Lunch With Paul No. 7 (Tah Deeg Authentic Persian Cuisine)

The waiter was apologetic. He became a bit over-attentive.

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On a recommendation from his sister,

Paul and I drove out to the Sierra Vista Mall

In Clovis, and cruised around the parking lot

For some time looking for a restaurant

Called Tah Deeg Authentic Persian Cuisine.

I thought he was clearing his throat

Asked him to repeat the name again,

So he spoke louder, said ardently Tah Deeg.

We found where the restaurant located

In one of the many out-buildings

On the acres of asphalt parking lot

Near Sierra Vista Cinema 16 movie theater,

Away from the enclosed shopping mall.

When we entered the small restaurant,

We were the only customers in the place.

Maybe six tables, and four chairs each,

and a small counter with six stools.

Done up in modern Persian décor, whatever

That consisted of, but seeming appropriate

and slightly a bit upscale (for Clovis).

But it didn’t matter because we were

The only payable customers in the place,

Except for the two Middle-Eastern-looking fellows

Who appeared to be the cook and the waiter,

Looked at us oddly as we walked in.

The waiter quickly delivered glasses with ice

and water in a decanter bottle.

Paul asked politely if they were serving,

If we were too late, or too early?

The waiter seemed perplexed then said,

“But, of course.” As pleasant as possible,

The waiter said that both he and the cook

Were happy to see us, and happier

To serve us, and hoped we’d return.

As it turned out, tag deeg was a special Persian rice, “from the bottom of the pot,”

Crispy and flavored, was an old-world favorite.

Paul acted as if he was familiar with such rice.

Burned rice as a special dish, was unknown to me.

But if the rice were anything nearly close

To the Armenian rice pilaf, the church ladies

At the Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church

On Ventura and “M” Street downtown

Make for funeral lunches and wedding receptions,

A heavenly tender rice with butter,

and short pieces of browned spaghettini,

Count me in! I was more than ready

For an epicurean adventure. I was ready

As long as it wasn’t too spicy.

“No problem,” said the waiter.

Paul ordered Lamb Shank, Split Pea Stew,

With braised beef and tomato sauce,

Hummus and peta-style bread.

I ordered Ground Beef and Lamb Kabaab,

A skewer of seasoned beef and lamb

With tomatoes and eggplant.

Armenians and Persians are very close,

Geographically abutting, inter-breeding

And cuisine from hills and mountains.

Though Paul’s descendants came from Moush,

More on the Turkish side of occupied land.

The women are the most beautiful in the world,

Paul agreed and then tried to tell me

About this Aquarius girl he knew at Cal.

Even though we were the only patrons

In the place, it took an awfully long time

For our meals to arrive at our table,

and when they did, the waiter was apologetic.

He became a bit over-attentive,

Then attending to our every dining need.

Pretty good food here, and one of a better

Class of restaurants we’ve eaten at,

Especially in Clovis. Such a two-horse town.

Paul needed some more napkins,

I wanted some more water and ice.

The waiter kept busy in his starched tunic,

and earned his tip that day.

We both left twenty-plus-dollar-bills

For our lunches, which amounted to

A six-dollar tip apiece.

We vowed we would return.

By Stephen Barile

From: United States