The Birthday Dinner
When I was a kid, we didn’t get to eat out much. It was expensive and if we did do it, it was usually fast food. But sometimes, on my birthday, I’d get to choose a nice “sit-down” place, and of course, every time I’d choose the restaurant, Mr. Steak. Guess what they served?
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In the old days, I loved red meat. And when I say red meat, I mean meat that was once red. Because as a kid I wanted every burger and steak as black on the outside and brown on the inside as possible. If there was even a hint of pink, I couldn’t do it.
Of course, now I know that I wasn’t getting the full experience of the flavors that red meat can attain and only order things medium rare, but frankly, at a place called “Mr. Steak,” they probably weren’t known for the most tender filet mignon in town anyway.
That said, there was always something pink on the table, just not in meat form. My classy drink of choice to go with my classy meal, was the overly-sweet, Shirley Temple. Not really understanding what mocktails were (I don’t think that was even a term in the 80's), but also knowing that it was something my 8-year-old self probably couldn’t make, I looked forward to it every year.
I can still picture that restaurant when I think about those good days. Light-rouge-colored carpets, dark wood and black tables and decor, and, if I remember correctly, crystal chandelier lighting. Doesn’t get much classier in late-80’s suburban America.
