We must be in HEAVEN, man!
I'm sitting here in San Diego's Lindbergh Field
airport, waiting for my red-eye flight home. (Then I
have a short weekend at home before heading back on
the road to Singapore...)
I had a magnificent meal tonight at one of my favorite San Diego restaurants, Parallel 33. Absolutely highly recommended! If you're in the area and are looking for a cuisine that will excite you to the core, you've got to go here!
But that's not why I'm writing this journal entry tonight.
I'm writing this because of my experience here in the United "red carpet" lounge. After my P33 meal, I rolled down the hill to Lindbergh Field, dropped off my car, changed into more casual clothes, and came here to the lounge to relax for a bit before braving the all-night flight home. Big deal.
Well, that's what I *thought*, anyway. Big deal. When I presented my card to the receptionist, she asked me, "do you drink beer". My first thought, after "will you marry me," was "um...occasionally...w-h-y?" She explained that she needed to decide which beers to stock here in the lounge and was looking for some customer opinions. Now my antennae went on full alert. "Of course, I'd be *happy* to 'take one for the team' and act as your guinea pig."
Alas, that's not what she was looking for. But, it wasn't all bad either. She had a list of about 500 beers to choose from and was hoping to narrow it down to 3 or 4. She asked me things like, "what's the difference between an ale and a pilsner?" AND SHE WAS GENUINELY INTERESTED IN THE ANSWERS!
Now, I was convinced that something I'd eaten at P33 was somehow hallucinogenic, but I braved on. I suggested a line-up of a couple heavier beers (Pete's Wicked Ale and Newcastle Brown) and a couple lighter beers (Heineken and Sapporo). I explained it would be a good line-up of several nationalities and styles. She seemed happy with the choices, filled out the order form, and said "done".
My only remaining dilemma is that it'll be another 4 months before I'm back in town. I'll have to stock up on RCC drink vouchers between now and then so I can enjoy a couple when I'm back -- to wash down another magnificent meal at P33, of course!
Seriously, P33 is one of the very few restaurants I've experienced where I'm NEVER bored and ALWAYS enjoy their offerings. The menu is never the same twice. I savor meandering through the menu -- READING it, that is. If only I could down 10 (or so) appetizers and 10 main courses...
Tonight I started with an ahi (tuna) poke, washed back with a Ken Forrester chenin blanc from Cape Town. That, followed by a seared scallop main course with lentils, caramelized pearl onions, squash, and chanterelle mushrooms, washed back with a glass of temperanillo from Spain's Ribero del Duero region. All that, followed by a Turkish coffee. Absolutely magnificent!
Cheers,
Ken
I had a magnificent meal tonight at one of my favorite San Diego restaurants, Parallel 33. Absolutely highly recommended! If you're in the area and are looking for a cuisine that will excite you to the core, you've got to go here!
But that's not why I'm writing this journal entry tonight.
I'm writing this because of my experience here in the United "red carpet" lounge. After my P33 meal, I rolled down the hill to Lindbergh Field, dropped off my car, changed into more casual clothes, and came here to the lounge to relax for a bit before braving the all-night flight home. Big deal.
Well, that's what I *thought*, anyway. Big deal. When I presented my card to the receptionist, she asked me, "do you drink beer". My first thought, after "will you marry me," was "um...occasionally...w-h-y?" She explained that she needed to decide which beers to stock here in the lounge and was looking for some customer opinions. Now my antennae went on full alert. "Of course, I'd be *happy* to 'take one for the team' and act as your guinea pig."
Alas, that's not what she was looking for. But, it wasn't all bad either. She had a list of about 500 beers to choose from and was hoping to narrow it down to 3 or 4. She asked me things like, "what's the difference between an ale and a pilsner?" AND SHE WAS GENUINELY INTERESTED IN THE ANSWERS!
Now, I was convinced that something I'd eaten at P33 was somehow hallucinogenic, but I braved on. I suggested a line-up of a couple heavier beers (Pete's Wicked Ale and Newcastle Brown) and a couple lighter beers (Heineken and Sapporo). I explained it would be a good line-up of several nationalities and styles. She seemed happy with the choices, filled out the order form, and said "done".
My only remaining dilemma is that it'll be another 4 months before I'm back in town. I'll have to stock up on RCC drink vouchers between now and then so I can enjoy a couple when I'm back -- to wash down another magnificent meal at P33, of course!
Seriously, P33 is one of the very few restaurants I've experienced where I'm NEVER bored and ALWAYS enjoy their offerings. The menu is never the same twice. I savor meandering through the menu -- READING it, that is. If only I could down 10 (or so) appetizers and 10 main courses...
Tonight I started with an ahi (tuna) poke, washed back with a Ken Forrester chenin blanc from Cape Town. That, followed by a seared scallop main course with lentils, caramelized pearl onions, squash, and chanterelle mushrooms, washed back with a glass of temperanillo from Spain's Ribero del Duero region. All that, followed by a Turkish coffee. Absolutely magnificent!
Cheers,
Ken
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