But I'm Still Hungry!

Dear Michael Mina,

A couple of years ago my boyfriend took me to your restaurant at the St. Francis Westin in downtown San Francisco. We were excited because we had heard so many wonderful things about the restaurant.

All of the things we heard ended up being true. The room itself was stunning. My water glass was never empty. The 6-course meal was presented with such beautiful plates and silverware that it seemed almost a shame to use them. And the food--it looked gorgeous. I can't say enough about the presentation--the dishes were artfully designed, meticulously crafted, stacked and garnished with such attention to color and detail--we might as well have been at The-Museum-of-the-Most-Beautiful-Food-of-All-Time looking at a masterpiece.

But you know what really disappointed me? That after spending two hours and over $300 sampling tiny portions of your critically-acclaimed, museum-beautiful cuisine, I can't remember whether or not it tasted good. I don't remember feeling the satisfaction of a full tummy and a palate entertained. I only remember that after the meal was over, I felt--of all things--hungry. Hungry enough for a late-night run to Taco Bell.

I'm sure that your fans will attribute my complaints to an untrained palate and an empty wallet. And I would never say that the food at Taco Bell compares to the lovely cuisine at your San Francisco restaurant. But I firmly believe that while every meal should be beautiful and delicious, it should also satiate my hunger. After all, food is one of those rare art forms that is more than a luxury--it's a necessity. The point and purpose of eating is to fill our stomachs and nurture our bodies.

Do I really have to choose between a beautiful experience and a satisfied stomach? I guess you could say I wanted both. Or maybe I just wanted more.

Sincerely,
Jasmine

**The photo above came from Michael Bauer's "Between Meals" at http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/category?blogid=26&cat=646&o=10