Today I got to go to lunch with one of my co-workers, Tara, at Old Ebbitt Grill. Old Ebbitt’s is the kind of place that makes you want to smoke cigars, order lowballs and look important–preferably starting around brunch. Unfortunately, I don’t think Tara and I would make very convincing sinister DC insiders, so we stuck to the regular lunch menu… OR SO WE THOUGHT.
I was going to order a regular cheeseburger, but another burger called “The Walrus” caught my eye, mostly because it came with sauteed balsamic onions and white cheddar cheese. Upon ordering, however, the waiter kindly informed me that the Walrus Burger was highly recommended because it was actually made of walrus.
Just add ketchup.
Wha-wha-whaaaaaaaaat?
“Would you like to try it?” he asked, as if that was a question you needed to pose to someone with a FOOD BLOG.
The Walrus Burger, Old Ebbitt Grill
So of course, I ordered the Walrus Burger. And ate it. And it was good–right up until the waiter returned to ask me how it was and informed me it was all a ruse and the burger was, in fact, good old American beef.
Beef, y’all! For half of an entire cheeseburger, I THOUGHT I WAS EATING A WALRUS.
Me, really excited about eating an alleged walrus.
To my credit, I did say it “pretty much” tasted like beef, but with each bite my mind kept trying to convince me there was some flavor of fish or blubber or anything ocean-like… And to the waiter’s credit, he did say that while he’d pulled that line on several diners before, nobody had actually ordered it after being told it was made of walrus meat. Guess that makes us even.
Thanks to Tara for joining me on this culinary adventure, and to Frederick for giving us a good lunch hour laugh. Goo goo g’joob!
¡hot plate! 