tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5884966880400866785.post8498585922883522657..comments2023-10-26T05:11:58.240-04:00Comments on The Good Life: Escoffier: For Shame!Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11631847963698846644noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5884966880400866785.post-46159520254991826342009-02-26T23:57:00.000-05:002009-02-26T23:57:00.000-05:00Well Sharon I finally got around to reading this a...Well Sharon I finally got around to reading this addition to your blog (my bad) and wanted to let you know that I will be going to the Ristorante Caterina De Medici next month and will let you know how I fare. Sorry you had such a bad experience at what has always been such a fine institution. I hope I fare better, but with Ciara along, I'm sure there will be no repeat of your experience...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5884966880400866785.post-51755164862917895202009-02-21T20:25:00.000-05:002009-02-21T20:25:00.000-05:00Ms. Sharon! We visited Escoffier a couple of years...Ms. Sharon!<BR/> <BR/>We visited Escoffier a couple of years ago to cash out Nancy's CIA gift certificate. I can't say we had a spectacular experience, but it certainly wasn't the letdown that you described. That's too bad :-(. When we went, I found that the servers, if anything, seemed a little nervous. There was an instructor present who seemed to keep a keen eye on everyone. Perhaps that was the difference?<BR/>Unfortunately, I can't remember what I had that night (evidence of the lackluster nature of the evening), so I can't really weigh in on that. <BR/>The broken clam shell made me laugh. You are so right about the broken shells on shellfish. It's embarassing that they put that on the table! I was thinking that it's sort of close to the beginning of the second semester. Maybe some of the servers/cooks are "new" and not quite up to speed? Just a thought. <BR/>As always, a great entry. Keep it up ;-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5884966880400866785.post-4830031706948617842009-02-21T19:08:00.000-05:002009-02-21T19:08:00.000-05:00Hi Nancy - thanks for your comments, and for relay...Hi Nancy - thanks for your comments, and for relaying your experience at the American Bounty Restaurant! It gives me hope - my last visit to the American Bounty was very memorable, but it was also over two years ago. <BR/>I'm not trying to write the CIA off completely--there's too much history there, and I still haven't tried the new Caterini De Medici restaurant. Everyone is entitled to an off night, and I don't even mind if a course is off from time to time; I just really have a problem with sloppy service, or when it's apparent that no one's heart is in it - for exactly the reason you mentioned: MOST people don't go out to eat that often, so staff should try as hard as possible to get it right and make people happy! <BR/>If Escoffier had run out of two of the three prix-fixe desserts on the menu, why not offer up something off of the regular menu? Or why not run across the hall to the American Bounty and steal a dessert from there? <BR/>I suppose I'm getting all riled up again. :-)<BR/>I'm glad to hear you had a wonderful experience - that's the CIA I want to remember.Sharonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11631847963698846644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5884966880400866785.post-61745634604858472212009-02-21T18:47:00.000-05:002009-02-21T18:47:00.000-05:00Sharon, Thanks for creating this blog! Since Jason...Sharon, Thanks for creating this blog! Since Jason and I don't go out to eat often it's nice to hear about good places in the area so we don't waste our money on some unworthy place. We did end up at the CIA in early April, I believe for our anniversary. We had a gift certificate and chose to make our reservations for the American Bounty restaurant. We must have gone on a Saturday or Sunday evening. The service was very good, the only complaint was I had to keep asking for water, they never noticed when the glasses were empty. The food was wonderful. We had soup to start, we each had a different kind but I can't remember the exact flavors. Both of them were extremely salty, almost to the point of not being able to finish the small bowl. Then we had a caesar salad, which was perfect. I can't remember our main courses... I think Jason had some type of lamb, and I might of had a pork chop??? Whatever it was, it was delicious. We ended the evening with the ice cream filled profiteroles which we both really liked too. All in all, a wonderful evening, and we can't wait to go back again. Sorry to hear your experience wasn't as good!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com