17.6.07

It's a kind of magic.

Last night, I decided to check out the Cypress Club -- a "members only" establishment here in the city. From the outside, it's a solid brick building with a huge wooden double door in front. Its name is above the door in brass letters, and that is its sole adornment.

Already, I'm happy.

I go inside, and the chef introduces himself. There's no menu -- he simply asks what you'd like. I requested "something interesting", and he came out with half a grilled pineapple, stuffed with shrimp and scallops in a coconut sauce, served on a bed of couscous. In case you couldn't tell, this is the start of a long and happy patronage.

It gets better, though. After supper, I checked out the games room on the second floor. There's a gigantic snooker table, and a shuffleboard, but the pièce de resistance is their poker room. It's a small room with four chairs, a hotline to the bar, and a round felt-covered table which is 124 years old. Over a century of poker, played on that surface. It's breath-taking.

Unfortunately, it really brings out the mischievous imp in me. I've never played a game of Magic: The Gathering in my life, but the thought of befouling such a room with those cards...

I know. I'm a horrible, horrible person.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

One must ask. How was the grilled pineapple etc?

Unknown said...

"Fukui-san!"

"Go, Ohta!"

"I've learned that the challenger has decided not to mask the natural sweetness of the pineapple, but rather, accentuate it in his sauce! When asked about this decision, he replied that the grilled bell peppers presented an earthy tone too powerful to go unrivaled!"

"Ooh, that sounds scary!"

"Don't worry, miss, the challenger claims that his scallops are cooked to perfection, making them warm and inviting to the tongue!"

...I could go on, but I'm sure you get the idea: I was pleased.

Unknown said...

Sigh. I miss that show.