This afternoon the invitation came out for the annual winter ISE dinner. And it puts me in something of a pickle.
I am supposed to plan next year’s dinner. I have been included basically zero in the planning of this year’s dinner. So it’s not like I will be taking over with any insight. But I still feel like I am supposed to go to this year’s dinner. Expected to do so. To at least provide me some clue for next year.
Obviously, no one asked my opinion about the food. Looking at the menu… there is nothing I want to eat at this year’s dinner. So, I don’t want to go. I have zero interest in spending nearly 90 Euros on gizzards and quail or goat cheese with fruit de mer over fish. (fish alone is ok, but fish with squid and crap on it, well, no thank you) Those are our menu choices. At least, the best I can figure, those are our choices. Some of the words don’t even translate. Even dessert doesn’t offer something Bill would want.
I honestly don’t know what I’m going to do. Maybe I’ll go alone, so at least we don’t have to pay for two nasty meals.
To be the planner next year does mean it would help to see how participants react to how this one is presented. That leaves you with two choices: (1) conduct an exit poll, or (2) go yourself and watch others. This year’s planners must think total immersion in the local cuisine culture is desired, rather than import In N’ Out Burgers and Krispy Kreme for dessert to surprise the ISE clan already immersed in unfamiliarity daily. To circumvent having to consume dubious fare personally, one could eat beforehand so merely picking at appetizer trays or any innocent-looking part of the entree would fly. Don’t have any suggestions for avoiding the 90 euro tab, beyond admitting to the committee that the menu items presented to you would likely upset your fragile digestive system…..perhaps you could reimburse them for a bar tab and you could socialize with them but restrict your consumption to liquor, which on the cheap kills the bad germs in your stomach.
Mandy,
I got a kick out of this one. I too groaned when I saw the menu. Who decides this stuff? I eventually went with the one that I thought I was most likely to eat part of. Remind me to eat a bowl of cereal before we leave for the dinner. See you there!