The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-07-15
FAvORS OLD STYLE
OF SERVING MEALS
Food in Plenty Appeals to
This Writer.

LIE HdSCuilIe lued OI TIE perfect
meal is to have everything piled on
the table at once. Mountains OF
mashed potato, platters of meat and
great bowls of vegetables, with slab
of pie waiting patiently in full view
of the assembled guests. creates an
expansive mood in the breast of the
male that no perfection of service
can command. Add to this a news
paper propped up against pitcher
snaked from some farmhouse bed
room. and the ultimate in table pleas
ure for men is achieved. For one
thing, a grooming board such as this
gives full opportunity for the exer-
else of the clearinghouse reach
which has unfortunately gone out of
fashion.
Recently ] had luncheon at a res
taurant smart enough to capitalize
the masculine preference for the
clearinghouse reach. No table seats
less than twelve people. You sit
down before plate turned upside
down on the tablecloth, and eat firsts,
seconds and thirds until your natural
limitation is reached. On one table
l counted not less than three meats,
four vegetables and five salads. not
to mention bowls of jam and pitch
ers of sorghum. Tables not in use
were neatly covered with mosquito
netting to keep the flies out of the
sugar bowl.
The first thing / noticed was that
most of the patrons were men, OBJ
viously having perfectly grand time
reaching for this and for that. Out
Changed from time to time. Inside
knives and forks clattered and chairs
scraped cheerily over the bare floor.
If you spied a dish at the far end of
the table that you craved. you ad-
dressed a perfect stranger and said
primly, THANK you for the apple
sauce" or please pass the spuds.
You forked the bread from it's place
and used your own knife to hew
hunk of butter from the whole.
That afternoon | asked twenty-five
men how they preferred to take their
meals. do you like all your food
on the table at once or served in
courses at your left elbow?" Regard
less of social class or financial stand
ing, twenty-four out of twenty-five
grinned broadly and said, 81 like ev-
erything on the table at once" To
the second question, "Why?' they
were slower in response. for the av-
erage male is notably unskilled in
self-analysis Most of them thought
it was easier, simpler. quicker, more
sensible Some hated to be kept in
gastronomic suspense. When the
food was served in courses they filled
up early only to have something they
liked better served after they were
too full to enjoy it. Now if | can
see it all at once. know what to save
back for" they said; or. Lots of
times l get up hungry because l
saved a hole for dessert which i
didn't like when it came. If only l
had known it was a blob of gelatin
instead of hunk of pie, I'd have
filled up early on bread and gravy"
One man said he never knew how
much he dared eat when his wife
kept the food concealed in the kitch
en-. eff it's all on the table, ] cut
loose or hold back according to the
quantity" he declared. Il hate max.
ing mysteries about grub"
The discussion also revealed the
famous masculine preference for
"plain food" Every man expressed
his deep aversion to an egg made up
to look like an apple. To him there
is something abnormal in finding a
ball of cheese in the heart of a
peach. or some grapes in the middle
peculiar to the female Of the species
and are viewed with deep scorn by
the male.
Some men confessed to an occa.
sional preference for formal service.
at depends on my mood" one said.
In other words. a festive spirit calls
for a bit of ostentation. IF | take
a lady to dinner. like things done
up brown" another admitted. at
gives me a feeling of superiority to
order the waiter around. suppose
it's form of showing off," But when
good fellows get together for sole