A fictional restaurant has presented its most demanding customer with a record-length chilli after he requested a dish that would make an impression without involving anything unexpected.
The pepper arrived on a plate normally reserved for sharing. The customer asked whether it was spicy. His waiter explained that the kitchen could confidently confirm it was long.
A sommelier recommended a wine that would complement the experience. A second member of staff recommended considering whether the experience needed to happen at all.
The restaurant's tasting menu describes the course as a meditation on scale. The customer described it as a vegetable that had exceeded the dimensions of the table, prompting the manager to congratulate him on engaging with the concept.
Other diners were invited to appreciate the grower's achievement. Several did so from a distance, preserving the traditional restaurant arrangement in which somebody else orders the interesting thing and everyone requests a small piece.
The kitchen has since developed a shorter version for customers seeking the emotional journey without the practical consequences. It costs more because of the additional work required to make it appear less available.
The original customer is still waiting for something mild. He has been offered the bill, which the manager admits is unlikely to meet the brief.
