An author’s family birthday tradition went humorously wrong when he decided to try something new on their special day. Opting for a Vietnamese restaurant, they confidently requested “Bamboo Shoot Soup” with duck, despite the server’s tentative warning, “Are you sure?” The family took it for weakened-being bamboo and perceived nothing of the adventure before them.
The first sip was a slap in the face: earthy, bitter, and harsh flavors forward that tasted like a cross between a pen of zoo animals. No one in the family could quite manage a couple of mouthfuls, feeling sick, that was when they knew why the waiter had warned them. Even the stovetop reheating didn’t save the dish that was thrown away at home. They did finish the duck and other dishes, and it ended up being a good night, leaving the server a large tip. A greasy little lesson in reading clues, and daring to munch adventure!
TIFU by not listening when the server asked “Are you sure?”
