chicot60
02-10-2013, 07:35 PM
The story has been told of an aristocratic American gentleman, upon visiting Spain for the first time, wanted to truly experience the local culture. And so, on the second day of his visit, he attended a bullfight in one of Spain’s major cities.
That same evening he dined at a fine restaurant in the vicinity of the arena. While having his meal he noticed that a man of obvious means at the next table was served an entre with a delectable scent. He further observed that the man’s plate contained two baseball-sized objects that the man was devouring with great relish.
As the American finished his meal the waiter returned to his table and asked "Did you enjoy your dinner, senor?"
"Yes, very much," replied the man. "But I can’t help but wonder about the dish served to my neighbor at the table to my left. It had the most appetizing odor. Can you please tell me just what the man was eating?"
"Of course, senor," replied the waiter. "As you may know, we have bull fighting here in Madrid. The dish that the gentleman enjoyed so much was the testicles of a brave bull that died in the ring only a few hours ago."
The American was initially put off by the thought of the particular dish, but as the days went by he could think only of the other diner’s pleasure and the special cultural significance of the ritual dish. He finally decided that he must try it for /himself.
And so it happened that on a later evening, just prior to his leaving for home, he found himself at the very head of a long lineup waiting for the doors of the same restaurant to open. Upon entering he gave the same waiter a generous tip and was thus able to order the highly coveted dish. As he awaited the arrival of his dinner, he day-dreamed of the excitement he would experience in relating to his friends back home the details of this very special meal.
Finally, with great fanfare, the waiter arrived back at his table. The dish, covered with a silver dome, was placed reverently before the American. The shining cover was lifted. The diner was delighted to see the two spherical objects as he had observed a few nights earlier, but was rather puzzled to note that the portions were significantly smaller than those he remembered from a few nights earlier. Still, the same delicious aroma filled the air and, with a bottle of the best Spanish red wine, he dined in fine manner, his elation diminished only by a mental image of a younger, smaller bull than the one he had seen die earlier, being sacrificed by the matador’s sword.
The waiter eventually returned to his table. "Were you pleased with your dinner, senor?"
"Yes," replied the American. "My only disappointment was with the size of the serving - much smaller that the portion I remember your serving the gentleman a few nights ago. I assume that today’s bull was the smaller of the two."
"Oh no, senor," shrugged the waiter. "Indeed today’s bull was considerably larger. You see, senor, uh, sometimes ... uh, sometimes the bull ... uh, some times the bull he wins."
That same evening he dined at a fine restaurant in the vicinity of the arena. While having his meal he noticed that a man of obvious means at the next table was served an entre with a delectable scent. He further observed that the man’s plate contained two baseball-sized objects that the man was devouring with great relish.
As the American finished his meal the waiter returned to his table and asked "Did you enjoy your dinner, senor?"
"Yes, very much," replied the man. "But I can’t help but wonder about the dish served to my neighbor at the table to my left. It had the most appetizing odor. Can you please tell me just what the man was eating?"
"Of course, senor," replied the waiter. "As you may know, we have bull fighting here in Madrid. The dish that the gentleman enjoyed so much was the testicles of a brave bull that died in the ring only a few hours ago."
The American was initially put off by the thought of the particular dish, but as the days went by he could think only of the other diner’s pleasure and the special cultural significance of the ritual dish. He finally decided that he must try it for /himself.
And so it happened that on a later evening, just prior to his leaving for home, he found himself at the very head of a long lineup waiting for the doors of the same restaurant to open. Upon entering he gave the same waiter a generous tip and was thus able to order the highly coveted dish. As he awaited the arrival of his dinner, he day-dreamed of the excitement he would experience in relating to his friends back home the details of this very special meal.
Finally, with great fanfare, the waiter arrived back at his table. The dish, covered with a silver dome, was placed reverently before the American. The shining cover was lifted. The diner was delighted to see the two spherical objects as he had observed a few nights earlier, but was rather puzzled to note that the portions were significantly smaller than those he remembered from a few nights earlier. Still, the same delicious aroma filled the air and, with a bottle of the best Spanish red wine, he dined in fine manner, his elation diminished only by a mental image of a younger, smaller bull than the one he had seen die earlier, being sacrificed by the matador’s sword.
The waiter eventually returned to his table. "Were you pleased with your dinner, senor?"
"Yes," replied the American. "My only disappointment was with the size of the serving - much smaller that the portion I remember your serving the gentleman a few nights ago. I assume that today’s bull was the smaller of the two."
"Oh no, senor," shrugged the waiter. "Indeed today’s bull was considerably larger. You see, senor, uh, sometimes ... uh, sometimes the bull ... uh, some times the bull he wins."