Independence day

A 16oz Gammon steak recently

The 4th of July is my wife's birthday. Coming from the US she has always had a double whammy when it came to celebrating Independence day. Her Father always maintained that the barrage of fireworks going off everywhere were expressly for her on her birthday. Seems reasonable to a 5 year old.

So, as it was the 4th, we went out for a meal. We two, my son and Daughter in law and her Mother. We often go to the pub/restaurant that my son chose last night, this was the first time all together. I will admit I am no fan of what I refer to as "Corporate food" preferring unchained, independent, local catering that holds the management, chef and waiting staff directly responsible for the quality of the food. I think this system works, so I am hard pushed to choose a pub chain over a village ale house when it comes to a celebratory supper such as last night. Saying that, this particular pub has never really disappointed me and on the whole, by sticking to what I know, which is generally Gammon, egg and chips, I always manage to clear my plate.

My wife, when it comes to eating out, is a completely different kettle of turbot.

Nevertheless she opted for a steak, with no chips peas or onion rings, with vegetables, butter and mushrooms, an "ad hoc" combination, not regularly present on the menu. Tim, Kayleigh and Julie, had straight, as advertised menu items with small deviations like "no peas, please" clearly requested to the waitress. We were all hungry.
After what seemed like a fortnight, but what was actually 35 minutes, our meal started to arrive. Marie's, completely wrong, Julie's slightly wrong. The grumpy, only recently post pubescent, waitress, took away the meals with an obvious attitude that was unbecoming of someone being paid to serve the correct food to people that were paying for it and expected it to be as previously requested. Then the meals returned, sporadically, until we all sat scoffing.

One thing that none of us like, and I am at a loss as to how this system has evolved or why it has endured, is the practice of standing the cutlery in an earthenware pot in the middle of the table for everyone to choose for themselves. Handles uppermost, blades and tines standing on the bare bottom of the pot, which is often littered to some degree with dust or crumbs etc. Not very nice. The cutlery itself is generally covered in water marks, whilst not bad in itself, it is a little disconcerting to eat with something that looks dirty. This cutlery pot is bad practice in my book.

We all finished our meals, really quite nice.

What wasn't good was the service and those cutlery pots. The manager came over, aware of our delay being served and offered to reduce our bill by £20 to £34. A noble gesture from a company that offers a "No Quibble" guarantee with is menu. My son Tim has had some experience working for this company and pointed out "fairly and squarely" how the delay was not just an isolated incident and referred her to the cutlery and the incorrect meals. She decided that as per company policy, we should not be charged for the meal, at all.
this was very nice, and although Tim is apt to find a bargain wherever, he spoke the truth and the manager responded like a manager should have. Fair play to her.
 We may have decided not to go back again had she not. So all was well and good for Marie's birthday supper. Plus, I bought her a scratch card that we won £10 on that caused us to be treated to a nice meal, for free, and turn a profit for the night.
Happy birthday Marie.