La Altena
I was thinking recently that the concept of dinner out with Vida could be expanded to include broader cultural experiences. Although she is still too young to go to performances that do not allow for screaming children I have been considering bringing her to more age appropriate musical and theatrical events. Our first opportunity was a Capoeira demonstration and competition that our friend C was participating in. There was a children’s competition that included some kids from her school and since I would eventually like her to do Capoeira I thought this would be a good introduction. We got there at 6:00 when it was supposed to start but it was clear that they were behind. The snack concession wasn’t even open yet. We walked by the table with tempting examples of the different juices they were going to offer and found some seats. Of course Vida fixated immediately on the concept of juice. I bought some time by getting a couple handfuls of complimentary pretzels. I was thinking we would just stay an hour and go get some dinner but it wasn’t until close to 7 before it began. Vida held it together pretty well. She was moderately interested in the children and enjoyed the singing and drumming. But when the adults started playing with sticks and large knives she was riveted.
Soon after there wasn’t enough pretzels and juice in the world to keep her satisfied. When the adult competition started she forgot entirely about the previous excitement and started yelling above the din “that isn’t a show, that isn’t even a show” more and more emphatically. We quickly headed for the exit and hopefully dinner. There was a nice Italian restaurant across the street but we were way too tired and dirty to go anywhere decent. We were in the Mission on 22nd and Valencia and there was a taqueria on the corner, La Altena but there were no customers inside and I took that as a sign. We walked towards Mission Street and came across another taqueria that had a few more customers. Vida was moving into the “I can’t walk part of the evening” so I reluctantly decided we would stay. I was so hungry—it was getting close to 8 o’clock-- that whatever meat they had rotating on a spit was looking irresistible. I ordered a burrito for us to share and we sat down in the back at a dirty table also inhabited by some Mission white boys. Their scintillating conversation about beer failed to distract me from the disconcerting amount of grime and random restaurant supplies throughout the restaurant.
When Vida announced that she had to go to the bathroom I started to panic. I wanted to get her somewhere else but we were still eating the burrito, which was actually quite delicious. I decided to brave the bathroom. I have Vida well trained in what not to do in public restrooms such as DON’T TOUCH ANYTHING!!! In this situation the admonition was particularly relevant considering there was no toilet seat. Just ponder that for a moment. How disturbing is it in a restaurant that employees and serves women that there is no toilet seat. I carefully held Vida over the toilet terrified that she would pee all over her pants and be inconsolable. Luckily she successfully hit the bowl. After that, I was even less interested in eating and we quickly packed up and left. As we left I noted the name of the taqueria that as it turns out, was another branch of La Altena. I guess even when it comes to mediocre taquerias its all about location.
As we walked back toward our car parked in front of the Capoeira studio I asked Vida if she wanted to go home or see more Capoeira. She wasn’t ready to go home so we went back to the demonstration for more adult competition and songs. She sat enthralled down on the floor near the front with some other children. One tiny girl in miniature Capoeira pants was getting a little too friendly and Vida turned toward me looking for help. Even though she was clearly getting pushed around she remained calm.
Earlier in the evening Vida wanted some water. I was so tired of getting up and down taking her to the bathroom and getting her pretzels, juice and fruit that I pulled out a dollar and told her to go buy her own water. She looked at me like I was insane. I pointed to the concession that she had already visited at least a half a dozen times and explained that if she gave the woman the dollar and said “water” she would get water. She got this look in her eye that said, “I can do this” and she got up and bought her own water. I was so proud of her confidence and courage. The entire evening felt like an approach to a milestone. I can’t even say with conviction that Vida is three years old anymore. She’s going to be four.
Restaurant Total: 106
Red Jade Alice's Eric's
On Valentine’s Day we were invited to Vida’s friend T’s birthday party. The kids had a blast running in and out of a giant rainbow parachute and going up and down plastic slides. As the afternoon went on Vida took riskier jumps from the slides earning her a “danger girl” epithet. Another parent commented that Vida’s “middle name was danger”. I’m afraid they know something that I don’t since usually she is clingy and whiney when I’m around and I have to beg her to go down a slide. But, it is so disheartening to see the segregation between the boys and girls activities that anything that breaks the pattern is such a relief. The usual piñata trauma and cake high ensued before we made our exit and headed out for dinner.
It was at least appropriate in a semantic sense that we ate at Red Jade on Church Street last Saturday night since I was feeling a bit cynical about Dinner With Vida. My mental accumulation of restaurant ideas is taking up valuable space in my brain. Each one is accompanied by the likelihood of finding parking, the distance we may have to walk and alternate possibilities if one plan goes awry. I just haven’t had any inspiring ideas lately. I thought the red theme was appropriate for Valentine’s Day anyway and let that be the deciding factor.
I’m beginning to think there is a larger conspiracy in the design of Chinese restaurants lately. Every new Chinese restaurant seems to model itself on the successful Eric’s. Alice’s on Sanchez just blocks away is the first copy-cat that comes to mind. It has an almost identical menu and dining room hinting of a possible internecine battle between the two restaurants. The layout of the menu is identical with traditional dishes flanking a central section of house specials. Jasmine Tea House uses the same menu layout and I was far from surprised to see a similar design in the menu at Red Jade. My complaint isn’t really the superficial similarities but sameness in the food. The slick and clean environment seems more important than the food.
Of course I’m responsible for the fact that I order fried rice in every Chinese restaurant we go to. Not unusually the fried rice at Red Jade consisted of seasoned rice with frozen peas and carrots. I also ordered a fried chicken that was pressed, deep-fried and served with shrimp chips and a small dish of pepper salt to dip into. Vida ate her share of rice and all of the shrimp chips. The chicken was tasty and the rice was fine. I laid down the law on soda since she had just eaten a pile of cake, candy and juice at the party. Surprisingly, she didn’t put up a fuss. It was a more or less pleasant, uneventful meal. I’m going to have to visit a great Chinese restaurant soon before I lose my taste for the entire cuisine.
Restaurant Total: 121
