A few weeks ago (maybe even a few months)...
I used to go out and have breakfast with a buddy of mine every weekend. It kinda worked out real convenient that way, you know? By the time I got our of work, he was just waking up, so I'd go grab him every Saturday morning, we would go to Denny's. Those of you unfamiliar with Denny's, it's like an all night diner. They serve mostly breakfast foods. They have other items, but stick with the breakfast foods. Trust me on that one.
Anyways, for the last few weeks, my buddy and I've been going to Denny's and every time I walk in the door, I say to my friend, "I think I'm going to order the Nachos today." He'd reply with something like, "You're a braver man than I", or "what's wrong with you?" I always chicken out at the last minute, when the waitress is standing in front of me, and always end up getting scrambled eggs and bacon. It's really hard to mess up scrambled eggs and bacon, whereas you can very easily mess up something like nachos, you know?
Well this time, as usual, I was walking into the restaurant with my friend and I said, "I think I'm going to get the Nachos this time. For real". And this time, I did really have a craving for nachos. Denny's is probably not the best place to get nachos, though. Regardless, I had a hankering, and I needed it satiated. So I walked in with all the intentions of getting me some tasty nachos.
It was fairly early in the morning, so the place was rather empty. Only two other tables were occupied besides from me and my friend. One table was a table of this old couple out for an early breakfast. It looked like they were going to (maybe coming from) golf or tennis or something, because the lady was still wearing her white visor on her head. They were in matching shirt and shorts, the old man with his white socks hiked up to his knee. They were sitting across from each other in a booth, each with a different section of the newspaper. To be honest, I was a bit envious of them. By the looks of it, they looked like they'd been sharing the newspaper together for many years. It was very nice to see.
The other table was a table of four men. Four Mennenites I assumed, because they were dressed like the Amish but I didn't see a horse and buggy out in the parking lot. Where could they have walked from, I have no idea, as this Denny's is located right off the highway. The four men were dressed in black slack and shoes, white button down shirts, grey vests. They all had beards and no mustache. On the corner of their chairs hung a black hat. It was like a scene from the 19th century strangely placed in modernity.
I quietly made a joke to my friend about a house being built somewhere as we sat down.
The waiter was this overtly gay black guy feeling very much outside his element serving this aging white couple, a table of amish looking men, and me and my friend, all eyeing each other with quiet disapproval. A very curious slice of Americana, I thought. The waiter came and took our drink order (two coffees) and we sat perusing the menu. I had already had my heart set on the nachos, you see.
The waiter goes back to the table of bearded men to drop off their breakfast. He brings a big tray and sets various dishes of eggs, toast, omelettes, sets down a bottle of ketchup, hot sauce and walks away. My friend and I are remarking on the horrible choice of music that is piped in through the dining room. I've been there a few times now and there seems to be two stations at this particular Denny's. One channel is country-pop, and the other is oldies/soul station. The country-pop to me, is like ear rape with the flag and it makes me say things like, "Merca'll kick yerass!!!" (That's "America will kick your ass" in case if you need a translation) Oldies/soul, I can deal with. This particular day, it was the old red, white and blue waving in the truckbed kinda music and I was saying things like, "Y'kin git out!" when it happened.
One of the amish looking fellas turned to us and said, "Excuse me, they gave us too much food. Would one of you guys like a free breakfast?"
I said, "what?"
I know. Not the sharpest knife out of the drawer, you know? I'm not nearly as quick on my feet as I like to think I am.
He says, "I ordered the french toast and they gave me french toast and a vegetable omelette. Would you like either of these?"
I'm not the one to turn down free food so I said, "Well, if you ordered the french toast, you should have it. If you're not going to eat the vegetable omelette, I'll gladly take it from you." I thanked him as he handed me his vetetable omelette and the accompanying toast. By the time the waiter came back with our coffees, I had already had a few plates in front of me. He looked at me puzzled. I said, "Well, I didn't bring these with me. I got a free breakfast from those nice gentlemen over there. Can you bring me some hot sauce please?" As the waiter walked away with my friend's order, my friend said to me, "So. No nachos for you today either, huh?"
Now I am very much a carnivore. As a matter of fact, if I don't have a piece of meat with my meal, I feel cheated somewhat. So a vegetable omelette is something I would never order. Still, I have to tell you that vegetable omelette was the best omelette I had in a long while. A little dash of human kindness turns out to be great seasoning. It was delicious, very satisfying. Perhaps even more so because it came from quaint bearded folk.
So the Lord God sent the Mennenites to save me from the nachos.
And the best part is I didn't have to put out.
Hope your day's going well.
Grape.
GrapeKoolaid posted on Jul 08, 2009
| views: 238
Comments
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uniquely-ironic said on Jul 08, 2009....
