Some mixed thoughts on the Basque picnic

Dear editor,

Here are some thoughts regarding the Basque dinner:

Well… the crowd was great. Everyone seemed happy. The Basque dancers were superior as usual. Everyone was courteous and having a good time.

I enjoyed that part.

My gripe is about the dinner. Lamb chops? No way! That was mutton; English mutton to boot. That “cop” was from an ancient male; so tough that it was impossible to eat.

I understand why:“Lizzie Borden took an axe, and gave her father 40 whacks.” She was fed up with mutton.

And $20 for that dinner? For the two of us: $40. A chop and rice, of course along with garbanzos (chickpeas) and beans. There are no substitutes for pinto beans.

The wine was $4 per glass; not traditional Basque pizzano but Gallo… about three percent of wine.

Thinking back about it all, I can almost understand Lizzie now: “When she realized what she had done, she gave her mother 41!” She was really angry at what she had to eat.

Also, there was no good Basque bread; no flan. I always did like that bread… chunks into the wine. But not this time. Enough said. Oh well, maybe next year will be better.

– James Sterling, Mountain Home