Sorry, pups. The contents of this bag is for me!
Yesterday I had lunch with a colleague after a planning meeting (we’re on the Gallatin Valley Land Trust special events commitee) and as we watched the snow fall–while simultaneously watching our wallets–we both ordered the 3-course lunch special at Ted’s Montana Grill. Little did I know I would be following a Michelle Obama trend: cookies to go.
Today, the New York Times features a charming article about doggie bags in general, and how–in this economy–an increasing number of diners are hesitant to waste food. Tap water instead of the pricey bubbly kind. No appetizers. No extra side dishes.
And of course, one of the best ways to “waste not want not” is to take leftovers home for tomorrow’s lunch or–as the NYT suggested in the case of The First Lady–cookies for the kids. In a doggie bag. From Table Fifty-Two in Chicago.
But back to my own doggie bag. Ted’s (yup, Ted Turner’s upscale chain) is known for its generous portions, so requesting bagged or boxed food is almost expected. My lunch–a hearty chicken noodle soup (with homemade noodles) was thick and filling and I could have stopped there. Entree? A grilled salad replete with mounds of vegetables, avocados, and grilled chicken slathered with ranch dressing. (What, I’m in Montana and I’m going to have blueberry vinagrette? Uh, no.) Dessert? A choice of huge homemade cookies: Chocolate Chip, Peanut Butter, Snickerdoodles, or Oatmeal Raisin. Upon ordering, I asked the waiter to bag that hulking cookie (oatmeal raisin), because I knew I’d be full after the soup and salad.
I actually forgot about the cookie until this morning, when I happened to dig into my purse and there was breakfast: perfectly wrapped, intact, and delicious with my mug of Earl Grey tea.
Moral of the story? As a daughter of parents who grew up during the depression, I learned about frugality long ago. However, during my years as a food editor in New York (read: expense account meals), I often left food on my plate and ordered that expensive bubbly water.
Now–especially after three trips to India and a heightened awareness of hunger and real poverty–I’m never, ever embarrassed to ask the waitstaff to bag or box up the leftovers on my plate.
And these days, unless the bag truly contains dog-friendly food, the contents become a second meal. For me.
Long live the Doggie Bag!
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