Lunch out vs. Dinner in

Rob and I tried The Broken Spoke Cafe for lunch today. It's been right down the street from us for 3 years and we always thought it had a diner menu so we stayed away. Today we looked it up on the Internet, examined the menu and decided today was the day to give it a try. It was presented as "Belgium in the old 6th ward", which sounded pretty delicious. We got there right as they opened. After we were seated the owner greeted us and informed us that they didn't have bread for sandwiches, that someone had gone out for it, but that it would be about a ten minute wait. We were okay with a short wait. Rob had his eye on the curried chicken sandwich, but the owner told us they didn't have it on the menu anymore (but it was on the menu). So Rob ordered the daily special: "Beef Diablo with pommes frites" and I the Salade Nicoise. Bread showed up while we were eating and was delivered by a cute, flirty Belgium guy (part owner, bartender, who cares!?). I have to say, he was the most exciting part of the overall experience, unfortunately. My salad was, in a word, uninspired. The tuna was dry, the green beans, not French, but frozen, the olives were canned and not Nicoise. The Diablo sauce was good and spicy, but the beef was a bit chewy and the fries were too salty. Both the owner and the Belgium guy came by to check on us - nice touch. Ladies, if you want to be flirted with by a cute Belgium guy, I highly recommend this cafe. For cuisine, I'm driving right on by next time.

In sharp contrast was dinner at home tonight! I tried the fish taco recipe from my new favorite cookbook, "My Father's Daughter" by Gwyneth Paltrow. Beer battered cod (I used Shiner Bock beer for a Texas touch)with homemade pico de gallo, guacamole, salted cabbage and lime crema on corn tortillas. My oh my! It was delicious! Score one for the home team. That's what I call having it all.