Chef’s counter preferred, though we do not have a chef’s counter, because apparently reality is no longer required when making requests.
I stop on a reservation six weeks out.
S. Bennett.
One guest.
Full tasting menu.
Both pairings.
Center table requested.
No dietary restrictions.
No special occasion.
Claire has flagged it in red.
Professional pattern. Possible critic. No press registry match. Watch.
I read the entry again. Julien comes to stand beside me.
“That one caught her attention.”
“I see that.”
“Single diner. Center table. Full menu. Both pairings.”
“Yes.”
“Specific sight lines.”
“Yes.”
“No special occasion.”
“Critics rarely celebrate themselves honestly.”
Julien looks at the screen.
“Bennett?”
“Could be nothing,” I say.
“It could,” he responds.
Neither of us believes that. I tap into the reservation details. The booking was made online at 11:42 PM four days ago. The card on file is valid. The email address is plain, not corporate, not obviously fake, not foolish enough to include a publication name, which already places this person ahead of several idiots who believe using initials makes them invisible while booking from an email signature that includes an office address.
No phone number listed beyond the required field. Area code is American.Interesting.I scroll through the table request.
Center table if available. Full tasting menu. Wine pairing and non-wine pairing.
That is even more interesting.
“Both pairings,” Julien says.
“I can read.”
