Yesterday was lunch with Grandma and her retirement home cronies.
The restaurant was East Ocean, a Chinese restaurant I've driven by probably a thousand times but I've never visited because the parking lot has always been almost empty which made me think not many people go there, which may be a mistake since I drive by at odd times and that's probably not a fair way to judge a restaurant but there you have it.
Ah, the inner workings of my mind boggle, don't they?
Anyway, one of the residents recommended this place, and sang its praises the entire time we were there, which was awhile because it takes that group awhile to sit down (at a table that was originally set up as one big one then broken down because big tables are a pain to pay out since usually one check is required), review menus/choose, then eat, then, OMG, pay out. So at least an hour and a half.
During which my Grandma Gin burned her mouth on her spicy spicy scallops (that she'd ordered because 'everyone said the scallops were to die for...and cheap too') that she refused to trade with my less spicy yet intensely salty chicken chow mein. But she sputtered and complained the entire lunch, and martyrdom was her role of preference for the event. This may help explain some of my stubbornness...I think I come by it directly down the maternal line. It's simple genetics.
And during which Grandma's friend Helen made significant inroads into a big plate of chow mein, sweet and sour pork and fried rice, which is cool since Helen is known for ordering yet not eating much. And everyone was relieved that she ate.Which made her grin. Which made me think Helen knows how to get attention if she needs it.
And also during which a very negative, very loud, very wide woman who closely resembles the Dick Tracy villain Flattop Jones, though sporting very long fake nails, red, complained incessantly about everything. If she could see it, she could diss it. And she did that for the entire lunch. But we all ignored her...at some point she became background noise, though I did see my Grandma frowning from time to time as a particularly offensive remark wafted across the table...
Also during which I attempted to restore the ring on Grandma's phone. She somehow silenced it...and for an hour I focused on that bad boy and could.not.find.where.to.turn.on.the.ringer.again. But I didn't get upset because technology can be like that and cell phones are all different, and few of them are intuitive but still, I could have used the success, you know? People assume I'm tech savvy since I direct the marketing efforts for a tech company but that's not true. A fact to which any of my very patient colleagues will attest ...
An hour and a half at the beginning of which the woman who recommended this place in the first place became flustered because she was there for the egg foo yung, but they don't serve it on the lunch menu ...you have to order off the dinner menu, and it'll cost more. She whined. She tried everything she could think of to convince the waitress to serve up a lunch sized portion, but to no avail. After which she resorted to just begging for a 'sample'. Seriously. She ended up ordering a small bowl of wonton soup. Oh, and she was inspired to make a very important phone call right in the middle of things...which we heard, of course, though we attempted not to listen. I just hope her daughter's biopsy turns out ok.
In then end, it was a pleasant lunch, and, as always, it was nice to see everyone. They're a remarkable group, the youngest of which entered this life over 80 years ago, and when they get on a roll and talk about their experiences, it's a hoot. Also, their lack of filters is refreshing. They just say it like it is.
So I hugged Grandma goodbye, and promised to be at the next one, which is only two weeks away since this was technically a makeup lunch for the one that got canceled when it snowed and the city shut down. Next time we get to eat Brazilian..lots of grilled meats, and per the strange little man/lifestyle director (former high school teacher), 'Their desserts are as big as your head which makes it worthwhile to go even if you're a vegetarian!'
I'm in.
But now I'm just trying to get some serious water retention under control. I'm pretty sure East Ocean may be the last Chinese restaurant in the free world to still use copious amounts of MSG. I could feel it in my mouth during the meal, and definitely know I'm retaining for no good reason. Seriously.
TMI?
You're welcome.
The restaurant was East Ocean, a Chinese restaurant I've driven by probably a thousand times but I've never visited because the parking lot has always been almost empty which made me think not many people go there, which may be a mistake since I drive by at odd times and that's probably not a fair way to judge a restaurant but there you have it.
Ah, the inner workings of my mind boggle, don't they?
Anyway, one of the residents recommended this place, and sang its praises the entire time we were there, which was awhile because it takes that group awhile to sit down (at a table that was originally set up as one big one then broken down because big tables are a pain to pay out since usually one check is required), review menus/choose, then eat, then, OMG, pay out. So at least an hour and a half.
During which my Grandma Gin burned her mouth on her spicy spicy scallops (that she'd ordered because 'everyone said the scallops were to die for...and cheap too') that she refused to trade with my less spicy yet intensely salty chicken chow mein. But she sputtered and complained the entire lunch, and martyrdom was her role of preference for the event. This may help explain some of my stubbornness...I think I come by it directly down the maternal line. It's simple genetics.
And during which Grandma's friend Helen made significant inroads into a big plate of chow mein, sweet and sour pork and fried rice, which is cool since Helen is known for ordering yet not eating much. And everyone was relieved that she ate.Which made her grin. Which made me think Helen knows how to get attention if she needs it.
And also during which a very negative, very loud, very wide woman who closely resembles the Dick Tracy villain Flattop Jones, though sporting very long fake nails, red, complained incessantly about everything. If she could see it, she could diss it. And she did that for the entire lunch. But we all ignored her...at some point she became background noise, though I did see my Grandma frowning from time to time as a particularly offensive remark wafted across the table...
Also during which I attempted to restore the ring on Grandma's phone. She somehow silenced it...and for an hour I focused on that bad boy and could.not.find.where.to.turn.on.the.ringer.again. But I didn't get upset because technology can be like that and cell phones are all different, and few of them are intuitive but still, I could have used the success, you know? People assume I'm tech savvy since I direct the marketing efforts for a tech company but that's not true. A fact to which any of my very patient colleagues will attest ...
An hour and a half at the beginning of which the woman who recommended this place in the first place became flustered because she was there for the egg foo yung, but they don't serve it on the lunch menu ...you have to order off the dinner menu, and it'll cost more. She whined. She tried everything she could think of to convince the waitress to serve up a lunch sized portion, but to no avail. After which she resorted to just begging for a 'sample'. Seriously. She ended up ordering a small bowl of wonton soup. Oh, and she was inspired to make a very important phone call right in the middle of things...which we heard, of course, though we attempted not to listen. I just hope her daughter's biopsy turns out ok.
In then end, it was a pleasant lunch, and, as always, it was nice to see everyone. They're a remarkable group, the youngest of which entered this life over 80 years ago, and when they get on a roll and talk about their experiences, it's a hoot. Also, their lack of filters is refreshing. They just say it like it is.
So I hugged Grandma goodbye, and promised to be at the next one, which is only two weeks away since this was technically a makeup lunch for the one that got canceled when it snowed and the city shut down. Next time we get to eat Brazilian..lots of grilled meats, and per the strange little man/lifestyle director (former high school teacher), 'Their desserts are as big as your head which makes it worthwhile to go even if you're a vegetarian!'
I'm in.
But now I'm just trying to get some serious water retention under control. I'm pretty sure East Ocean may be the last Chinese restaurant in the free world to still use copious amounts of MSG. I could feel it in my mouth during the meal, and definitely know I'm retaining for no good reason. Seriously.
TMI?
You're welcome.
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