Thursday, November 20, 2008
I have been treating my swellingly pregnant sister to gourmet meals for months. In exchange, she has tolerated my foodie tendency toward the bizarre with grim resolve, but upon the occasion of our excursion to Scratch she shuddered and forbade me to gush excessively about my meal. Why?
Because I'd gone to Scratch with a single goal: consume tongue.
My sister was disgusted.
Her discomfort was exacerbated when I also ordered a frog leg appetizer. Her pregnant tendency toward nausea allowed her to humor my whims only to a point.
But we ended up having a great time, for the most part. We arrived early enough to be the first dinner diners and had our seating area all to ourselves for a good chunk of time. The decor is very modern: black, white, red, metal and glass. It's not calming or warming, but it is stylish. The waiter was knowledgeable and helpful in accommodating our gluten troubles.
The only drawback in our mealtime was being seated so very close to adjacent tables. My sister and I both felt uncomfortably meshed into others' conversations against our and their own will. Perhaps this cramped seating appeals to some. It doesn't work brilliantly for me, but it wouldn't keep me from returning to this fine restaurant.
Because my meal was terrific. It turns out: I love tongue. It was so buttery and tender it nearly melted in my mouth. I wanted to sing to the heavens of its wondrous texture and perfect beef flavor. My sister would hear none of it. Likewise, she wanted to hear few details about the hot, spicy chewy frog legs that comprised my appetizer. Although I wouldn't necessarily order the legs again, it was fun to give something novel a try. The tongue I would order again in a cheerful heartbeat.
Scratch serves up winning cuisine. Be warned, though, that it charges heavily for its gourmet fare. Still, I think it's worth it. I hope to return again as soon as my sister shrugs off her nausea and can share in my celebration of tongue love.
~L
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