it gave me the crepes

I was never a big fan of crepes, partly because I don't heart pancakes, and party because I keep my egg intake to a minimum. And crepes are more or less eggy pancakes. However, in my efforts to expand my horizons and also achieve appropriate levels of daily B12 intake, I ate a crepe.

Well actually, in this instance, it was really more an effort just to get lunch, and Meshuggah, as usual, was out of bagels. So I went to City Coffee and ate a crepe.

It was late in the day—around 3:45 or so—and so I was hungry. Really hungry. I didn’t think much of the fact that the place was more or less empty or that the cooks were mopping the floor. I dunno, mid-day clean up?

Anyway, they have lots of crepes on the menu—sweet, savory, cheesy, meaty, and two veggie ones too! I ordered the roasted veggie (as opposed to the garden veggie, the only real difference I could tell was the roasted red peppers) (but that is a significant difference, my friends. It really is). I ordered a smoothie too, because they use only fresh ingredients and no smoothie mixes. I appreciate that, City Coffee!

And then I sat and waited. I got out my book and read, as you do in coffee houses, and then after about 15 minutes (made to order!), my crepe arrived. It was lovely, really, all big and folded and bursting with veggies—zucchini, artichoke hearts, mushrooms, tomatoes, spinach, mozzarella, and some other stuff too. It was especially nice for these reasons:

1. it wasn’t overly cheesy. I always appreciate when chefs don’t overdo the cheese, because my lactose won’t tolerate it and because it masks the flava!


2. it wasn’t overly seasoned. The veggies were more steamed and less roasted, but they were fresh and really perfectly cooked. Yum!

So I’m sitting there eating, thoroughly enjoying my meal, and I notice that the server is sort of leaning on the counter, across the room, watching me. Then I see that the cook is kind of leaned against the counter, watching me, too. But whatever. Perhaps my graceful knife-and-fork etiquette caught their attention. Or maybe they wanted to see if I liked it? Anyway, I get out my camera and I’m taking pictures and I’m reading and sipping and enjoying. But they keep staring. Then I start to hear my chewing. Which means it’s quiet. And I'm trying to think of why they are watching me eat.

And then I notice the sign on the door that says they close at 4:00.

Ah! So that was the end of my crepe. I enjoyed it. But the staring was weird. Why didn't they let me eat in peace? or they could have said, "yes you can have a crepe, and you don't have to go home, but you can't stay here." or something. Whatever it was, it was unnerving. It creped me out. But it was pretty good, though.