Tale of a Curry Virgin

So Master Chef and I try to have a date night every couple weeks, and after back-to-school shopping with the hellspawns...er munchkins yesterday (at Walmart no less--yes, I am a little crazy)  I was in need of a serious night out. We went to our usual place on the boardwalk, ordered a couple drinks and before long I found the menu pushed in my direction..

Two things you should know:

1. I used to be a somewhat picky eater and usually stuck to safe, routine favorites when it came to eating out. Even now I struggle to venture outside my comfort zone when it comes to trying new things, though I've improved in recent months.

2. Unless I'm having a particular craving, I'm very content to let Master Chef order. He doesn't steer me in the wrong direction.

At least not until last night. 

Last night he decided I should order for us. Simple enough, right? Except there were stipulations. It had to be something new and it had to be a curry dish. Now Master Chef loves curry and due to Thing Number One, I've had very little curry. Mostly minuscule amounts.  Determined to brainwash me...I mean broaden my horizons, he insists that curry is the way to go.

I obviously know nothing about curry, so as I'm skimming all the Thai dishes on the menu, I'm wracking my brain trying to figure out what would be good. Master Chef is sitting there the whole time, innocently drinking his beer and fully enjoying that I'm squirming under the pressure.

I'm sure I could have sat there for an hour going back and forth with zip feedback from the Curry Master, but I needed to make an executive decision, and all the while I'm half hoping my choice will be horrible and won't that teach him? In the end I went with one of the specials with scallops and a mild-medium curry. As much as Master Chef assured me it wouldn't be that spicy, I was soon lapping up my berry martini like a camel mad from thirst stumbling across an oasis. Okay, maybe not that bad, but damn those martinis are good!

So the final verdict on the food was a clear win for me. As far as I'm concerned ordering something delicious gets me a pass from having to order anything outside my comfort zone for a while. As far as Master Chef is concerned, he's apparently discovered a new method of torturing me beyond making fun of my questionable shooting skills with video games.   

What about you guys? Try a new food lately? Find yourself in a situation outside your usual comfort zone?