Relatively Minor
Laughter does not have to come from a major source. It could indeed be ... relatively minor.
Life is full of warning signs that keep us safe, like “Beware of the dog” or “Caution: Wet floor”. Even the passenger side mirror of your car warns you that objects in the mirror are closer than they appear. But what about warning signs on restaurant menus? It would be helpful to have something like “the actual size of the food is larger than it appears” to prevent us from ordering more than we can handle.
Last week, I decided to stop at a popular family restaurant in West Des Moines for a late afternoon lunch. After a less-than-stellar experience at a fast food eatery the week before, I was ready for a relaxing sit-down meal. The host led me to a booth in the back forty, which I thought was either for privacy or to keep me away from the other guests in the front.
I asked for coffee to drink, and the host returned in no time with a carafe and a cup as white as snow. As I skimmed the menu, I carefully poured the dark, caffeine-infused liquid into my mug, anticipating what was to come.
When the waitress arrived, I was ready to order the strawberry cheesecake French toast platter. Who could resist two slices of brioche French toast layered with luscious cheesecake filling, topped with glazed strawberries and whipped topping? It also came with two eggs and a choice of two applewood smoked bacon strips or two sausage links.
The server promptly delivered my meal, laying two plates in front of me. My eyes widened as she placed the massive strawberry cheesecake French toast platter under my nose. The eggs and sausage links looked like tiny food samples from a children’s toy set in comparison. The actual size of the food was much larger than it appeared on the menu. The French toast was stuffed, and so was I. Unable to finish the rest of the dish, I asked the waitress for a container to transport it home.
Next time, I’ll be sure to look for that “warning sign” on the menu before ordering.
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Perhaps that warning should indicate the number of plates deployed to serve each course - the ideal number would be one.