a pleasant day at the McCafé...
Caution: It is with much surprise that I write this, and you may find yourself in a state of shock should to choose to proceed...
Yesterday, I went to McDonald`s. May not seem like a big deal, but stick with me here. Personally, I do not have a close relationship with ¨best friend of the world¨ Ronald. It has probably been a good 12+ years since I have contributed more than about 79 cents to the wealth of this man. I am not a big fan of McDonalds...the hamburgers, the french fries, the ¨chicken¨ nuggets, or the like. I am, however, a huge fan of frozen yogurt, and will make an acception to my ban of the golden arches for one of those tasty treats (hence the previous 79 cent comment).
Okay, so yesterday I was in San José because I am spending a few days in Heredia with Faby and Gaby and Ibo, while Luisa is in Colorado. I am making a short-term attempt at the ¨mommy¨ role - at least the part that involves driving the girls to school, and Tae Kwan Do, etc. (I still lack significant practice in the kitchen to produce pinto for breakfast and the like.)
So I was in San José to drop the girls off at their English classes, then had a few hours to kill while waiting for them to finish. Given my lack of experience driving the roads in downtown San José and the fact that it was raining, I figured my best bet was to find somewhere nearby to sit and read and pass the time. Some place like...well, Starbucks. That would be perfect. Too bad they don´t have that here. Nor Tully´s, nor Seattle`s Best, nor any of those happy little big market cafés that you see on every block in the States (and x3 on every corner in Seattle). But guess what - they have super McDonalds! It´s not really called super McD`s, but might as well be - breakfast, drive-thru, delivery, playground, dining area, AND the adjoining McCafé. So I decided to check it out. The McCafé portion offered a hint of the Starbucks-like atmosphere. Complete with latte, cappuccino, flavored syrups (only about 3 choices though), and fancy, over-priced pastry treats. The employees of the McCafe even have a different, more spruced-up uniform. I ordered a vanilla latte (it´s been some time since I have had one of those...) and after responding that, yes, I would be enjoying my beverage here, the nice young man informed me that he would bring my drink to my table in just a moment. So I rounded the corner to check out the seating area in this ¨café¨ and was pleasantly suprised to find a nice little leather couch waiting for me. And just as promised, in a moment a latte in a mug, served on a saucer, complete with spoon, napkin, little shortbread cookie, and sugar and Splenda packets. How great!
Plus, after I had enjoyed the latte (not bad at all) I went back up to the counter to ask for a glass of water. I was expecting to be sent to the main fast-food counter, or possibly be handled a paper cup and sent to the soda fountain, but no. Once again I was politely informed that the young man would kindly deliver water to the table. And sure enough, there he came with a real glass, full of ice water, and placed on a cocktail napkin. I was really starting to wonder if I was at McDonald´s or the Hilton.
So alas, I must admit that I have now experienced two good things about McDonalds = the ice cream, and the McCafe, where I experienced the best service I have yet to receive in all of Costa Rican food service (not including home-cooking, of course!)
Yesterday, I went to McDonald`s. May not seem like a big deal, but stick with me here. Personally, I do not have a close relationship with ¨best friend of the world¨ Ronald. It has probably been a good 12+ years since I have contributed more than about 79 cents to the wealth of this man. I am not a big fan of McDonalds...the hamburgers, the french fries, the ¨chicken¨ nuggets, or the like. I am, however, a huge fan of frozen yogurt, and will make an acception to my ban of the golden arches for one of those tasty treats (hence the previous 79 cent comment).
Okay, so yesterday I was in San José because I am spending a few days in Heredia with Faby and Gaby and Ibo, while Luisa is in Colorado. I am making a short-term attempt at the ¨mommy¨ role - at least the part that involves driving the girls to school, and Tae Kwan Do, etc. (I still lack significant practice in the kitchen to produce pinto for breakfast and the like.)
So I was in San José to drop the girls off at their English classes, then had a few hours to kill while waiting for them to finish. Given my lack of experience driving the roads in downtown San José and the fact that it was raining, I figured my best bet was to find somewhere nearby to sit and read and pass the time. Some place like...well, Starbucks. That would be perfect. Too bad they don´t have that here. Nor Tully´s, nor Seattle`s Best, nor any of those happy little big market cafés that you see on every block in the States (and x3 on every corner in Seattle). But guess what - they have super McDonalds! It´s not really called super McD`s, but might as well be - breakfast, drive-thru, delivery, playground, dining area, AND the adjoining McCafé. So I decided to check it out. The McCafé portion offered a hint of the Starbucks-like atmosphere. Complete with latte, cappuccino, flavored syrups (only about 3 choices though), and fancy, over-priced pastry treats. The employees of the McCafe even have a different, more spruced-up uniform. I ordered a vanilla latte (it´s been some time since I have had one of those...) and after responding that, yes, I would be enjoying my beverage here, the nice young man informed me that he would bring my drink to my table in just a moment. So I rounded the corner to check out the seating area in this ¨café¨ and was pleasantly suprised to find a nice little leather couch waiting for me. And just as promised, in a moment a latte in a mug, served on a saucer, complete with spoon, napkin, little shortbread cookie, and sugar and Splenda packets. How great!
Plus, after I had enjoyed the latte (not bad at all) I went back up to the counter to ask for a glass of water. I was expecting to be sent to the main fast-food counter, or possibly be handled a paper cup and sent to the soda fountain, but no. Once again I was politely informed that the young man would kindly deliver water to the table. And sure enough, there he came with a real glass, full of ice water, and placed on a cocktail napkin. I was really starting to wonder if I was at McDonald´s or the Hilton.
So alas, I must admit that I have now experienced two good things about McDonalds = the ice cream, and the McCafe, where I experienced the best service I have yet to receive in all of Costa Rican food service (not including home-cooking, of course!)
posted by Dynasty goes to CR at
1:53 PM
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