Yesterday for lunch Rachel and I visited this frou-frou (her word) vegan restaurant in Venice Beach called “Cafe Gratitude.” The food was excellent. The menu took a little getting used to. Each item comes listed with a one-word “affirmation.” For instance, the Mexican dish with black beans and mushrooms I chose was “Mucho.” The thing with beets and kale Rachel had was “Devoted.” For dessert, the strawberry shortcake was “Divine.”
It’s not that you’re “having” Mucho or Devoted or Divine. You’re not even “doing” whatever-it-is. You ARE it. When I asked for black coffee with dessert, the waitress exclaimed, “Oh, you’re Courageous!” I thought she was complimenting me for taking their brew black. But no. “Courageous” is what it IS. Or, apparently, what _I_ am. Whodathunkit, eh? The real wonder of it all is that they can find wait staff who deliver these lines with a straight face. Maybe easier in Venice Beach than in some other places I could name… but I digress.
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Lest you think I’ve gone totally nuts – not to mention totally frou-frou – I stopped last night at the Dollar General store in Frazier Park to buy camping supplies – sunscreen, bug spray, gas for my stove – and also something easy to prepare and eat after my Mt. Pinos hike today. What I chose was baloney and cheese on Wonder Bread, with a big bag of Doritos on the side – you know, the kind with extra gluten. <Ever wonder why that orange powder on Doritos always makes you eat more than you originally intended?> And for dessert: A box of 8 (count ’em, folks – EIGHT!) Brown Sugar Cinnamon Pop Tarts. I know, I know – none of it’s Devoted or even Courageous. But when you’re out in the woods all by yourself…. who cares!
Besides, I strive for balance in all things. As The Preacher in Ecclesiastes tells us, there’s a time for every purpose under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to reap. At time for vegan frou-frou, and a time for baloney and cheese. Oh, and let’s not forget, a time for Doritos and Pop Tarts. Yes friends, THOSE…. <wait for it>… are totally Divine!
You spoiled it for me a bit when you suggested the waitstaff might be actors. Were they Sincere?
I recall you buying a giant-store box of mixed chips for the IHN family lunches Despite what you may think you are Generous. And this story Classic Dan.
So grateful for gluten! And these Divine blog posts!