dining alone (with Le Carre)

It wasn't long after moving here in in 1994 that I first walked in and had a seat at the counter at the Cordon Bleu on California street. Since then, I've been there countless times. Usually it's a late afternoon. There are 6 items on the menu. I always get the #3, a grilled marinated pork over rice with a tomato meat sauce with a little cabbage salad. About a decade ago I went through a phase of getting the combo. But now I'm back to the good old #3. It's got a little tang, it's peppery and filling. And it's about $8. Throw in a Diet Coke and a decent tip and you're out the door.

I was back there this past Saturday when it occurred to me, I've been coming here for many years and I don't remember once coming with another person. Not once. I looked around and I was in the company of a group of other men, each of us on our own. Each of us in a ritual of solitude. And perhaps a newspaper.

The counter itself is the same as the first day I walked in. On the other side of the counter there's at least one pot looking like it's been there since the first day I visited. The service is friendly but I wouldn't say I ever go there to talk. King of Thai is mostly the same for me, although I'm alone there in being alone. There are a few locations around town but I always go to one of the two on Clement Street. Which of the two is decided entirely based on parking. Here it's #21-- ground pork with chili's and garlic. And the bill is about the same, $12 all in. These days my dining alone is with a second run through John LeCarre's Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. I am happy beyond words to learn there is a new film version coming out with Gary Oldman as George Smiley. With Green Apple books just a couple blocks down the street I was able to drop another $4 on an old copy and live in quiet nerd heaven.