I've mentioned before how I have issues when I go out to restaurant. Usually I like to stare at what other people are bringing to a BYO. But, I have another issue, that has happened to me more than once at establishments that own a liquor license.
I always pick out the bottle of wine. That's my thing and my husband lets me handle the selection. Sometimes I will ask him to choose or get his opinion, but the bottle selection is in my department. I had a boss in the advertising world who always let me pick out the wine with clients. She didn't drink, but she trusted me to always pick out a selection in her budget that would impress.
When I select a good bottle of wine, I'm also looking at the vintages. I tried to order a 2001 Brunello at a posh restaurant in Ramsey, NJ owned by David Burke years ago. I will never say a bad word about this guy. I've had the pleasure of hanging out with him once and he is a real down-to-earth, nice, fun-loving guy. His restaurant is so unlike him. It's very snobbish. At least his waiter was. He tried to bring me a 2002 Brunello. Now, what a 2002 Brunello is doing on Burke's list is a mystery. I'm going to chalk that one up to a wine director who was not paying attention when he received his shipment. 2002 is the worst year for Brunello and this waiter was trying to pass this crappy bottle off on me. Except, I called him out on it and he was shocked. So, I asked for the wine list back again.
Recently we went out in Kenilworth and I was first looked at the wine list online, only to find out the menu was different when we sat down. I spotted a 2001 Barolo, much to my delight. We were celebrating our anniversary and that was the year we were married and it's an exceptional year for Barolo. Of course, when I ordered, the server brought over a 2004. I told him that I ordered the 2001. He said, "oh, is that what the menu said?" I said yes. He ran away and over came the wine director. No 2001, so I went back to the wine list to find a delicious alternate selection. 2004 was a great year, but my sentimental meaning was now lost.
But, do they do this on purpose? Am I just some dumb woman who doesn't know what I'm doing and they think they can pass off other items on me? Little do they know that I'm paying attention.
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