When Honkman remarks that our expectations may not be realized, since a chef may offer “a different interpretation” of a dish, I don’t think it’s entirely fair, as Ipsedixit does, to dismiss Honkman as somehow saying that dining out then becomes “a game of chance.” Clearly, Honkman is suggesting that happy or positive surprises are possible, whether involving the introduction of an unexpected ingredient or the refinement of ingredients and cooking methods which are familiar to us.
Actually, a case can be made that “chance,” to some extent, is always lurking when we dine out; even when I have visited restaurants that you’ve recommended, Ipsedixit, which I have many times, with some anticipation of what I was likely to eat, vague as that may have been, I’ve often been surprised, most often favorably. But that doesn’t mean that eating out is like going to a casino!
The problem with the Grant Grill was, perhaps, linked to expectations: such a nice place, so carefully appointed, and with such considerate service, surely the food would match in quality. Sadly, on the whole, it didn’t. I agree with the view expressed on this topic that, especially those of us who cook at home, are looking to be “surprised” when we dine out, we’re looking for something that we haven’t been able to do at home because we lack the ingredients, the technology, the experience (refinement) or the ideas – or all of these! It’s not that we’re competing with the chefs whose work we enjoy, but our own work in the kitchen, crude as it may be, heightens our appreciation of theirs; and the money we spend on such food doesn’t exhaust our gratitude for it, either.
Maybe all this is a quibble, but the issue (at least as I see it) – sometimes clearly expressed, sometimes not, – is that of creativity in the preparation and presentation of food. What is it, creativity in food? In a sense, I think, that was what the iceberg vs romaine lettuce dispute was about.
In any case, though I wasn’t happily surprised by the food at the Grant, I have been by the interesting and provocative discussion on the topic.