'the restaurant'

is the name of the place I'm working. it's also known as hector's, the owner/chef's name. a tiny french brasserie tucked away across from the merced church, the restaurant and the owner whose fame precedes them. last night we made bouillabaisse from scratch and on the fly. crawfish, jumbo prawns, and mahi mahi made a tower with aioli crostinis on the top. the presentation and taste of it were fabulous. I need to find a photo of it... (I've come to learn quickly that if I don't have my camera on me at any given time, I'm going to regret it big time. I used to giggle at the tourists with cameras strapped to their chests but now I understand.) the point being, hector's transports you to wherever you want to be - the music/ people/ wine / ambience surrounds you and makes you forget you are only 40min away from some of the poorest people in the world struggling to survive, when you are enjoying your beef bourguignon and rosemary creme brulee or chocolate fondant.