silver spoons

I recently read an article about a woman who has spent the better part of her life trying to recreate a tuna sandwich she ate as a seven year old one summer while visiting the east coast. To her, this sandwich embodies childhood; The Good Life. Perfection between two slices of bread. The sandwich was just moist enough, the tuna not too fishy. There was a mayonaise ratio she's never been able to duplicate and the celery had been diced just right. Sure (she argues) it could have been the fact that she was very near starving by the time her parents decided to pull of the road to appease their little travelers. Or, it could have been the charming Swedish couple who made this American sandwich to perfection. But, to her, this was it. Ambrosia to her seven year-old palate. If only she could recreate that experience now. And, according to the article, she'll die trying.
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It was late August, and Suzan and Mom let me tag along. I felt beyond lucky to be the trio to their usual duo. It had been three months since I'd sat under Suzan's tutlidge, and I felt a bit more comfortable going as a "friend." We arrived at Fresco on 15th, dipping our heads beneath the curling ivy to enter the enchanting eatery. Elbows perched a top a crisp white tablecloth, I follwed their lead, agreeing that indeed soup was the way to start. Suzan asked for three spoons and together, we slurped away. Thinking I was being polite, after four or five spoonfuls of the most delicious summer soup, I rested my spoon on the edge of the thick-rimmed soup bowl. "Just exactly what do you think you are doing?" She stopped mid-slurp and looked at me with her all-knowing teacher-eyes; the I-can-see-straight-through-to-your-soul stare. "Uh...I thought I'd..." She cut me off. Stern, yet kind, she told me to pick up my spoon and finish the soup. She brought both her hands forward to guesture and leaned her face close in near mine. "Oh, dearie. Listen. Food is an experience." While I continued scrape spoonfuls of soup out of the bowl and into my mouth, Suzan spoke of dinners in Paris while Randall was painting. Meals in Eastern Europe. Breads. Cheeses. Life-changing cheeses. She closed her eyes as if the very thought of them transported her to that time of her life as she and Randall wandered from country to country, savoring soups and chewing cheese. The patio lights graced the curves on her face as a smile forced her cheeks taut. She opened her eyes and joined us back at Fresco just as the votives began to scatter round shadows across the table.

We enjoyed a main course and then dessert, during which my fork never rested. Not only did the food taste better, but my memory of that evening is forever inscribed in my mind: the creeping ivy along the pergola; the lantern light; Mom's face as we spoke of college plans and portfolios; Suzan across the table infused in the atmosphere; in the moment.
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As I read the article about the tuna sandwich, my mouth began to water (and I don't even like tuna!) I thought of dinner at Fresco and the best chocolate cake I've ever sunk my teeth into at Pesto, a restaurant in D.C. I thought of Ruby's in SoHo where I devoured the best burger I've eaten to date. I longed for the mint chocolate chip ice cream from Belmont, enjoyed alongside Thomas and Evan when I first visited Boston at age 10, and beignets with Anna from Cafe Du Monde in the French Quarter - If I try hard enough, I could produce a confectioners sugar cough, the result of inhaling the to-die-for frost a top those fried fancies. So, for lack of a better post, I thought I'd list a few of my favorite restaurants from favorite cities I've visited, for any and all travelers. Looks like I'm staying put as of last Wednesday. There are worse things. And, until I can curb my urge for another escape, there's always Ruth's Diner, Fresco, and Trio here in the City of Salt to cater to my cravings.

Kitima Thai Cuisine: Irvine, CA (We split six or seven entrees - there were a lot of us. They were all excellent.)
Cafe Du Monde, French Market Coffee Stand: New Orleans, LA (Get the beignets. They're world famous)
Brigham's Ice Cream: Belmont, MA (I will argue that their mint chocolate chip is the best in town)
Pesto: Washington, D.C. (Two words: chocolate cake. It will change your life.)
Ruby's: SoHo, NYC (Best. Burger. Ever.)
Mama Mexico: Uptown Manhattan, NYC (Live Mariachi Band. Guacamole and salsa made right at your table. Sizzlin' hot entrees. Guys in sombreros.)
Patsy's Pizzeria: Various locations in Manhattan, NYC (Gooood pizza).
Even Keel Cafe: Nantucket, MA (Eat on the patio. You won't regret it. In fact, you won't regret anything you do on Nantucket. It's one of my favorite places on earth!)
Jaguar: Coconut Grove Miami, FL (Mexican lasagna that's too pretty to eat. Eat it anyway. It's amazing as is the interior design).