Salt & Pepper

Everyone needs them, everyone uses them, cooking would be nothing without them, but when it comes to adding them yourself to a dish prepared for you, it's another story.
My mother taught me that when I ate at someone's house I should always add salt and pepper before the first bite, so that instead of insulting my host and chef, I was simply letting them know this was how I enjoyed my food, no matter what.
When you dine at a restaurant, however, it is different. The chef is usually not present during the sampling of a meal, so one can add or not at will, without fear of insult. At "high dining" establishments, often they will not even put the additives on the table, because they think their food is good enough without them. Although this is usually the case, there are always exceptions. The same holds true for restaurants that do put them out, sometimes they are never touched, the food is just seasoned that well.
Living in New York City, trying to make a career in theatre in dance does not allow me many trips out to dine, so I've decided to save money and treat myself occasionally to a really delicious meal. Here I will attempt to describe them, the ultimate test being whether they needed the addition of salt and pepper or not.