The 5 reasons of what influences what and why

For this blog, I thought that in addition to the things I do, as in the previous Rimbaud post, I could also give an opinion about some places I visit. Included in those things more eyes should see. Or noses smell. Or palates taste, or musics hear or skins absorb…

Today I went to a restaurant that opened recently in Lisbon and for what I had high expectations, do not ask me why.

And then I thought, why? Why should I write? What is the purpose? How truthful and honest should I be? How truthful and honest are the critics around? It is not my agenda to bring more people to the restaurante, but if I do so, I’m glad. It is not my agenda to obtain the contrary result, as well. But why do people write on Zomato and the like? Taking into what account? Unless it is a terrible experience or the extreme opposite, I do not know if I can quite grasp it.

At this time, I should interrupt to explain that I wont be giving 5 reason for anything. I will not have bold topics that summarize ideas. It is my hope to not bore you, and for you to stick with me (willingly) untill the end. I used the number because it is said to make titles more appealing, does it?

I’m a peaky eater, cranky, impatient, and sometimes I get headackes… and I believe all of this factors influence my opinion. What about other people? I wonder if they are always ready to have a good experience, are they?

Sometimes a difficulty in parking your car is all it takes for the hunger to get bigger and the patience smaller. Or to actually not be that hungry. Or it can be one of those days when everything we eat tastes differentely. Therefore, that tale that says we only have one chance to make a good first impression, being true, it must be analyzed everytime, and many times contradicted. At least that is what I think, today, for restaurants, which is what I’m talking about …took me a long time to park in Santa Apolonia, just imagine … with construction sites to the mix … which was no longer what I was expecting of Lisbon.

When I arrived at the restaurant door, I discover an aluminum terrace and a small door. Not the way I imagined the entrance to Caza to be, not even the place mats on the aluminum tables describing what you can order at different times of the day… much like the cafeteria in El Corte Inglês. On the other hand, I found this a curious approach, that repeats itself on the menu. Different.

Only after I sat down and have felt a certain darkness in the room, I noticed my surroundings.

The space is cool. Comfortable. Pleasant. And by dinner time there is an extra room available.

On another day, the scarcity of light might be enjoyable, today it felt cold. Over and above not liking the turned on TV in the corner of the room …

The bread and snacks from the couvert were quite good. I’m not a fan of rissóis de camarão or pastéis de bacalhau, but they went down quite nicely, possibly because of the construction sites! If I’m being honest, the croquettes were per-fect!

Starters were ordered: Peixinhos da horta (who besides green beans had a carrot and a strip of corn) and the cestinhos de alheira. Hea-ven.

We ordered two soups as well (and I, who have a terrible habit of trying everything on the plates surrounding me, tasted both) one made of tomato, and another made of pumpkin… the description printed on the menu made it more appealing that it was in fact, but now that I mention it, I would eat them again.

I was indecisive when choosing the main course. I was wanting meat, because sometimes I feel like I need it, but I also wanted the octopus, or the tuna, or a risotto.

I chose the meat, that failed to lift me off the ground, possibly because I was craving it so much. And for being so picky with this type of food. It was very tender. In fact, I think it was the tenderest meat I have ever had. Almost came apart with the fork.

I still managed to fit a desert inside my stomach, even though the space at this time was so limited. And I ate it all, and there was a few centimeters of sweet. Centimeters of flavors and textures. It was very good.

The Chef visited the table quite a few times, because he was making tiny alterations to the courses, and this might have implicated that they would not look like the pictures on the menu, The Chef Thiago Menezes was cordial, delightful and thoughtful.

In the room, there were two ladies helping A youngster who should be learning the trade, I hope. Another more experienced. Both of them quite nice, but not very attentive. Or maybe, we were too demanding. (I ate the dessert with the coffee spoon that fortunately I had asked before)

In one of the Chef’s visits, he suggested that we comment and post photos on Zomato. Of course I went there, curious of what was being said about it. And of everything, what I found most funny, were the answers to the comments. The normal ones, from the restaurant itself and the not so normal ones, from the Chef trying, to justify some irregularities. These were the ones that made me think about this piece of writing from another angle.

Therefore, visit Caza and visit again and write in Zomato, so I can peep in there later!

#Zomato #lisbon #portugal #restaurante #Caza #blog #opinion #foodie