166204 Thu Sep 05 16:45:29 -0700 2002 1 14 Washington DC & Baltimore Area 0 887942 I found myself downtown last week on a rainy day without an umbrella. But hark, there was the familiar awning of Les Halles, a place where I've had some pleasant experiences. So I dashed inside and sat down. I suddenly realized I wasn't hungry. When the waiter appeared, I said without much thought, "I'll have half a dozen cherrystones, a beer, and the croque monsieur." Soon enough the waiter reappeared with a plate of crustaceans. I was lost in some sort of business-related reverie and I automatically started to eat. And, as in uffish thought [I] stood, (huh?) it registered that I was not enjoying what I was eating. But I was deep into my rumination. When the sandwich came, I thought, "Oh, this is better." Then the check arrived and I woke up. I had been served oysters, not clams. They were scrawny, sandy and tastless. The waiter freely admitted his error and changed the price, but I was still pissed. Some of you may wonder how the president of The Oyster Foundation (me) could be so dumb. No excuse. I called the manager over and told her there were two problems: one, I had been served something I didn't order, and two, it was terrible. She gave me her card and said the next time I came I would get VIP service. Oh, please! Thanks a lot. The only thing that would have assuaged me would have been a complimentary serving of real clams and an apology for Vichy crimes. But the truth is, I didn't complain when the wrong dish came and I did eat those pathetic little stringy things. I deserved to pay the price for my obliviousness. So I left. It was still raining. Thu Sep 05 16:45:29 -0700 2002 0 StephenB 1 887945 Uffish thought? Were you eating the Jabberwocky? Les Halles usually has good steak and very good fries and mussels, but I've never had clams or oysters there. It IS surprising they made no ammends on the spot. Lewis Thu Sep 05 17:08:33 -0700 2002 887942 0 L. Carroll