Waiter Frustrations

[lizardbrains]

Okay, so I'm trying to learn more about wines, and of course you say that means practice, so I'm practicing!

My husband and I went to a restaurant last night, and I wanted a glass of wine to go with my crabcake dinner. I asked the waiter what he would suggest to go with the crabcake dinner. He said, "Ladies like Chardonnay, so... Do you like sweet wine?... or do you like dry?" At that point I thought, "Okay, this guy is stereotyping me as a Chardonnay person because I am a woman, and he's not even trying to match the wine with my food - which was what I asked him to do." So, I figured that since he wasn't going to recommend a wine to compliment my dinner, I might as well order Riesling, since I've been wanting to try that type of wine. So, I said "I was thinking of Riesling." to which he replied "That was exactly the one I was going to say!" Oh, PLEASE! So... he didn't give me the greatest impression - I felt he was just trying to pawn a wine off on me that he thought fit a typical woman, instead of choosing a wine to compliment my meal. I guess I was hoping for too much?

Then he brought me my wine 15-20 minutes before I got my meal. Is this normal? Since I was wanting my wine WITH my meal, should I have done something different to prompt him to bring it with my food, rather than well before it was served?

I would like your input on this experience of mine! Am I trying too hard, considering my lack of knowledge/experience?

By the way, the wine tasted good alone. Then when I got my meal, I tasted it with my food, and thought it really didn't taste too great. And so I tried my husband's creole shrimp, and the wine tasted great with HIS meal!!!! Oh well!