I tried to go take myself to Gordon Ramsay Hell’s Kitchen New American Restaurant as a bit. This did not prove to be successful.
It partly failed because it was just expensive enough that doing it for the bit seemed no longer funny, but sad. Especially as it was in a casino in South Lake Tahoe, and this seemed a place people went for Special Occasions (as the yelp reviews alluded to), not for content. But I was alone, and borderline intrigued, so I sat around a while and wondered if the Meme Meal would be worth it. Would it be funny the whole time? Would it be funny and then delicious? Would I be proven wrong and learn that Gordon Ramsay Hell’s Kitchen was a great restaurant? Who is laughing now! Not me! Would it be funny for approximately five minutes and then deeply, profoundly sad, causing me to spend an hour in a casino contemplating what exactly had gone wrong in my life to lead me to this point, solo and trying to pry content from the cold, lifeless jaws of a meme meal, a meal made not to sustain me, but to satisfy others?
Obviously I am a glutton for attention more than food, and caved. I tried to make a reservation, deciding that yes, going to Gordon Ramsay Hell’s Kitchen alone would be hilarious. But lo…Gordon Ramsay has INDEED made a Hell’s Kitchen:
Your party is TOO SMALL TO MAKE AN ONLINE RESERVATION. You are FORCING ME TO CALL THE RESTAURANT AND ASK ABOUT SOLO DINING AT GORDON RAMSAY’S HELL KITCHEN. WHICH I DID!!!! I DID IT!
They WERE booked right on up, but suggested that as a solo diner I could simply walk on in and wait. This to me was a new, untold horror. Eventually, I decided it was not worth it for the bit, which did lead to a small but mighty (and positive) existential crisis about what it means to do activities for the content, which is not a novel thought but a thought nonetheless, especially as I have been essentially off social media for some time now (PLEASE CLAP.) So I stayed around and decided to try and mingle with some other guests.
Almost immediately after settling in around a communal campfire, Gordon Ramsay’s Hell Kitchen avoided for today, this did happen:
Is this the real Gordon Ramsay’s Hell Kitchen, I ask.
I saw not one but TWO bears this journey, one in Wyoming outside of Aiden’s rehearsal dinner (we parked and were told to quickly enter the restaurant, unsure why, and then a nice woman said “oh there’s just a bear over there looking for berries” and sure enough there was) and another in Lake Tahoe. Bears!
Wedding Watch:
Wedding report: both were lovely! Congrats to Aiden and Matthias and Jess and Molly (not a polycule, separate weddings). Love is real, love you all very much. I also ran into some people I had not seen since college / dramatic friend breakups, and it was overall much less intense than I thought it would be, and genuinely very nice to see them. I have so so many beautiful photos but also want to respect privacy so here are my chosen snapshots:
Here is Artichoke the ring bearer, blending into the scenery:
And I loved this method of helping guests to get to know each other at Jess and Molly’s wedding, also was really laughing at some of the squares:
Horse:
Coastal Clem: We Did It Joe!
Books I have acquired along the way:
Unfortunately did NOT buy “Sex For One, The Joy Of Self Loving” which was found in a New Mexico used bookshop but wow, it was indeed illustrated and extremely comprehensive. Your party is NEVER too small to make a reservation on the joy of self loving train.
Opinion:
Music:
Here’s my driving playlist again:
Another album I’m vibing with:
I will have more thoughts on all this soon, plus more pictures, once I reassemble my senses and stay in one place for more than a night.
xoxo
shelby + clem