Time for morning tea as we make our way down the footpath. I sidestep a sandwich board. It proudly says: Homemade cakes.
It is telling me: Come in for your morning tea of coffee and cake. And
please don’t ask me what the phrase “homemade cakes” means.
We enter the café. I sneakily watch grandmother. Which table is she
heading for? I don’t think she will take the one near the door. Or the one in
front of the counter. I think she is going for the one the corner. I reckon she
will ask the staff, “Is it okay if we sit anywhere?”
Our lives involve less choices if there is only one empty table in the
room.
She takes possession of a table by standing behind a chair. I could sit
opposite her or next to her. Should I face everybody else or face the wall. I
can’t sit in this chair which is cramped.
Not enough room.
I eventually sit down and survey the room. I am standing atop a
mountain admiring the view. I have to make sure I can locate everything. I can
view a bain-marie.
I stand up to get closer to the bain-marie. In the bain-marie are cakes
and slices and slices of frittata arranged on plates. Each plate has a label.
One plate has the words, ‘gluten free’.
On the counter are a few muffins on a tray.
Maybe there is something on the menu which is not on display. There is a pile of written menus which I take.
The menu tells us when breakfast finishes and lunch begins. The menu
tells me the chef knows foreign words and fads such as gluten free, organic and
vegan. The menu doesn’t tell me what is low in sugar and fat. What is high in
fiber and healthy.
I look for food that is fresh, tasty, healthy and environmentally sound. If it is also socially acceptable, easy to
cook and cheap then everybody is happy.
If I see blackboard and a chalk menu I assume the food is as fresh as
the menu.
Before choosing some food I have to think daily. What else am I eating
today? What exercise will I do today? How much food can I eat without feeling
guilty? How high is my guilt limit today?
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