive-thru and curbside delivery. I simply did not feel comfortable having my food prepared by someone I did not know. It has been nearly 5 months since I have visited a restaurant. That’s unheard of for me.

I still wasn’t convinced that I was ready for a visit, but I decided to take a look and see what restaurants were around. I realized that I wasn’t too far away from Aspen Creek Grill. It’s not a place that I normally frequent, but I thought that the chain would probably have a handle on safety issues. I decided to put on my mask and give it a try. If something didn’t feel right, I could always leave.

I arrived to find staff wearing gloves and masks. When I entered, I was offered a high table in the bar area. I wasn’t thrilled with that option, but told the host that I would at least take a look. As we walked back, the young man sensed my uncertainty and offered me a seat at the bar instead. This actually felt like a better option. I was facing the wall and was seated at the end of the bar, near the drink service area. No one was around except staff — all wearing their masks.

When I said this looked fine, the host asked me to wait just a moment while he cleaned the seating area for me. It was comforting to watch the bar being sanitized while I watched. The food was good, I was not near another person for most of my visit, and I feel like I claimed a little bit of my life back.

Do I plan to start entering restaurants on a regular basis again? No. I don’t want to put myself in an uncontrolled environment very often at all. Occasionally, I will visit a trusted restaurant that seems to have their act together. I’ll also visit during non-peak times. If I have another stressful week like this one, I may order something more than just an entree, too!

Buffets

My family knows that I despise eating at a buffet or cafeteria. Potluck dinners can be just as difficult for me. I find the food often becomes stale and unappetizing. My mind imagines the hands that have touched the serving utensils. I start to wonder when those hands were last washed. The scenario just goes downhill from there.

Imagine my surprise when I recently found myself visiting a buffet while traveling alone. I had heard about The Old Country Store in Jackson, Tennessee, and decided to check it out. I knew they were known for their breakfast buffet, but planned to order from the menu. Was I in for a shock when I learned there was NO menu from which to order!

Thankfully, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the breakfast buffet was actually quite satisfying. The biscuits were extremely light and fluffy, a perfect complement to the sausage gravy. The fried chicken was pretty good as well, but just not what I was expecting for breakfast. Luckily, I did not discover the pastry bar until the end of my meal. The blueberry bread was AH-MAH-ZING!!! A serving of that alone was worth the price of the buffet.

I haven’t changed my mind about buffets, but I have discovered that it is possible to enjoy them occasionally. It’s all a matter of atmosphere and my mindset at the moment.

A Tale of Two Servers

Whether I like it or not, my lifestyle at the moment demands that I eat most of my meals in restaurants. My waistline attests to the sad fact that most of them are eaten in the driver’s seat of my car and are of the fast food variety. When I get the chance and have to eat on the road, I try to make a healthier choice in a dining establishment. I have discovered that there are good and bad servers everywhere….and I tend to get seated in their sections without fail. I never have a so-so experience with a waitperson. They are either incredibly talented or someone desperately in need of training!

Last week, I experienced both extremes during lunch services. In both cases, I was dining during non-peak hours (11am and 1:45pm) when the room was not terribly crowded. There were some similarities. In both settings, I brought along my iPad to do some light reading and was not pressed for time. The differences were in locations as well as the servers’ gender and ethnicity. (I am not claiming that servers of a certain gender or race are better at their job; I simply stating the facts of these two isolated cases. The names of servers have been changed to protect the guilty as well as the innocent.)

First experience occurred in the Chili’s on Vann Drive in Jackson, Tennessee.  I was seated in a booth and was promptly joined by Jeremy, a young Caucasian man, who would be helping me. Jeremy was very relaxed and full of energy. He actually plopped down in the seat across from me. Normally this would have irritated me, but Jeremy quickly began a friendly conversation and established a very relaxed environment. Once my order was taken and Jeremy left, I began to read to pass the time. A few minutes later, I look up to find that my drink has been delivered without any distraction. That rarely happens and readers (like me) really appreciate it! Jeremy walked by later while I was taking a break from reading, asked about my book, and assured me that my food would be out soon. This was turning out to be one of the highlights of my week.

Contrast that with my experience on Saturday morning at the Colton’s in Marion, Arkansas. Kim, a female server of Korean decent greeted me and led me to her section. The menu was thrown at me and I was told she would be right back with my water. Having been to this establishment many times, I knew that water was not served unless requested. When she came back and I asked for a coke, Kim told me that I couldn’t request another drink once I had been given water. Really? I keep my cool (surprisingly) and ask a passing server that I knew to please bring me a soft drink. I struggled for a few more minutes with Kim’s thick accent, but we managed to get the food I wanted ordered. While I was reading, Kim came to the table and actually PLACED HER HANDS on my iPad, asking what version it was. She then proceeded to tell me how badly she wanted one and that since I could afford an iPad, she was sure I would leave a good tip. I abruptly ask her to check on my food and to bring the check when she delivers the plate since I won’t be staying long.

I attempt to be a fair tipper, even to those servers who don’t do such a good job. If you really are bad or you mishandle my party so badly without an apology, I’ll lower my tip. On the other hand, if you do an exceptional job, I’m more likely to increase your tip. Both meals were around $12 and I used a $20 to pay for each. For one meal, I put down the bill and left the establishment very satisfied; in the other situation, I waited for the change, pocketed the coins and all of the bills except a single bill (of a very low denomination). I’ll let you figure out which server got which tip.

Cafe 1912

I enjoy eating in restaurants. It’s something that relaxes me and allows me to escape from the routine. Rarely do I try new places because I’m not sure what the atmosphere is like and I hate checking out a new place alone. Once I know what to expect, then I’m more willing to drop in on my own and enjoy a meal.

I heard from a friend that they were wanting to check out Cafe 1912 but didn’t have anyone to go with, so I jumped at the opportunity. Last night, we headed over to the restaurant located in midtown Memphis and had a great dining experience.

Cafe 1912 is a small bistro that doesn’t have elaborate decor. We arrived on Monday evening just before 7pm and found the place to be rather empty. Before the hour was over, however, most tables would be full.  (Reservations are accepted and recommended, I learned.) We were seated near the back of the space, next to the open kitchen. It was thrilling to watch the staff prepare dinner and to see the beautifully crafted plates coming out of the window.

I ordered the stuffed chicken breast on a bed of potatoes with a creamy vegetable sauce. There’s only one way to describe it:  AMAZING! The chicken was nicely seasoned and moist. The sauce begged to be sopped up with the accompanying bread. I was also impressed with the portion size. While it was substantial, I didn’t leave feeling as though I had just over-indulged.

Cafe 1912 was a little on the pricey side for a weeknight meal, I suppose. My dinner and a glass of water was just under $20 and didn’t include gratuity. While it may be more than I would normally spend for dinner, the food was worth every penny I spent! I didn’t try any of the dessert selections; that just gives me an excuse to visit again. The bread pudding, profiteroles, and creme brûlée that I watched go by my table were very enticing. I really don’t know which one I want to try first. Who knows….maybe I’ll just go for a dessert tasting and call it dinner!

Next time you are looking for a wonderful meal that’s a little off the beaten path, I highly recommend Cafe 1912. I’ve heard the Sunday brunch is pretty incredible as well.

What’s your favorite under-rated restaurant in the Memphis area? Leave a suggestion for me to try in the comment section below. Who knows….we might just run into each other one evening.