INTERESTING > GOOD

Interesting is better than good.

Before we get ahead of ourselves, know that I don't mean this in an all-encompassing sense. If I'm looking to make a friend, I wouldn't seek out someone who hits me just because they are fabulously well read. However, it has occurred to me that if parts of my everyday life are made interesting by a sudden turn of events, I tend to be happier than if those same parts of my day had just been "good". If I can honestly say that an experience would make for an engaging story, it has probably added to my overall sense of self satisfaction.

For me, this philosophy includes dining experiences. An In-N-Out burger is good (scratch that- an In-N-Out burger is great), but I probably won't write a review about its bun-to-onion ratio. Pomegranate, a Russian-Georgian restaraunt in San Diego, however, definitely left me with some note worthy anecdotes and the creeping sensation of being watched. Oh, and their food was to die for.

The above photo depicts a drawing of a large-nosed creature dripping snot into a bowl, with an inscription to the right that reads, "Enjoy your bloody Borscht!!" This was scrawled on the wall above our table at Pomegranate, amongst a few other indecipherable sections of graffiti and unsavory notes to members of the staff.

I caught this bit of signage before ordering, but my unlucky dining companion did not. Thankfully, her borscht seemed to be snot-free and she reported enjoying it very much.

She also reported being blatantly stared at by the wait staff and, upon my arrival, I concluded that yes, the two of us were on full display. There was nothing sexual or romantic about these stares; we felt as if trapped behind the glossy screen of a television or laptop, shoved into the centermost booth simply for the purpose of entertainment. I have to admit that I found this quite funny, and a few times I caught myself returning these dazzled looks to the waiting eyes peering out from the door to the kitchen.

So, like I said, interesting.

When my food arrived, however, no amount of gawking could distract me from my mission of absolutely housing the order of golubtsi that sat in front of me. Golubtsi, if you are unfamiliar, consists of steamed cabbage rolls filled with ground beef and simmered in a creamy tomato sauce; this particular order was topped with a garnish of cilantro and served with a side of house bread, which disappeared from its basket in a matter of seconds.

I often find that many dishes smothered in a sauce are often overpowered (nay, concealed) by said sauce, and sometimes become a very small part of a very soupy dinner. Fortunately for me, the thin yet still fatty nature of the mote surrounding my cabbage rolls did nothing but enhance the flavor of the grilled onions and garlic awaiting me, folded into the flavorful filling of ground beef. The cabbage, steamed to perfection, resembled more of a rice noodle consistency, and it seemed to have been cooked long enough to absorb all of the flavors with which it had been prepared.

I finished it too quickly to get more than one photo, much to my future-self's dismay as I write this article.

If you're looking for a strange experience to spice up the everyday and a meal that will make you say, "I should really try to breathe between bites", Pomegranate must be on your list.