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The other night I’m in the West Village with my buddy, David, looking to sit down for a beer and some good conversation. We settle on Diablo Royale, a Mexican restaurant on West 10th Street.
Mark, our bartender, draws two glasses of Dos Equis and the inevitable catching up begins. Maybe we should get an order of tortilla chips, as well. Just some grub.
As we await the nachos, I comment on the care with which Mark places our plates and forks in front of us. “Presentation matters,” I muse. It’s delivered as a joke, but he nods in satisfaction.
Nachos to the Nth
A few minutes later, the actual plate of steaming, sizzling nachos arrives. And, to our amazement, all our senses are engaged. In awe.
To my mind, nachos are standard bar fare: cheese, chips, and salsa. Maybe open up a can of refried beans. No surprises.
But at Diablo, every element of the experience—from the food itself to its display—has been taken to the next level. On a logarithmic scale.
“You guys rubbed all kinds of love on this.”
I’m immoblized, helpless before an altar of beautifully–prepared food. Each item on the plate is homemade and cared for: from the delicately-thin chips to the sumptuous guacamole.
Between bites, I shake my head in disbelief, “You guys rubbed all kinds of love on this.” Mark gives a knowing smile and shares as much of the kitchen’s secret as he dares, “We marinate the meat. That’s where the flavor comes from.”
Marinate Your Meat
Without question, I’m going back to Diablo Royale. But what’s the greater lesson? My takeaway is to be sure to marinate my meat. To pause, collect my herbs together, and create a scenario where wonder can thrive.
Louis Pasteur said that “chance favors the prepared mind.” What better preparation than to slow down and take the time to make a marinade; one with a complement of tastes, both spicy and sweet?
You can apply a marinating technique to business, your family, even a relationship that’s beginning to feel stale. Any place where the daily grind is crushing the joy out of your existence.
Marinating your meat is wonderful, conscious practice that opens you to delight and the element of surprise.
