More on the Bourgeois

A little while ago, I posted on the decadence of the Roman Empire prior to its fall, and questioned whether those enjoying the decadence and ignoring the masses either realized what was coming, or would have cared if they did know.

Over the weekend, I went out to dinner with CB and her parents. We were celebrating several notable events, and went to Joe's Stone Crab. (NOT to be confused with Joe's Crab Shack. NIGHT and DAY.) (I met the Sommelier at jury duty earlier in the week - viva Las Vegas - and he set us up pretty well.) Between the four of us in attendance at Joe's, we had 24 oz. of fillet mignon, several lobster tails, a handful of stone-crabs claws, about 2 lbs. of Alaskan king crab legs (add two sticks of butter as condiments for the shellfish), and a concoction of potatoes, cheese, bacon, and sour cream that weighed about two pounds as well. Also a bottle of red. And a bottle of white. A plate of asparagus spears. And then there was pie. OH MY GOD, the pie. It literally defied description as to how good the pie was, except to assert that we all found room for some, even after the gluttonous frenzy of the preceding courses.

It was amazing, it was fattening, and I will savor recollection of every delicious bite every time I re-read this post. (Did I mention the pie?) And then the check came. For the price of our meal for four, a family of four could have eaten pretty well for literally a month.

I paid it without shock or hesitation.

I feel not the slightest bit guilty or apologetic about it. I bet the Romans were much the same.