Restaurants

Another Fictional Fable with Food … by the Blogger Queen

She was a Texan. Born and teethed on barbecued brisket, chicken and dumplings, and Tex-Mex food.  Judy was more than a bit cautious about trying Mexican food from California.  So far California had been weird but it was the first place Judy had ever felt like she belonged. She felt especially at home in this small wine country town called Calistoga because the weather was hot, the people were friendly in an old-fashioned way, and there were Mexican restaurants everywhere. 

She walked into Miquel’s Bar & Grill, Authentica Cocina Mexicana located on the main street of Lincoln Avenue. In Texas her favorite Mexican restaurants had breakfast tacos with potatoes and cheese, gargantuan beef burritos, and every dish was covered in sour cream.  But now that she was officially in her 40’s, she tried to order green food that crunched i.e., salads.  The menu offered a wide variety of dishes and prices like Mole De Ozxaca for $13.95; Burritos for $8.00; and Quesadillas for $5.95.  But what she needed was the Costa Rico Salad for $8.50. 

Warm Salsa

First the chips and salsa were delivered.  This was certainly not Pace Picante Extra Chunky Salsa that she was used to binging on late at night, it was more like spicy tomato soup and it was warmed, of all things!  After her first couple of bites she started getting used to it and even enjoyed it, but the tomato soup taste was resilient. 

She needed to use the Senoritas Room before her salad arrived.  The small room was bright, clean enough, and available.  However, as she was washing her hands before returning to the table, she heard the toilet gurble.  To her horror, the water was rising as her toilet paper swirled around the top like a synchronized swimmer.  She stood there motionless and waited for the slush. Nothing.  She had clogged the toilet and the paper had not gone down.  She had two choices: 1) Tell the waitress or 2) Return to her seat and let the next poor sucker deal with it.  She chose to ignore and retreat.  She felt guilty on the way back to her booth, but by the time she sat down her guilt had been completely erased thanks to the salad being brought to her table. 

Costa Rico Salad

Her Costa Rico saladwas fresh and colorful, although not overly decorated like many other Napa Valley restaurants had been doing since her arrival.  At her favorite restaurant in Texas, the only decoration was a handy-wipe towelette on the side of the plate. 

The chunks of cabbage and mango were rather large and the shrimp were very shrimpy when compared to the Jumbo Godzilla Shrimp she’d get in Texas.  There was just about three tiny pieces of avocado and that was disappointing considering it would be the only fat on the plate.  The dressing was light and orangy with a little kick. 

The waitress came over and checked on her once or twice.  A nice bit of attention.  Just then a loud air horn blared.  Her eyes darted, she slid her back against the wall and slipped her hand in her purse.  Her gun was accessible if required but so far it was not. What was happening?  Her transfer orders were not approved yet but she was always on duty.

MIquels Bar & Grill

1437 Lincoln Avenue

Calistoga, California  707-942-6868

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner