I finally joined Yelp.com!
Yeah, took me awhile, but I’ve finally found my sweet spot. A group of egotistic, self-appointed critiques hobnobbing together to share honest, scathing reviews that will make any restaurateur quake in his/her shoes? Ooh yeah. I totally belong.
You know, this is something about human nature. We love to bitch. We love to gossip. And we love to share our experiences, both good and bad. And sometimes, there is nothing more powerful than the word of the common mouth. Take those companies hounding bloggers to review their products, for example. Now, how smart are they? They recognize that a stamp of approval from a group of average citizens can hold enormous clout, perhaps greater than a “professional” reviewer, who would tend to be less enthusiastic and personable. I, too, would much readily trust the opinion of a fellow blogger rather than glossy advertisements.
But at the same time, sometimes the words of the average citizen can be misleading. Because when you take away the professional objectivity and the legal restrictions, you’re left with raw human emotions and personal preferences…which might not always be right.
I’m sure some of you have experienced the negative effects of the human word first-hand. Ever been caught in the bull’s eye of a gossip scandal? Ack, not fun. Or perhaps you’ve done some talking behind somebody’s back yourself, too. Well, so have every human being on earth.
So one of my 2010 prayer topics is to be more prudent— to speak not out of rash temper, but to slow down and think for a few more seconds before speaking. That ties in with another more critical prayer topic of mine: to pray more.
I’ll admit it out loud: I’m a Christian (a pastor’s daughter no less) and I still struggle with praying. In fact, sometimes I just plain don’t like to pray. Perhaps some of you non-Christians might find it hard to understand, but prayer is integral in a Christian life. It’s an essential way to stay in touch with God, to communicate with Him and to preserve our relationship with Him. And personally, I’ve found that a day without prayer is just…so…human.
Human, as in: I think without the wisdom of God. I speak without the guidance of God. I act without the power of God. Everything, I do by my own selfish motivations and natural instincts…which isn’t good, since I am by nature a brash, vicious individual.
That’s why I’ve realized once again how desperately I need to recover my prayer life. Any Christians out there who would like to join me? I’m compiling a prayer list of all the people I want to pray for, and tee hee, a great number of you are on there. But in case I’ve missed you out, please send me an email so I can include you in with your specific prayer topic.
Anyway, back to the topic of Yelp. Once again, I was deceived. I believed what those reviewers said, and ended up with a rather disappointing experience. I’m talking about my trip to The French Crepe Company in the Los Angeles Farmers Market with Kathryn.
After watching Julie & Julia (three times), I’ve been craving French food. Specifically, boeuf bourguignon and French Onion soup. Oh, and butter, because as Julie Powell said, “Butter makes everything better.” Well, I’ve got tons of butter at home. Boeuf bourguignon is hell expensive. French Onion soup? Now that’s easy to find, and easy on the wallet, too.
Apparently, The French Crepe Company has good French Onion soup. In fact, people who were disappointed with their crepes still raved about their soup. And Kathryn picked the place as her top choice, so The French Crepe Company it was!
We went on a sunny Saturday afternoon, and as usual, the Farmers Market was packed. But with Kathryn’s super sharp eyes, we scored a seat within 5 minutes. Thanks, girlie!
Look! Evidence that it’s been rated high by our fellow diners: 
It took a while for our order to come, but meanwhile I amused myself by staring at this big-ass jar of Nutella: 
Oh. Em. Gi. Wouldn’t I like to lug this home?
When our order came out, I was immediately disappointed: 
Look at it. It’s TEENY!! And no bread on the side? Those darn yelpers promised me there was a basket of French bread on the side! This tiny appetizer portion of soup cost me over $8, too. I asked the employees where my bread was, and they gave me some attitude. “It’s in there,” they scowled. I scowled back. 
Whatever. At least there was like an inch thick of cheese in there. Seriously. 
Look at that cheeeeeeese!! The cool thing was that they broiled the cheese on top with a blow-torch. I’m not sure that’s the classic way to do it…but I don’t think it’s classic for French food to be served by Filipinos, either. Ah, only in L.A… 
Now, the cheese part I liked. The broth? Not so much. It tasted bland, which was annoying and suspicious because there were quite a lot of caramelized onions in there. So where’s the flavor? 
As the employees said, there was bread in there, but just a small slice. So basically, I had ordered a hunk of cheese with a drizzle of ditch water. Nice. Thankfully I’m a cheese-whore, or it might have been a very unpleasant afternoon for both the employees and me.
