Our Return to ABP

Okay, first, the good news: we survived.

We'd wanted to visit our favorite au bon pain yesterday to use our free lunch coupons. But, walking by, we had flashbacks of our last disastrous visit and decided we weren't ready just yet.

Today, we mustered up the courage and visited Dirk (the manager) and his gang at 1850 M. Here's our report card:

Southwest Tuna Wrap: A-. Bread was fresh, vegetables crunchy and tuna just right. There weren't globs of chili-dijon spread dripping everywhere ... and amazingly, the smell didn't make us gag (like we thought it would.)

Chicken Noodle Soup: B-. They gave us a full cup this time -- and no frozen chicken! (Although it's possible that the 80 degree weather outside warmed everything up before we ate it.) The soup was still a bit bland -- nothing like our Mama makes us -- but at least it wasn't a health hazard.

Diet Coke: C. This fountain soda still does not taste like a Diet Coke should. We're not sure if it's lack of carbonation or what, but we're sticking with the bottled drinks from here on in.

Overall experience: B. Remarkably better than the last time -- when we threw everything in the garbage.

This au bon pain may have actually won us back, although now it's got to compete for our lunchtime dollar with the Beyond Juice that just opened next door. Because we'll never have to worry about uncooked poultry in a delicious Very Berry Berry smoothie.