It's no secret that there is always a risk that the difference between what you read in a menu and what you will be served will be too big a divide to conquer... especially when you’re little. We’ve all read a product description that is ever so tantalising, only to be served up something that’s not even close, or conversely, you go for the ‘big breakfast’ only to be reduced to near-tears when the waitress staggers to the table with a plate load of food that could feed a family, knowing even before you pink up your fork that you’re not even going to make it to the half way point of a ‘respectable attempt’ on the plate.
Recently while having a special morning tea with my parents, up from the farm, Mimi was very excited to hear that there was such a thing as chocolate-chip pancakes. When Grandma revealed that they came with ice cream and chocolate syrup the deal was sealed. I was of course a little reticent; “Mummy’s going to share the lemon pancake with Lotti, would you like to just share something with Grandma?” “No,” she said, “I’m a big girl, I’ll eat it all by myself.”
To her credit, she did a pretty good job, and she probably would have eaten it all if I didn’t say ‘enough already!’ Even the waitress raised her eyebrows and nodded in appreciation when she came back to the table. (The photograph is taken as she was nearing the end of her eat-a-thon, and doesn't really do her justice, because it focuses on what's left to go, not on the big blank space on the other side, of all that she's already finished off!)
“I’m worried about the car trip home,” I whispered to the waitress as we left. “You should be,” the waitress whispered back.
Thankfully, there was no choc-chip vomit on the car seat, but she did moan and groan on and off all afternoon and told me she didn't think she’d ever eat chocolate again... needless to say that idea lasted as long as her stomach ache! Like mother like daughter... here’s cheers to chocolate... too much and all!