Kathryn ordered a plain crepe with strawberries and bananas: 
Dang, it’s pretty. I should have ordered a crepe too. 
Ah, well, it’s my fault for listening to them yelpers. And not ordering crepe in a specialized crepe shop.
Back to Kat and I. After our lunch, we went window-shopping. If there is anyone who might get me interested in shopping, it’s Kat. This girl is quite the Fashionista, and she shares the same interest in stores like Sur La Table. We also hit up Anthropologie. Interesting place that seems to have a fetish for roosters.
By the way, Kathryn is the sweetest girl on earth. She gave me a box of home-baked cookies: 
A very, very late Christmas gift, but she made sure those cookies were freshly baked! It was such a pleasantly weird feeling to receive baked goods, when usually it’s the other way round. 
My favorite was the red velvet whoopie pie. Ain’t it cute? 
I’ve got you in my prayer list too, Kat! 
And for those of you who would like to join me in my prayer list, let me know!
Question of the day: Do you pray? Or anything like it? Care to share any personal experiences with prayer?
Oh, and ever been caught in a gossip scandal before? Do tell! (Okay, this is gossip itself, haha)
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This is brilliant, I had never heard of Yelp before and Im heading off next week to New York which of course I was worrying about due to eating out etc, now I can look up a few places
I always found praying a little strange because I never knew whether or not to say it out loud or if just saying it in my head worked as well. I know that sounds a little silly but I worry about God maybe not hearing or realising Im praying if I just say it in my head. Plus at times I felt as though I was doing it because I felt I should be. Really I havent connected to religion as much as I would want, Im still building myself up for going to a church I have eyed out here.
Ohh I havent had crepes in ages, last time I tried them I was on holiday with my mum. She had one with lemon juice and sugar, it was delicious and I had one with Nutella. It was delicious to but sickening after a while. Ive never atcually ahd french onion soup before but it looks good!
Ohh yes Ive been gossiped about before and its awful when that happens. I just like to stay out of the way and out of sight!
xox
Laura
i like what you have to say about online writing versus print…in public relations, i am dealing with the pros and cons of this on a regular basis!
sorry you didnt have the best experience at the crepe place. there is another location in hollywood that i used to live right near and i always got a crepe with nutella, bananas, strawberries & topped with whipped cream. it was HEAVENlY!!!!
I feel like I need to “learn” to pray. I love being in church and can get into praying while I’m there, but really don’t know what to do at home. It should be simple but it feels anything but.
YES! LOVE THIS POST! I actually had to show my roomie, bc she means good, but bitches about EVERYONE. Enough already! And your prayer group is an AWESOME idea! GET IT GIRLLL!
I laughed out loud at this part: “a hunk of cheese with a drizzle of ditch water.”
That sucks when you shell out the $$ and it isn’t worth it.
Hugs!
I don’t pray, as I’m not Christian or religious, even, but I totally understand your need to slow down and think before speaking. I, too, struggle with that. For me, it’s about words that don’t seem harmful in my head, but when spoken, sound very caustic and hurtful to others.
I’ve read some reviews on Yelp, and perhaps your experience was just a lemon, with a bad server/chef. Sorry it wasn’t good!
Sophia you always make me suffering with all these delights nutella, cookies..it isn’t fair
All the best,
Gera
So true that ‘non-professional’ reviews can be truthful but more raw. But, then, the more the reviews out there the better. Have fun with Yelp! And, too bad about the bread on the side, but the gooey cheese looks fantastic.
I pray, but not as much as I would like to. I need to pray more for sure.
I have been craving French onion soup for days, and those pictures are not helping!! I made Boeuf Bourguignon the day after I saw Julie and Julia for the first time – and it really wasn’t that expensive. Same as any stew – plus a bottle of wine.
I appreciate you taking to time to cotrnitbue That’s very helpful.
i’m not christian, but prayer is a huge part of judaism and ithink it can be really helpful. that cheese looks delicious but that is unfortunate that it was kind of bland! love anthropologie
This post makes me have a craving for French onion soup too! I loved it so much when I was young. It’s been a long time since I had a bowl =P You’re right. Though I usually do enjoy praying, it’s certainly not second nature to me to want to pray as well. Especially when things go wrong, I tend to fight things on my own instead of submitting to God. I guess it’s a daily discipline that I have to cultivate more. =)
it’s such a shame that the soup wasn’t good because french onion soup can be so delicious! everything else looks wonderful.
i don’t pray regularly, but i do believe in it. i always have better days when i do pray.
gossip, meh, don’t have the patience for it. i try to stay away from people who make gossiping their career, i’m just not interested.
