There is power in illusion. Last year, Chris and I were gifted a two-night stay at a very fancy chateau/inn north of Seattle. One of the amenities was “a breakfast of on-site, freshly made French pastries such as pain au chocolate and croissants with homemade jam,” to be served in our room daily. I am a baked goods FANATIC and this was my most anticipated portion of our stay.
The room was spacious, charming and cozy with its own fireplace. The furniture was French vintage. The curtains were flowery. The bathroom en suite had a huge jacuzzi tub, separate shower and private water closet. The grounds were picturesque. Poplar leaves as big as my head were falling around us on our walk. After a luxurious night’s sleep we woke to our Inn Keeper’s rap on the door. Hooray: pastry wake up call! We sat in bed and I peeled back the white cloth napkin corners to reveal a trove of treats. MMMM. Each slow bite with lots of enjoyment noises from the two of us-speechless. More jam. More butter. Trading bites of each of the six varieties.
Later while we were out, the Inn Keeper called to ask us about our plans for that night’s included cooking class and I launched into a 5 minute soliloquy I had mentally written about her pastries. “Oh,” she says. “Well about that,” she says. Apparently the pastry dough that she sets out nightly for the following morning had failed to rise this particular morning. She had dashed out to SAFEWAY and purchased the baked goods we enjoyed. Bahahahaha.
I love the irony but I would have been perfectly happy living the pastry dream I had that morning. Have you ever served something to guests that you unbeknownst to them purchased? Have you ever realized what/who you loved what not what he/she/it seemed? Do you prefer illusion or facts?
I vote for the illusion as long as there is no way of ever finding out/harm in knowing the facts!
(photo by Suzi Pratt “Ba Bar Pastries” via Flickr)
Rebecca says
omg LOL. What a story! Like you, I prefer the illusion.