The first BBQ joint we went to we stepped in the door and looked around at the super long picnic tables, the tray line counter, and the plastic silverware and we thought to ourselves, "whoops, I guess we chose an odd one." We ate our meat served with meat with a side of meat with plastic silverware on butcher paper over a tray that may or may not have ever been washed in mostly silence, silence broken by the occassional, "hm, interesting.." We left there feeling very full and concerned about how the lack of fiber would stop up our bowels for the next week and popped into a pub in downtown San Marcos for a beer. A beer that I could not really drink because all ready there was turmoil down under.
It was 36 hours before my stomach and intestines returned to normal function.
So it was a weird joint, right? Well we were determined to try it again, somewhere maybe a little more.. restaurant-y, less cafeteria-y? So when Jeanette's parent's offered to take us out for dinner, we chose a BBQ joint in downtown New Braunfels that I googled and found some good reviews for. I put on a fabulous dress and my favorite jewerly and put some goo in my hair for a nice night out on the town. We drove up to the BBQ joint and the parking lot was packed at 6 pm - a good sign!
We walked in and the first thing I did was gasp. Jeanette and I looked at each other. We could not believe it! It was just like the other joint but with a fast-food look about it more than cafeteria! Order at the counter, eat out of styrofoam containers with plastic utensils, and wow, at least they had side salads.. served in plastic containers. I quickly got out my phone to see what other restaurants were in the area, my intestines twisted and moaned, but it was too late. Jeanette's parents were ready to order - splitting a "2-kinds of meat" with sides of salad, coleslaw, and baked beans. I put away my phone and ordered the "1-kind of meat" with some coleslaw and loaded up on some sides of BBQ sauce and pickled jalepenos.
We sat at a booth, everyone staring at the freak who dressed up nice to eat at the fast-food BBQ joint, and settled into our meats. Sadly, I could tell that the seasoning was really good on my pork, but something about the meat made me nauseous and I filled up on the cole slaw instead, occasionally pecking at Jeanette's macaroni salad.
With guilt tugging at my soul, I threw away our plasic and styrofoam dining materials in the overflowing trash can and left the joint.
We walked in and the first thing I did was gasp. Jeanette and I looked at each other. We could not believe it! It was just like the other joint but with a fast-food look about it more than cafeteria! Order at the counter, eat out of styrofoam containers with plastic utensils, and wow, at least they had side salads.. served in plastic containers. I quickly got out my phone to see what other restaurants were in the area, my intestines twisted and moaned, but it was too late. Jeanette's parents were ready to order - splitting a "2-kinds of meat" with sides of salad, coleslaw, and baked beans. I put away my phone and ordered the "1-kind of meat" with some coleslaw and loaded up on some sides of BBQ sauce and pickled jalepenos.
We sat at a booth, everyone staring at the freak who dressed up nice to eat at the fast-food BBQ joint, and settled into our meats. Sadly, I could tell that the seasoning was really good on my pork, but something about the meat made me nauseous and I filled up on the cole slaw instead, occasionally pecking at Jeanette's macaroni salad.
With guilt tugging at my soul, I threw away our plasic and styrofoam dining materials in the overflowing trash can and left the joint.
Sounds like hospital food: indigestion, nauseating heavily-seasoned meat and lots of waste. It's great to hear your voice, Anna!
ReplyDeleteOh don't say that Carol!! That might be us.. the folks in charge of the hospital food that is never quite up to the standards because of old stereotypes! ;P
ReplyDelete