Einstein had it all wrong. The Theory of Relativity is not 'energy equals matter times the speed of light squared'. No, relativity is defined as how many days you've been out of the country and in need of comfortable food and drink.

Poor Jim had been confined in a little rathole in Mexico City and heading to some other South American dictatorship. As divine providence would have it, the only connecting flight that didn't involve propellers went through the Houston Airport named for the lesser of two evils bearing the name George Bush.

With four hours to spend walking the E Concourse, Jim decided that an airport steak at Pappadeaux has to beat anything with the name Chili's in it. Even if it involved climbing two flights of stairs to get there.

Luis the waiter was quick to return with the initial Bloody Mary. Being in Texas, the drink was sufficiently doctored with some sort of spicy sauce. With the liquid fortification, Jim was ready to focus on the edible portion of the visit.

Keep in mind that Jim lived in Austin for years and his oldest born son has a Texian passport by virtue of being born there. Jim has eaten at Pappa's restuarants before and has a mostly good memory of those adventures. Obviously, no airport authority is going to allow a franchise to have an open pit, but a traveler can't be too picky.

Invoking the Theory of Relativity, it's important to understand that Pappadeaux in the airport is nothing like visiting a Pappa's restaurant out in the real world. But, Jim's filet with crabmeat in a buere blanc turned out quite nice for airport food. Paired with a Penfolds Shiraz, it was almost enough to make Jim forget that he had 8 hours in coach class on the way to Acunsion, La Paz or Montevideo.

In the real world, this airport concession might rate a 3. But as a port in the storm, it's between a 4 and a 5. The extra half point comes from having a hostess who pretends to laugh at an old salaryman's jokes.

Flag This Review     - jimshady, Thursday, April 29, 2010 at 3:59 PM

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