Roosting for the evening

Went to ground in Ashland, Oregon. I wanted to get over the passes as there is a very large winter front moving in. Caught the beginning of it heading over Siskyou Pass -- a bit of sleet with air temp at 34F. Tonight will be miserable but we are past all of that and tomorrow should be smooth sailing as we will get in before the front that is due to hit our bucolic little township on Thursday or Friday (one to three feet). One bummer. For the last six years or so, I had always enjoyed eating at the Standing Stone Brewery. Great beer and great food. For the last two years, the food has been a bit meh... (I go through there couple times/year) Last spring I had their black bean hummus and it wasn't anything to write home about. Tonight, I saw on the menu "Hummus with Chili Oil, Feta Cheese and Vegetables" so I figured, COOL!, a classic hummus. I also ordered their house-fermented Kimchee. The hummus I was served was purple. I motioned the bartender over and asked what this was and he said it was 'our' Hummus. I had previously hopped off the barstool and taken a second look at the menu: "Hummus with Chili Oil, Feta Cheese and Vegetables" I mentioned to the bartender that Hummus is made with Garbanzo Beans, Lemon Juice and sometimes Sesame Tahini. I also mentioned that there are some classical culinary delights -- a dry martini, a shrimp cocktail and these are things that you simply do not fuck with. He immediately told me that he did not like my swearing at him. (it was not busy that that time so he was under minimal pressure) With my usual 50/50 hindsight I should have apologized for using a swear word in his presence but remind him that I did not swear at him and if he thought I did, he needs some remedial English lessons (Ashland is the home of the Oregon Shakespeare festival and seven out of ten people you meet are aspiring actors). The guy comped me for the $9 non-Hummus plate but still, I am tired of places that do not represent their foods accurately on the menu. If they had said: "Standing Stone 'special' Hummus, I would have known to ask and would have ordered something else. Their entire menu is like that. Maybe it works for their local client�le -- the Shakespeare Festival only occupies a few months and Ashland is pretty isolated for the rest of the year. It does not work for me... The Kimchee rocked and the beer was OK (oatmeal stout) Still, there are a lot of other restaurants in Ashland to explore the next time I travel through and stop for the evening. Been reading Bobby Jindal's new book -- I like the cut of his jib...