What do you want to serve me?

I’m not a ‘super-taster’ (if that’s actually a thing and not something the Food Network invented). I don’t actually care what I eat as long as it isn’t still alive or involving mushrooms. So I’m perfectly happy deferring to the powers-that-be to make my food selection.

During my West Africa business travel, the ‘powers-that-be’ come in two forms. The first and by far the most dominant is availability. Most stuff just isn’t available, and don’t be fooled by a silly listing in a menu. First you get brought a massive menu, then you pick something, then you’re told it’s not available, then you pick something else, then the waiter disappears for an hour, and then you’re brought something totally different.  I try to start with “what is your plate of the day” and if I’m lucky, they just tell me what they do have.

But then, once in a while there actually are multiple things to choose from. In that case, the second ‘power-that-is’ enters, and that’s what the waiter really wants you to eat. This was my first lunch at the hotel restaurant in Niger. Supposedly everything on the menu was to be had. So I picked something at random and then the waiter came back a few moments later to say “well next time you really should try this”. And then he hovered a lot. He then described to me how it’s really their best dish and then lingered some more. Alright- bring me that then! A giant smile spread across his face and when he actually brought me the meal you could see how happy he was to give me the specialty. Fine by me.

So new strategy is “what do you have” and then “what do you want me to eat”.