Does neither of you like Cape gooseberries?

Juliane

It's not always on the menu.

Pears

Were they any good?

It's nice to hear that the recession has some positive outcomes. I had lunch Saturday in Dublin and had to wait almost 45 minutes for my dessert in a restaurant that wasn't busy. I think they still had to pick the berries.....But I can't complain too much, restaurant prices are a lot better nowadays.

Juliane

I prefer caper berries.

Arnon / Oscar

@ Arnon
I was referring to the two lonely physalis that remained on the plate.

@ Oscar
I, myself, never warmed up to capers and I can hardly keep myself from picking them out of the white sauce that comes with Königsberger Klopse.

Juliane

Caper berries are quite different from capers. You should give them a try.

Oscar

This is what you mean

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caper

As a teenager I was addicted to capers. My mother wasn't too happy about this addiction.

Lies

Restaurants are very crowded, except the restaurant at the National Gallery for lunch on a Monday afternoon.

Arnon

I'm still somewhat addicted to capers. Have you tried caper berries too?

waiters

Last saturday I went to a restaurant with my aunt, she is 89.
We were rather early, the first clients of the evening.
'Oei!' she said to the waiter. 'Not many people!'
Everytime he came to our table, she looked around and (out of concern) repeated 'Not many people, yet!' Not once he gave her a smile or a friendly reply. When we left five tables were taken.
'Next time we'll come a bit later,' she said to him. He ignored her.
I was shocked. I don't ask them to be witty, but waiters should at least be friendly to ladies of 89.

Oscar

I've never tried caper berries. Could you tell us a bit about the taste and the texture of the caper berry?

Arnon

I agree, many restaurants are often crowded with either tourists or locals. There are some nice onces which aren't too bad, especially 'in these hard times'. I've never been in the National Gallery Restaurant, is het any good? I'm not too impressed by their collection, although it is in general significantly better than the Modern Art Museum.

Oscar

The position of my personal feeder is still vacant. Are you interested?

Juliane

It is my understanding that you are my personal feeder.

How many men are you going to feed?

Arnon

How can I be your feeder with my utter lack of culinary sophistication (cf. tinned tortellini)?

I'm not willing to feed every man or satisfy every kind of hunger. But I like to see myself as a caring person once in a while. This taken into consideration it seems prudent to take on only two or three men to feed properly. I'm willing to accept another three who are less demanding.

Arnon

Caper berries taste a little salty, although less so than capers. Their texture is quite firm. Laura is not very fond of caper berries.

Juliane

I'm a busy man. I'm afraid that I wouldn't be able to feed you for more than a week a year. If I fed you caper berries, would you eat them?

Oscar

Do you eat caper berries raw?

Juliane

So what is it you plan to give me in return for my eternal love? Just plain sex is not enough for me.

Arnon

Yes, I always eat caper berries raw. I will see if I can send you a small jar of caper berries.

Oscar / Arnon

@ Oscar
Yes, I would.

@ Arnon
Hmm...I'm not familiar with the exchange rates for eternal love. Do you have any desperate needs? Giving you my firstborn probably isn't such a good idea, as it is likely there will be no firstborn. Inner organs, maybe? Or to say it with Coco Rosie:

I'll always be by your side
Even when you're down and out
[...]
I'll iron your clothes
I'll shine your shoes
I'll make your bed
And cook your food
I'll never cheat
I'll be the best girl you'd ever meet
[...]
I'll scrub your floor
Never be a bore
I'd tuck you in
I do not snore
I'd wear your black eyes
Bake you apple pies
I won't ask why
And i try not to cry.

Juliane

It's my belief that Arnon likes being ridiculed. Don't do too much effort. Or am I spoiling things now?

Be his Sheherazade and promise him a story every night.

Mieke

Giving him my unpayable (or was it "unbearable") literary material without asking a single penny for it? Oh, that is cruel! Besides, he's the writer.
And what's more, being Sheherazade I would have to narrate for dear life. Regarding my material I'd probably be dead after the first five minutes.

Juliane

Don't underestimate your own life. It's better material than you believe. Tell me everything and you will end up with a life full of meaning.

Juliane

If you have any artistic or literary ambitions, then don't tell him your stories. Arnon can be very persuasive though.

Arnon

You are a cannibal. You devour people alive.

Arnon / Mieke

@ Arnon
Shall I bring some salt and pepper and a Raclette grill, then? But who says I would like the kind of meaning revealed to me? For example the one created by telling you past embarrassments.
My life is all I can tell you about. Other lives brushing against mine are nevertheless part of me to a certain extent. I'm restricted to my perception.

@ Mieke
I'm still young. At the moment I'm thinking about just giving away the things I wrote (not necessarily to Mr Grunberg) in order to force myself to think up something new. It's a good way to get flattered (well, or tarred and feathered), too.