Sophia, the crepe and whoopie pie is to die for. They look sooooo good. Please please please take me there.
You offer some great thoughts on prayer. I feel prayer is something I “fail” at; I lie in bed and more or less…plead…very unflattering and not great.
Nice pics…you have some good friends.
I’ve never heard of Yelp before! … You learn something new every day.
I try not to let reviews bias me or influence whether or not I try something. Sometimes I’ll read a review for a movie and think to myself “What? I liked that!”
Regarding prayer, it’s always something I WANTED to be able to do. But when I try I feel like I used to while playing pretend, that I was going through the motions but not really believing it. I don’t know what it is that holds me back, fear of letting go of control? Inhibitionsim? Faith scares me but is also definitely something I really want to cultivate.
Rachael*
wise beyond your years girl<3 and that soup! wow
Too bad about the French Onion Soup. That red velvet whoopie pie looks good though.
Wow, you hit the problem with yelp on the head. I always use it as a starting point but definitely treat it with a bit of suspicious. Too many times its been proven wrong.
hey sophia!
lots i want to share about this post! first, prayer. just a few minutes ago, i checked in on a blog id forgotten about back in December. a friend of a friend had a baby who was having some major difficulties. i put baby and family on my prayer list immediately, but after reading that baby was doing very well…i kindof forgot about it all. until a short 10 minutes ago when i happened to check the blog and was reduced to sobs to read that the baby had passed only a week after i had stopped following. for the past month, i should have been praying for comfort for this family. the point is, i needed to make a prayer list not only mentally, but physically. thank you for affirming this in me today!
i was caught in a gossip, and it changed my life. after a night of mayhem, my roommates and i came back to our apartment, where i found that another roomie had dug into my food and not washed her dishes AGAIN. i went on ranting about her only to turn around and find her sitting a short ways away, i had not seen her in the room. what kind of friend was i? i vowed never to talk this way about a friend again, behind her back. if i had an issue, it would be dealt with directly. and that is what ive worked towards in my life regarding gossip. i will forever be ashamed of and thankful for that moment in my life. caught! but dammit do your dishes people!
in conclusion, congrats on yelp and PRAY BABY PRAY!
I want that whoopie pie in my stomach right now! I do pray, but I feel like for me it’s just putting out vibes into the universe (if that makes sense).
I’m still laughing about your “ditch water” comment! Too funny, Sophia!
I do pray, but I occasionally struggle to do so…I don’t know why, because I always feel better after I pray. And then I get caught up in guilt over not praying…my hubby is Muslim (and I’m Christian) so I see him praying faithfully 5 times a day without complaint. Sometimes I wish I could be more like that!
Great post! I’m sorry about your lacluster soup experience! Given that it has received so many great reviews, maybe you just got a bad batch? I’d love to be on your list! I pray all the time. Whenever something occurs to me. On the elliptical @ the gym in the mornings, walking etc. Praying seems more natural to me when I’m not forcing myself to think of stuff to say. It’s not a chore. Whenever I feel doubt or anything, I usually just ask for help. I always pray for my family, Africa, people suffering, Haiti, and to find my purpose. It’s sincere, and I think that is all that matters!
Barbara
Sorry about your soup! Definitely go for the crepes next time.
Those homebaked cookies look so good! Hope you enjoy them
Yes you should’ve ordered a crepe! lol and stolen that jar of Nutella! MWAHAHAH. That’s really funny that your Kat–SOUNDS LIKE ME (I wish mwahaha). But people call me Kat and I love those stores too. Actually I laughed out loud at your rooster comment hahaha!
dang, that onion soup is screaming cheese over-load. One thing I need to do is cook french cuisine. That would be awesome. And I have Yelp as well, such a cool site, and once you’re an elite, you get to participate in yelp parties.
I too have encountered the same problems with prayer. The worst excuse is not finding TIME at all to do it, but when I don’t know where to start. I do this… 1) I praise and thank God for everything, like seriously it can be about Tivo haha, anything. 2) listen 3) Pray for other people 4)pray for yourself lastly, what you want God to accomplish or answers you want 5) listen to God 6) give thanks and praise.
I pray a lot. Talking to God is really such a good daily habit to keep perspective I everything. Plus, it keeps the loneliness away.
I’m sorry your soup was a disappointment.
That’s never fun!
Your posts always leave me thinking, in the best possible way. Thank you!