I had to giggle at "So the Lord God sent the Mennenites to save me from the nachos. And the best part is I didn't have to put out." I was wondering how the nachos issue would be once again side stepped. I think it would be fascinating to share a meal with either the Mennnonites or Amish people, but question whether or not they'd feel the same way about me. -
GrapeKoolaid said on Jul 08, 2009....
uni: Well, they're supposed to be the warm, inviting type, right? I'm sure they'll have no issues with breaking bread with you. Trying to save you from eternal damnation on the other hand, that's a different story. Though not polite dinner conversation material, if you ask me. Though I'm neither Amish nor a Mennonite, so I don't know. Eternal salvation might be perfectly proper dinner conversation for them. :)
Though if it is, then the dinner doesn't seem as inviting, does it?
Glad you got a giggle out of my story.
I'll get those nachos yet. You'll see.
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uniquely-ironic said on Jul 08, 2009....
Well, I have to say, many very righteous people have tried to save my soul. I pity them really. It would be interesting to hear their sales pitch for salvation. "Give the Lord your soul and get heavy manual labor as your eternal reward!" -
diabolicdame said on Jul 08, 2009....
Many a men have been destroyed in the pusuit of nachos.. step carefully!! LOL -
Lucytorial said on Jul 08, 2009....
Tee he he he sometimes the weirdness of the world smiles down upon us.I've always found it curious the case of mennanites. amish I have heard of and know relatively litle but enough to understand their beliefs, whats the differece between the two? -
gingersoul said on Jul 08, 2009....
Grapey......you made me laugh once again with this nacho-flavored Amish story.....lol...I strongly suggest you to stay away from nachos of any sort and religious inclination......they are a manifestation of Evil...lol..When i traveled to New York years ago we stopped in Ohio and Pennsylvania for few days......i wanted so bad to visit one of those Amish villages....but my ex didnt share my same enthusiasm....i saw one group of them from some distance though....I bet you remember the movie "The witness" with Harrison Ford, right?I think you should look cute dressed like on the them....lol...... -
Lucytorial said on Jul 08, 2009....
Ginger there might be a slight facial hair problem though te he heWe don't have that kind of stuff here, I would love to go to a village? do they eat you alive as an outsider? (shun) -
gingersoul said on Jul 08, 2009....
Oh, i don't think so......just give time to time....;-p -
soaringraven said on Jul 08, 2009....
The Aminoids and the Mennenoids all lived together in the same kettle for a spell and one day old Bro. Mennen woke up and said, "Hey the old world done got modern on us, maybe I oughta go out and git me an automobile. "So when old Bro Amish saw Bro Mennen drive his shiny new automobile down the road he said, "Now theres a fallen saint if I ever saw one, maybe he can give me a ride to town though. Old Trotter here is gittin kinds long in the tooth."soaring -
Hegemone said on Jul 08, 2009....
Well, first ... I'm hungry now, thank you very much. It's been ages since I've been to Denny's ... mostly because of this weight loss thing I'm doing and EVERYTHING there seems greasy, lol ... but it tastes sooo good. Well, what I've had anyway ... usually the typical eggs, bacon, sausage, hash browns and toast minus the eggs because Denny's eggs are weird to me, strange texture or something, I don't know. What a pleasant experience you had though, I don't think I could've turned down weird textured eggs if I had had the same scenario. You just never know when these little experiences are going to find you, do ya? -
mOOn_platOOn said on Jul 08, 2009....
O
I love it when one of my sterotypical reactions gets overturned. Happened to me once with two black boys. I was getting paranoid as they approached and then they turned out to be so polite and gentlemanly that I was actually ashamed of the thoughts I was harboring before...
O
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secretlife said on Jul 08, 2009....
He works in strange ways.... -
GrapeKoolaid said on Jul 08, 2009....
uni: Something about the sweat of your brow, probably. Which would make it... A Uni-brow? :D
ddame: Ah yes. Prepared incorrectly, nachos can be downright unholy. :)
Lucy: You know? Not rightly sure myself. Something about the Amish not using electricity and the Mennonites do, I think. Other than that, I'm not sure as to where their differences lie. I am rather ignorant in this matter. Not just this one, of course. :P
Amore: Well, they do build some pretty solid furniture. Great houses to boot.
Me in a vest and dress slacks? A black hat? I can dig it. :)
soaring: That's pretty good. You know, as I was sitting down to eat that day, I was thinking, 'I wonder if somebody rang a big bell and that's why they're here'.
Hege: You're absolutely right about their rubbery eggs. Even when it's over easy, or sunny side up, it seems rubbery. The whites. I wonder what they do to their eggs... And yes. Even rubbery eggs, when seasoned with a dash of human kindness is delicious. :)
mOOn: It was a scene out of twilight zone, I tell ya. Only in America, right?
secret: Indeed he does. To save me from the unholy nachos. Now let us pray. :)
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soaringraven said on Jul 08, 2009....
