Yesterday was unseasonably warm for mid-January. With the temperature hoovering around 70 degrees, it was a perfect day to be out and about. Because it also was a holiday, a group of eight of us met for lunch at Lewis and Clark in St. Charles, MO, to celebrate my niece's birthday. Maybe it was the warm weather, but I decided to try something different. I ordered the spicy gumbo soup and house salad. It was the first time I had their gumbo, and it was a spicy surprise. I would order it again.
After lunch, four of us decided to take a walk down Main Street and visit some shops. First on our agenda was Main Street Book Store. Vicky, the owner, welcomed us warmly, and we chatted a bit. The store looks great. I intended to ask if Vicky had any copies of the St. Louis Writers' Guild anthology, but as usual I got side-tracked talking and looking around and forgot to ask. After my sister bought a crossword book for her husband, we were on our way.
The warm weather brought out shoppers. The street was busy, which is a good thing for the merchants, but not so good if you're trying to jay-walk across the street.
After a few more stops I bought some candles, and my sister-in-law found a cute pair of earrings. Next was Riverside Sweets for their peanut brittle, which my brother-in-law claims is the best he's ever eaten, and my husband also likes to munch on. Their chocolate-covered pretzels are yummy. The store was crowded, with long lines to order ice cream and pay for candy. Some folks, entered, saw the long lines, then left.
After paying, I waited outside for the others in our group. I watched a husband, wife, grandma, and young girl about seven walk in then quickly exit. The girl complained, "But Daddy, I want an ice cream." Her father told her, "Life's a b****. We need to find a bathroom." Why would a dad talk to his daughter that way, no matter how badly he needed to find a bathroom?
As we wandered to our cars I spotted a sign at another store. The white, letter-size sign was hand-printed in black and read: "CHOCOLATE COVERED BACON." I did a second take on that one and wished I'd brought my camera.
My first thought was that eating meat covered with chocolate just doesn't seem right. As much as I like chocolate (and bacon is okay), I don't think meat dipped in chocolate would be tasty. But what do I know? I've eaten ham cooked with brown sugar and pineapple on top. Maybe the chocolate covered bacon is a sweet and salty combination like a chocolate-covered pretzel.
As I got in the van and drove home I decided that judging without trying limits my experiences and narrows my thinking. While I doubt that I'll ever try the chocolate-covered bacon, my lesson yesterday was to enjoy the surprises in life--like 70 degree weather in January and spicy gumbo soup--and be open to new ideas and experiences. Isn't that what creativity is all about?
What about you? Have you tried something you didn't think you'd like but were pleasantly surprised?
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Chocolate-covered bacon? Yep. Chocolate-covered Twinkie? Yep. Chocolate bars with chilis? Yep. Deep-fried Oreos? Yep. :)
ReplyDelete(I swear, we do actually eat salads and such!)
You have an adventerous spirit!
DeleteWhat a beautiful, thought-provoking day you had!
ReplyDeleteThanks for "taking" me to some of my favorite places in your region!
Hi Claudia,
DeleteIf you ever get up this way give me a call and we can visit Main Street.
donna
Hi Donna! I would try chocolate covered bacon! It's like chocolate covered pretzels, in a way. That mixture of salty and sweet. YUM! Of course, the bacon would HAVE to be crispy. Can you imagine if it wasn't? Ewww!
ReplyDeleteOh, and the things I hear people say to their children...In fact, just yesterday I was about ready to speak my mind to a mom in a local store. And to this day, I'm still haunted by something I overheard about 20 YEARS ago.
Oh, yeah, Becky. The bacon would have to be crisp.
DeleteThat's sad about what you overheard 20 years ago. It's a fine line between correcting a child's behavior and humiliating them. There's a gentle way to do it without scaring them (and people around) for life.
Donna
I used to avoid sushi, having never tried it but had already decided I did not like it. Now I love it (at least the sushi with tuna or salmon).
ReplyDeleteI also had never tried crab rangoon until I was in my 30's; I had avoided it as well. Sadly, for my hips and gut's sake, I now love it.
Yes, if you listen in the grocery store, you will get an earful when eavesdropping on families talking.
Hi Sioux,
DeleteI've never tried sushi, but I like seafood and fresh water fish, so maybe I'll try it.
Crab ragoon--now, that's something I like--and it shows.
Donna
I don't know if I would try chocolate covered bacon or not. I like them both separately, but they don't sound too good together.
ReplyDeleteI agree.
DeleteOh Donna, dark chocolate covered ANYthing, yes. Sounds like you had a fun day.
ReplyDeleteHi Linda,
DeleteIt was a fun day!
Donna
As for trying foods...our family is kind of the opposite. We try things we think we'll like, only to be sorely disappointed. Like that appealing potato-cheese bake that I dipped into at the school pot-luck Thanksgiving dinner. It was a corn casserole. I wanted to spit it out on my plate, but refrained. As a kid, my mom grabbed a big serving spoon full of ice cream while her mother's back was turned. It was cottage cheese. She can't even look at it now.
ReplyDeleteHi Val,
DeleteCottage cheese! Now that's funny.
Here's another funny food tidbit. When my husband first came to America he thought mayonnaise was ice cream in a jar, so he ate a whole jar. He cannot even look at mayo now.
Donna
Good for you for resolving to try new things. I'm pretty open to doing that. I'm trying to think of something I thought I wouldn't like but I'm coming up blank. Turning it around, though...I thought I'd love snorkeling and couldn't wait to do it. Turns out I didn't like it at all. I liked seeing the fish and stuff, but not being forced to breathe through my mouth.
ReplyDeleteHi Carol,
DeleteIt's good that you're open to new experiences; I've wondered what snorkeling was like by have never tried it.
Donna
Can't believe no one has tried chocolate covered bacon. I had some, but was a little disappointed and decided that I could make it much better :-) but I haven't done so yet because I know I'll just eat it all. Nice thought provoking post.
ReplyDeleteHi Lynn,
DeleteYou are an adventurous soul!
Donna