"Fruit or Vegetable?"
Looking at a Greek restaurant’s menu and seeing foreign food can be confusing and exciting. For the past five months I have declined red meats but I wouldn’t turn down this delicacy in Greece. I have experienced rabbit, rooster and lamb (or as the Greeks like to spell it ‘lamp’). One of the best dinners I have had while in Greece took place a few nights ago when a group ventured to the beach. We stationed ourselves at a restaurant on the beach looking out over the water. For the most part, ordering our food has not been overly difficult. I have picked up how to say “I would like” and even pointing to the menu has come in handy. However, even with the universal communication of pointing to my desired meal, I experience the worst luck with dinning out. Given the fact that our group is large enough to fill a banquet hall, it sometimes can lead to a confused waiter. The smell of food weaves through the air and soon enough each person has a delicacy sitting in front of them…everyone but me. I placed my order with the group but by a block of communication, I did not receive my meal. The group was a good sport and patiently waited while I dinned at least thirty minutes after them. We shared stories and laughs and got to know each other even better.
One meal time trauma isn’t enough for me. Tonight at dinner, I was in the mood for a sandwich. At first I had the all Greek menu and there wasn’t a possible glimpse of hope in me decoding it. I ordered what I thought was the caprese sandwich, but little did I know. Our beautiful waitress (as the boys liked to refer to her) brought us a plate of tomatoes and a few slices of mozzarella. We were surprised as most restaurants give bread to start out the meal and over half of the population at the dinner table turned noises at the view of the plate full of the red tomatoes. The meals arrived and I didn’t have my sandwich. I asked the waitress and she came over with the menu to show me that the caprese is under the appetizer section. Well, my plate full of tomatoes was not the sandwich I was hoping for. No matter how long it takes for my food to arrive or how many times I must re-order, I am experiencing the Greek spice of life every day.