In which Variety is Overwhelming
I've had a houseful of guests since Friday, five college people plus my own to make 10 altogether, and it has made me realize what I consider 'normal variety' in foodstuffs can apparently be a bit overwhelming. Take breakfast for instance:
"Well," I say cheerily, "You can have eggs, fake eggs, toast, cold cereal, hot cereal, fruit...let's see, we have these cool Japanese cereal packets you put in a cup, there's chocolate chia seeds, or oatmeal..."
The guest blinks a few times. "Uh. Oatmeal would be fine."
"Great. Flavored packet, steel cut, rolled or porridge style? I have wheat germ, flax, raisins, currants, cranberries, dates or dried blueberries you can add...I have these weird little things I found that taste like strawberries but they're really a flavored cranberry. And golden raisins. Hm. I think we have almonds or pecans, too. Here's some cinnamon, and brown sugar of course. Unless you prefer fructose, white sugar, maple syrup, agave or splenda?"
There is a slight pause.
"And we can make coffee or tea," I continue, pulling out an assortment of colorful mugs for them to pick from. "I have caff, half-caff or decaf, drip, espresso or french press. And the teas are over here. There's stevia and honey for the tea, too."
They prod weakly at the array of over twenty kinds of tea. "I think I'll just do coffee. Espresso."
"Fine!" I say, getting the espresso set up. "And there's a dozen squirty bottles over there of flavors like you find in a coffee shop. Soymilk, half-and-half, milk? Flavored soy creamer?"
They look glazed over.
I get the distinct impression they just have oatmeal packets and plain coffee in their cupboard at home.
They are very nice people, and willing to try something different at least a little bit - they even bravely tasted the bubble-tea-flavored jelly cubes I brought home from the asian market and liked them. Hopefully they'll be a little more adventurous as time passes on, if I haven't shell-shocked them.
Feel free to reply here or at DWth - http://primsong.dreamwidth.org/133139.html .
"Well," I say cheerily, "You can have eggs, fake eggs, toast, cold cereal, hot cereal, fruit...let's see, we have these cool Japanese cereal packets you put in a cup, there's chocolate chia seeds, or oatmeal..."
The guest blinks a few times. "Uh. Oatmeal would be fine."
"Great. Flavored packet, steel cut, rolled or porridge style? I have wheat germ, flax, raisins, currants, cranberries, dates or dried blueberries you can add...I have these weird little things I found that taste like strawberries but they're really a flavored cranberry. And golden raisins. Hm. I think we have almonds or pecans, too. Here's some cinnamon, and brown sugar of course. Unless you prefer fructose, white sugar, maple syrup, agave or splenda?"
There is a slight pause.
"And we can make coffee or tea," I continue, pulling out an assortment of colorful mugs for them to pick from. "I have caff, half-caff or decaf, drip, espresso or french press. And the teas are over here. There's stevia and honey for the tea, too."
They prod weakly at the array of over twenty kinds of tea. "I think I'll just do coffee. Espresso."
"Fine!" I say, getting the espresso set up. "And there's a dozen squirty bottles over there of flavors like you find in a coffee shop. Soymilk, half-and-half, milk? Flavored soy creamer?"
They look glazed over.
I get the distinct impression they just have oatmeal packets and plain coffee in their cupboard at home.
They are very nice people, and willing to try something different at least a little bit - they even bravely tasted the bubble-tea-flavored jelly cubes I brought home from the asian market and liked them. Hopefully they'll be a little more adventurous as time passes on, if I haven't shell-shocked them.
Feel free to reply here or at DWth - http://primsong.dreamwidth.org/133139.html .