Yeah, they don't really speak redneck, but I have a difficult time writing Aminoid with all that Old English thee and thou crap, which is strange in itself since they are predominately of German decent.The primary difference between the two though is that the Mennoniods have largely embraced modernity while the Aminiods essentially reject it. I'm sure there are other differences along the way. At one point in history they were together and the Mennenoids broke off largely over the sinful and evil modern convenience issue. You know, things like electricity, running water, flushing toilets and the occasional bath.soaring -
Expendable said on Jul 08, 2009....
Denny's does a good burger too. -
GrapeKoolaid said on Jul 08, 2009....
Soaring: Thanks for the info. One of the teachers I had in college was a Mennonite and he lived in a commune of sorts. That's the only way I know about them. He was this teeny little old man rumored to shoot lightening from his finger. Physics guy. I guess more like a mad scientist. A mad, Mennonite scientist... It almost makes sense now. :)
Ex: It's alright, I guess. Location is an important factor, I've found.
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gingersoul said on Jul 08, 2009....
Grapey.....you had a mad Mennonite guy as teacher?
Now other things about you make sense too.....LOL...
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queenparanoia said on Jul 08, 2009....
that's very nice of them to do that grape... ;-)
thanks for sharing this story... ;-)
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beyondtheveil said on Jul 08, 2009....
grape- Don't listen to the soulgirl, as she is obviously not a gourmet in the wonderful world of nachos. Who would not rave over shredded meat, refried beans, melted cheese, and pico de gallo atop fresh crispy tortilla chips. Silly girl.
We have Denny's, but probably only good for breakfast as you observed. The only big problem I have with them is the worst coffee I ever drank.
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gingersoul said on Jul 09, 2009....
BeyBey.......hey you! Giving that kind of suggestion away....lol....some might even follow them....;-pBut you are right, i have to admit......no a gourmet of nachos at all...I occasionally venture in sampling some suspicious Mexican casserole that my coworkers bring at work for lunch.....but refried beans scare me and melted cheese screams Sacre bleau!Silly me, i know....lol...But i am a deep connoisseur of french fries. Does it count? -
beyondtheveil said on Jul 09, 2009....
ginsoul- Ah, french fries. In the good old days, they made french fries out of actual potatoes, cut somewhat thin with the skin still on and salted to perfection. I have to look for places which serve that delicacy nowdays. Those so-called potatoes, the smushed-up, battered to death, processed pieces of junk most places serve as french fries cannot even compare. A really good platter of chili-cheese fries is darn good too - if they use real cheese and not that smushed-up, battered to death, processed junk.
Yea, french fries count.
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gingersoul said on Jul 09, 2009....
BeyBey.....at home, I do them that way, my friend.My mom used to make them in this way and i keep the tradition going...but no skin on...I cut them in different ways depending by the mood and my daughter's order..lol..i like them in small cubes too..she prefers them long and thick...i like them crunchy , she prefers them a litlle softer..Olive oil, naturally , and when fried put them on a paper sheet to absob the oil a little bit...as soon as they are out of the pan sprinkle salt on ...Some use pepper too...i don't..When i went to Paris i bought them at the street vendors.....they give them to you in big paper cones....oh, damnd....so good...Maybe Queenie could start making french fries with her b-b-q.. ......:-).So come on over and have some...:-). -
RollingC said on Jul 09, 2009....
Thanks for sharing....I go to Denny's regular also and I like their breakfast most of all.
Maybe one of these days I'll be feeling brave and have a Nacho breakfast... :^) Rc
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GrapeKoolaid said on Jul 09, 2009....
Amore: Does it now? Like my propensity to shoot lightening from my fingertips perhaps? :D
qp: Sure thing. He shared his breakfast, I share a story. Any time.
btv: I'm sure they do nachos proper in the southwest. I don't doubt that for a second.
Is it the quality of the coffee that you have issues with? Or is it the strength? I'm sure one is easier to control than the other.
And I can tell you from experience that ginger's teeny 'tater treats are indeed terribly tasty. Tantalizing to the taste buds, one could say. That's a lot of T's. (See what I did there?) :D
Amore: You do know that Julia Childs loved McDonald's french fries, right?
RC: Sounds like a challenge! It's on! Nachos for breakfast! The gods will it!
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gingersoul said on Jul 09, 2009....
I forgive her only because she was a spy against the Nazi during WW2......lol..... -
GrapeKoolaid said on Jul 09, 2009....
Amore: I know!!! What a life... (Get back to work, you...) -
mOOn_platOOn said on Jul 10, 2009....
O
I've spent many a wee hour at Denny's...
Anybody remember Sambo's? (shudder)
O
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