Quand je mange avec Pleuve

I just spent a blissful weekend with Pleuve fresh off her return home for the holidays. What made it unforgettable was that we could enjoy each other's company for an extended period of time that wasn't via internet and that we could eat, drink (chai), and be merry! Or as I call it, "Pleuve's Wine and Dine" (minus the wine if you don't count a few sips this evening).

Our two-day food itinerary was as follows:

• Turkey and stuffing sandwiches at Tartine
• Chai at Café Afson
• Dinner at Sushi Garden
• Chai at my place
• Brunch at Market
• Coffee at JJ Bean
• Fondue, macarons, and sex in a pan at Olim's bachelorette party

I think Pleuve loved Sushi Garden the most. We loved their fast and helpful service and delicious salmon sashimi (thanks, Nicky!) and Alaska roll. 

I was very unimpressed with our brunch today though, and don't see myself ever returning to Market. The service continues to be snooty, the variety of choices isn't as great as when we went for my birthday last year (which seems oh so very long ago), and the food wasn't spectacular. 

Here are some more reasons why I do not love thee, Market (or more specified of those above):

• No one offered to take my coat. This wouldn't bother me had they not offered to everyone else.
• There was a long wait time with the host(ess) without any acknowledgement from staff.
• We had to wait 10-15 minutes before I had to flag someone down to take our order.
• Last year, we could choose any two dishes and a dessert for $35 (brunch prix-fixe). Now, you can only choose one appetizer, one main, and a dessert.
• Our place setting did not include bread plates.
• Orange juice costs $7.00. WTML?! Are the oranges imported and hand-squeezed by Italian male models sitting on chaise-longues while being fanned?
• The food was lacklustre: my favourite dish was probably the butternut squash soup (appetizer), which meant it all went downhill after that; my french toast was mostly black; and though the chocolate pudding was rich, I was so full that I couldn't enjoy it. I guess that's my fault about being full.
• We were brought the bill yet again without asking for it even though there were other free tables. It's the second time now that I've taken Pleuve and the second time this has happened. 

I will credit them for their nice bathrooms though. Good enough?

Thanks Pleuve for all our laughs and talks this weekend! I'm sorry Market's mediocrity overshadowed everything else. It's more to deter everyone else from going than what is at the forefront in my mind.

Gesicht.