The First Decent Weather Since Spring, Part 3: Saturday 5:00 – 7:00

After the Zoo, we finally ate at the Shaved Duck. I have to say, parts were sublime, parts were disappointing.

We went in determined to try their version of pig candy: pig belly bacon with brown sugar, nuts, cheese and pear, and we wanted the smoked meatloaf. By “we” I mean I wanted Gary to eat it: I don’t like meatloaf. I’d heard good things, though.

Our waiter looked at us, heard my request for “the sweetest wine you have,” and recommended we try not only the Walnut and Brown Sugar Bacon but also the Smothered Fries (in the back).

The Smothered Fries are to be featured in an upcoming episode of “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” They were tremendous. They got three “mmm-hmms,” and four head bobs from Gary.

I knew Gary would have the smoked meatloaf:

He kept trying to get me to eat some. He said it was excellent. I tried it, and it tasted like meatloaf to me. Meat mush. I can’t get past the texture.

Instead, I had cornbread:

… and the barbecue sampler platter:

I don’t know what I was thinking. I could have those two dishes anywhere. It was like going to a Chinese restaurant and choosing a bowl of white rice. Not bad, but not remarkable.

And sadly, of the three barbecue sauces I chose the closest to standard sauce, and as Gary said, it was brown sugar and ketchup.

My fault entirely. I need to go back and have the pork roast or the duck breast or the shrimp and grits. And next time I make pig candy I’ll add walnuts, bleu cheese and pears.