Blog/June 2024/Jun 21st

June 21st

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So this week, I made a “beta-release” of zemanim, for all platforms except iOS. If you’re interested in helping out with testing it, just write to me.

Esther turned mumble years old the other day, so I made arrangements to go to a restaurant we have enjoyed over the past decades, a place that is “special” in that it’s a cut-above what we normally do. I believe we now need to revisit that tradition.

The greeter asked if we wanted to sit inside or outside; since it was 30C outside, we opted for indoor seating. She then told us, “there isn’t room inside”. So, dear, why did you give us the option? There was nobody else outside, which explains why there was no room inside, I suppose. I blame it on the war.

We waited more than twenty minutes for a server to show up. In the meantime, others filtered into our cozy outside area. When the server eventually did show up, the greeter took him around the tables and started him off — not with us, that would be silly! — but with a couple that had just arrived.

Some fifteen minutes later, the server (a nice lad, but clearly new to the trade) came to our table and asked what we wanted. So we ordered Stella beer (30C temps, you know?). 33cl for Esther, 50cl for me. We also ordered steaks: 250g medium-well for her (no accounting for taste!), 350g medium-rare for me. We also ordered a cold-plate appetizer. Then we waited.

Water was brought, surprisingly for Israel; and more surprisingly, ice-cubes were in the glasses. Were things looking up?

Then our beers arrived. 33cl for both of us. We mentioned to the server that we’d ordered one 50cl, and he said, “there’s only one size”. So… again, dear, why did the server take the order for a 50? We then tasted our beers, which were flat. Told the server, he offered to replace them. The replacements were also flat. I blame it on the war.

Not willing to make a fuss, we soldiered (so to speak) through our drinks, awaiting the appetizer. Our steaks arrived first. Both the same size. There was neither salt nor pepper nor any other condiment on the table. I blame it on the war.

At least the steaks were tasty, if unevenly cooked. Some time later, the cold plate arrived; it’s difficult to call it a “first course” when it arrives after the “main course”, but things are disorganized, I suppose, because of… you know.

Esther was uninterested in trying our luck with a dessert, so we got the bill and paid. Prices were half again as much as what we’d paid last time (there’s no inflation, though, I’ve been reliably told). I BLAME IT ON THE WAR!

I’ll be drafting a note to the restaurant management; I expect nothing whatsoever will come of it, but one must try!

Afterwards, we wandered through the “Hebrew Book Fair” and picked up a nice set of books for the Grands. Then we bumped into one of my cousins and her husband, and had a pleasant conversation. So, all in all, the outing was worth it.

The weather was less toasty than last week, but it was summer-hot during the day and not quite cooling down overnight. Still hoping for normal summer weather…

Happy birthday, Esther! The meals this shabbat include the presence of Sarah and Yarin. Sur la table:
homemade ḥalla, baked salmon, rice, Japanese squash, green beans, baked chicken, various salatim, fruit, and various desserts.

Until next time,
shabbat shalom!

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