Wednesday, June 29, 2011.
Tuna Stack Is Back.
I stayed home today, mainly because I didn't finish my writing assignments in time to make it into town. Now that I've driven myself in twice, I know that the trip takes at least fifteen minutes longer than it did before breaking my ankle. I ambulate very slowly.
I was hoping to nudge that along by resuming physical therapy today. But they told me that since I'd been off the therapy for a month (because of the screw-removing surgery of three weeks ago) I needed a new prescription from my doctor.
The Marys told me that no matter where I wanted to go for dinner, they'd come with me. Good! Zea has installed its summer menu, and that means the tuna stack has returned. This is one of Zea's best dishes, one with which they've won a couple of competitions.
As soon as we ordered, the manager came over. "I knew when I saw you walk through the door that you'd order the tuna stack," she said. "And I have to tell you that we ran out of avocados. But we've already sent someone to the supermarket to get more, and if you can wait a few minutes we'll make it."
I'm glad we didn't mention that we also ordered guacamole.
While waiting, we had a round of starters. For me, a soup I don't remember here: chicken florentine. Good taste but too thick, too rich, too much parmesan cheese. Zea has a problem with its soups generally. They serve them in a traditional wide soup dish. But the air conditioning is so good that it never makes it to the table without getting tepid. The standard workaround is to bring the soup out in a cup and pour it into the bowl at the table. But that's one step too many for this streamlined chain operation, I guess.
I stopped complaining when the tuna stack came. Cubed avocado on the bottom, cubes of raw tuna marinated in a light vinaigrette that tastes of sesame oil to me, more avocado, mango, more tuna, micro-greens--all in a cylindrical stack. Looks as good as it tastes.
The Marys say this is the best restaurant guacamole they know. But that the accompanying salsa is not good. It is a bit weird, tasting of Pickapeppa or something similar. It's too chunky, too.
They went forward predictably. Hamburger for Mary Leigh. Ribs for Mary Ann. She thought they were a little undercooked, and I think she may have been right.
My main was the large Caesar salad. Who could eat this pile? I like their Caesar dressing, but I could only stuff down half of it.
But then I had dessert. Chocolate mousse cake was something I couldn't remember having had here. When it arrived, all three of us looked at it and had the same thought. This was the dense chocolate bomb that seduces the anti-dessert Marys, but whose richness blows the top of my head off. They grabbed forks and began the attack. The enemy was vanquished. Mary Leigh complained that her mom ate more than her share of the ganache.
Zea. Covington: 110 Lake Dr. 985-327-0520.
It has been over three years since a day was missed in the Dining Diary. To browse through all of the entries since 2008, go here.
