ROM Cafe: A review

Yesterday was a tough one for me. For me the tough days make it hard for me to believe in something like The Secret. Did I somehow will myself to lock my daughter (and the keys) in our car? Was there a lesson the Universe was trying to teach me? And if that is the case, why did I get off with a cheap lesson (my daughter was prefectly fine) when others face terrible tragedy. I do not think that The Secret (or most religion/philosphy) deals with the question of Why Bad Things Happen very well but I do think that its message around how we react to our trials is a good one. Although I think that the notion that we personally bring good and bad things into are life through thoughts and wishes and vibrations is on the flaky side, I do think that our reaction to these good or bad things shapes our attitudes which in turn help to shape our lives.

My natural inclination to today's situation would be to react in anger. Why did we not  get a car with onstar capabilities? Why did the car malfuntion? We should yell at the manufacturer for an obvious design flaw. And in guilt - how could I have been so stupid? Once upon a time an event like this would have sent me into a month long depression -- and perhaps it still will. But instead, by not allowing myself to "go there" in terms of the millions of terrible what ifs, by being thankful for the positive outcome and for those people who helped me rather than railing against the usually anonymous someones who failed to do enough, I think it will help me over the long term. Part of me feels guilty for wanting to write about something as frivilous as the quality of the french fries at the local museum after such a tough day.  I should be advocating for others. Exposing hard truths. Changing the system.

But I really need to read a decorating magazine and write about fries. Perhaps it's sticking my head in the cosmic sand but it relaxes me and that helps me be more tuned in as a mom. And if it does manage to send out some sort of vibration that helps to prevent bad days in the future, well hey, that's simply gravy.

So on that note, the kids and I had a chance to try out the new cafeteria in the Royal Ontario Museum. I love museum restaurants. Be it the lobster bisque at the Metropolitan Museum of Art or the croque monsieur with bitter greens at the Musee des Beaux-Arts de Montreal, some of my most relaxed meals have been in museums or galleries.  The ROM's new Food Studio reminds me of the old cafeteria at the MoMA. It is basement level but with large windows looking onto Philospher's Walk (the view right now is of ugly scaffolding but I assume that is temporary). They offer all sorts of fresh market dishes such as pastas and stir fries while you wait. We went for the classic order of transfat free handcut french fries (a steal at $2.75), water (a rip off at $2.75 and make sure you get the Desani larger bottle over the nestle one since they are the same price), chocolate milk (can't remember the price but around $1.75) and jello topped with whipped cream (around $1.75) because I cannot not order jello at a cafeteria. It is a true cafeteria and so juggling a stroller two wandering kids and a full tray seemed like a pain until one of the friendly staff offered to carry my tray to our table and fetch me the straws I had forgotten to get. The place was not full at all and so we picked one of the child friendly banquette seating tables to sit at (the children did want to stand on their seats to see out the windows but no one seemed to mind). My children do not subscribe to the Victorian notion of being seen and not heard but the high ceilinged loft design muffled the noise. French fries and a place where my kids are not disruptive equals quality dining in my world. 

Right now it is a bit hard to find (it's behind the membership check in desk and you have to go through a couple of sets of doors with no automatic buttons to get to the elevators) but I assume that, as with everything, it is temporary.

Comments

[Susana]

I too am infatuated with the 'new' ROM - especially the Food Studio -- of course, the minimalist-mostly wooden toys kids section is oh-so lovely too. I forgot to pack our chocolate soy milk, the ROM charged us $4.75 for one, but I don't even care, that's how in love I am ;-)