The Sur La Table, Anthropologie, red velvet whoopie pie…OMG that’s all awesome.
Sorry the restaurant was disappointing; story of my life w/ restaurants. I used to enjoy going out. Now I feel like oh, I could make this better, I would have used this or that, or done this with the portions, or used this as a side, etc. so I dont enjoy meals out as much as i used to when i was much more clueless in the kitch
Loved this post!
Never heard of Yelp, so I immediately went there and fed in my city’s name. I hate to tell you what came up. Just one that I liked and frequent regularly and a bunch of others I had either never set foot in (and never will) or had been there and was not happy. Who are these people doing the reviews?
I loved your funny comment about the people at Anthropoligie having a rooster fetish. You’re absolutely right! Much as I like that store, I laughed at that one.
Now prayer. Very serious subject. And yes, I do. Every night.
I cannot believe you paid that much money, and you didn`t even get bread on the side! I hate complaining to people who make my food too. Usually that leads to who knows what and makes me sick to think about. The crepe looked good though!
oh that crepe does look good!
oh dear- that IS a tiny bowl of soup…
I think I would have looked at them when I was done and been like, “ok, where’s the other half? I’m ready for it.”
And if I were with you, I would have helped you sneak out the jar of Nutella.
Always interesting to read you Sophia! I am now going to be consulting yelp, too.
Eeeek! I would have ordered a crepe too! And those cookies look off the charts good.
Maggie
Mmm I adore a sweet crepe with fruit in it!
I like that, to work on prudence… we can all benefit from being a little more prudent and considering things from different angles.
I’ve been craving hamburgers.
I review restaurants all the time for work, and Yelp can be hit or miss. Most of the time, UrbanSpoon is right on.
Yip, I pray…very humanlike…like you. so I also nee to make a list for this new year. Good reminder, good finger pointer, good tip!
As for the soup… You’ll just have to make real good french onion soup your self.It IS reaaly good.
Ronelle
that soups looks awesome! wow! I am a member of yelp too, love that site! =)
Wow, this was a pretty deep subject…all the way to the crepes! I am currently reading Julia Child’s book, My Life In France. I love it and it makes me miss Paris so much! I have been craving those foods too! Sorry about the soup. That always makes me mad…craving something to then have it not be what you wanted! The crepe did look delicious…you should go back for a crepe! As for praying…I do, but only to my self.
Oh my…that cheese…
I thought I was totally at a different site, I like your knew look!
I never used to say anything when food was not the way I ordered it, but now I write poems about the places, and read them openly at open mics, LOL! The last place closed down, but not to my credit…bread and soup are like yin and yang!
Mmmm, love crepes & french onion soup – sorry your soup sucked!
I kind of hate french onion soup so I would definitely gone for the crepes. There’s always next time!!
PS
I just found your blog! I was going to write a comment on your about me page but I don’t think that’s an option anymore- I couldn’t find the Leave a Reply box!
But I thought I’d let you know that I really like your writing style and your bluntness. I’ll definitely be back for more burping and slurping!!
It’s a shame the soup wasn’t good, because it looks good! Although those crepes looked wonderful, too!
I’m not a praying person.
Yeah, Yelp is pretty good….I’m also addicted to Zagat.
I’ve SO considered getting that gi-normous thing of Nutella! What stopped me was knowing I’d probably eat the whole thing in like a week.
I pray EVERY night! I have a very good reason too. I KNOW heaven is real.
I want that jar of nutella!!!! and tat soup looks so good
I love anything with “French” in front of its name and crepes of course too! it reminds me I need to have some ’cause it’s been way too long! Love the pic with the ooey gooey cheese!
What the hell does bad French Onion Soup have to do with Filipinos owning the creperie???? You are very very ignorant!!!!
Did you know that the Executive Chef for the White House… The person that cooks for our First Family on a daily basis is FILIPINO!!!!
You can be French and make bad French Onion Soup!
I’m sorry, but I agree- that Filipino comment did come across super racist.
I think I talk to God randomly on a daily basis more than I actually sit down to pray. I don’t really know why that is.. but obviously we all need a little help in our lives and I think you said it very well in this post about what that help is. We’re all human. None of us are really ever wise- I don’t know why some of us claim that we are. We all need God.
Love that you’re starting a prayer email list! Agh you amaze me. Every single post.
As for the review- doesn’t that piss you off when something is Zagat rated- but fails in comparison to the review or rating? I usually trust Zagat every time too. So glad you joined Yelp! You needed to- you do so many reviews!
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