The Usual

I’ll have “the usual”, please.

A common request at a diner by a frequent customer. The waitress doesn’t hesitate - she knows - and places the order. (Ok, it could be a bar and probably works better but this is for a different audience!) 

Have you ever ordered “the usual”? Better yet, have you ever been simply given “the usual” without ever having to say anything? Now that is the best.  A number of years ago, I would religiously stop into a Dunkin Donuts on the way into work. Eventually, I never had to place my order. It was always waiting for me - large cream and sugar with 2 chocolate donuts. She knew my “usual”. Today, it’s still a daily occurrence but at a different location and no donuts - except on special occasions (Monday, Tuesday and Friday...maybe Sunday), and only one. 

I hadn’t thought about it until we started spending more time with our grandsons and they are perfect examples of this phenomena. 

Twice a week for 2 years, Spiderman has requested “the usual” for his lunch. Ok, he doesn’t actually get a menu or says he wants “the usual”, but we know what he wants: 1 slice of liverwurst with a mayonnaise happy face (2 if he's really hungry), 2 sweet pickles, a slice of American cheese and milk. For dessert: 1 scoop of mint chocolate chip, 1 scoop of vanilla and 2 chocolate covered banana nuggets. There can be some surprise requests - cinnamon raisin toast or apples with peanut butter. While those are rare, substitutes are gladly accepted. 

Ball Boy, alias Batman, on the other hand is a little more open to his luncheon fare. He will usually go for a PB&J sandwich, mandarin orange slices, 2 American cheese slices and cinnamon toast. He prefers a cookie for dessert, although has been known to try a scoop of vanilla when we’ve forgotten to get cookies at the bakery. 

Just when you think you have figured out how toddlers consume, we found out that “the usual” is different depending upon which restaurant....er grandparents’ house is serving lunch. What?!

Yes, their other Nana advised us that Spiderman will not touch liverwurst at her house. He flat refuses to eat what we thought is his favorite. He has her version of an egg mcmuffin most days with an alternate of crackers with butter and a separate piece of American cheese. Ball Boy has plain ritz crackers with American cheese (he spit out the swiss cheese - too many holes?), yogurt and watermelon. He likes most fruit. A little more adventuresome. 

I asked their parents what they like at home and they said it is a combination of what they eat at our houses, along with an occasional corn dog or side of apples with peanut butter. Ball Boy tends to at least be willing to try new things every so often. Oh, and they love pizza. Who doesn't!

So why is it that they like certain foods at certain places? And why do they stick with  “the usual” generally at the respective homes? The more burning question: how did we ever get Superman to try liverwurst in the first place? 

The answers:

-I don’t know 

-I will never know 
-It’s delicious, of course!

I believe it’s simply a matter of being comfortable in a particular environment - Comfort Food. 

That’s why tomorrow I think we will offer Spiderman a pastrami sandwich on rye and Ball Boy a chicken cobb salad. 

Gotta keep them on their toes.