EL PULPO

Menu:

Course 1: El Pulpo: served with mangos, parsley and garlic

Course 2: Seared ("raw") Marlin Steaks: served on a bed of lettuce with avocado and tomato

Course 3: Strawberry Salad: five different cheese (did I mention that one of them is bacon flavored)

Course 4: Calamari: served in a butter cream sauce

Course 5: Shrimp: baked in plantains

Course 6: Salmon Manicotti

Course 7: Vino

Graciela our neighbor had announced earlier in the week that she would be making a gourmet dinner for whomever wanted to put 15.000 pesos (equivalent of $7.00) in the pot. Beko (Jota's mom) was anxiously bustling about as I danced my way into the dinner party. Lani had been put to work making sure all appetizers and wine were properly arranged on the table.

I followed her into the kitchen like a gosling, explaining to her that I was not satisfied with my foot work in dance class. She was laughing at me as I showed her the different moves that I had so carelessly, easily and consistently mess up just moments before in dance class. Although Omar (my teacher) was impressed by my improvements in Meringue. We were joking around and I was about to leave the kitchen when Graciela called me back to carry "el pulpo" to the table.

This is when the night took a turn -- I would like to call it a comical turn. I carefully picked up two of the crystal appetizer glasses to bring them to the table. In each glass lay a crisp, fresh piece of lettuce that was covered with a ceviche looking like concoction. I could tell that the mixture contained: mangos, parsely, garlic and a surprise, rubber like seafood. Now being honest with everyone and myself -- I would say that I am a fairly picky eater thanks to Tom and Jenny Wilder. When I was just a little tot I loved seafood until I became extremely ill one night after eating Alaskan King Crab. However, in the last five years I would like to think that I have made great strides with my seafood phobia. I now love fresh fish, lobster, shrimp and crab again! Thanks to Danny and Kelly I can say that I almost enjoy sushi sometimes! However, there are just some types of seafood that no matter what I do or how many times I try them I just can't stomach them.

As I meticulously placed the two glasses on the table, I began to repeat "el pulpo" over and over again in my head. It was a word that I was not familiar with and I had this sinking feeling that it belonged to the feared class of seafood. When I reached the kitchen for the second time I realized that Lani was alone. Before anyone else wandered back into the kitchen the mystery was solved. Lani exclaimed, "It's octopus Megan! And I sampled it...it's so delicious!" This girl was pumped about the appetizer that was awaiting us in the next room.

Under my breath I quickly replied, "I can't stand octopus...let alone the texture." Deep down inside I was wishing that I could somehow bring myself to appreciate and like this food, but it just has not happened. Plus whenever I eat octopus I have these visions of eight legged creatures swimming freely through the sea. As I pondered how I was going to dispose of my octopus I made trips between the kitchen and the patio with the remaining glasses of ceviche.

The ambiance was magnificent with only one light shining on the middle of the table. I figured if I got a place at one of the ends I could slip "mi pulpo" into the gardens or feed it to the hotel cats. No such luck because on my third trip back to the table, Lani was seated smack dab in the middle. There was no way my clever plan would work. Not only was my plate going to be visible the entire night but we were in the midst of everyone. All eyes would be on us!

Lani could see my panic stricken face as I took my seat beside her. We managed to handle the situation fairly well. We politely told Graciela that I had just never acquired a taste for pulpo. And made a joke about how there would be more for everyone. Turning down the first dish was taking a major risk because there was no way I could decline any other food that was placed in front of me. Instead of giving you a play by play of how I choked down the food I will just summarize it below with the menu from above.

Menu:

Course 1: El pulpo -- Megan politely declines.

Course 2: Seared ("raw") Marlin -- Megan gets served a heaping portion. She chews each bite for about 5 minutes. When no one is looking she slips the rest into a napkin and hides it under the table for some creature to feast upon later in the night.

Course 3: Strawberry Salad w/five types of cheese -- Megan is looking forward to washing the raw fish flavor out of her mouth. Her plate gets load with salad, only to find that one of the cheeses is bacon flavored. So she quickly chews and swallows each bite as not to gag on the bacon flavored cheese.

Course 4: Calamari -- When Beko asked Megan if she had calamari salad. Megan quickly and confidently replies "Yes, yes we did." Meaning yeah Lani did.

Course 5: Shrimp w/plantains -- Best dish by far. Edible!

Course 6: Salmon Manicotti --Megan serves everyone so that she can take the smallest portion possible. Normally Megan loves salmon except in pasta...so yeah that was the food in a nutshell.

Course 7: Vino -- When asked if Megan would like wine. She accidentally shouts, "Si!" Embarrassing to say the least...

Let's just say it was quite the menu for Megan's enjoyment! Wish you could have joined us for dinner!

I will try to recreate it when I return.

Until then take care,

Megan