It looked just like midnight buffet on the Love Boat! Overweight people standing around eating from plates piled high
with an excess of food. Except for one thing – this is Gelson’s market deli counter and these are customers “sampling”
a little of this and a little of that. One woman slams down her paper plate on top of the counter and smiles, “It’s really
delicious, but my husband won’t eat it. I’ll take a quarter pound of the roast beef, sliced thin, but cut a piece and let me
taste it first". And so it goes – the Friday pre-lunch crowd has arrived to sample everything they can fit on a small
paper plate without actually having to pay for it. The clerks will serve samples of just about everything in the case.
Some customers don't realize how rude it is to tie up the clerks by forcing them to make little tasting plates. Some
other customers have limited time for marketing. It becomes frustrating when one demanding customer engages
the clerk in conversation with a battery of questions or needless conversation. It's terribly inconsiderate.
Sometimes, in order to prevent the appearance of a cocktail party at the deli, the kitchen staff will put out a platter
of goodies with toothpicks. Again, some people can't resist taking more samples than what is considered polite.
They will grab several toothpicks worth and stuff their mouths to cram in as many as possible. Then turn around
to other waiting shoppers for approval. See what a charming rascal I am? Don't you just love me?
Then there is a guy, with scruffy blue jeans, dress shirt hanging outside the jeans wearing flip flops who spots a bowl
with dip on the counter and chips nearby. He will pick up the bowl and hold directly it under his chin, take the largest
chip, dip it in the bowl and eat directly over the bowl (in case he drips some). He has the nerve to double dip the chip.
Very appetizing.
The salad bar is another heavenly treat. Many people will pick up some of the cherry tomatoes or olives with their
fingers and stuff a few down their throats while concocting their salads and arranging their containers. The other day,
I witnessed something which completely repulsed me. Some 5 or 6 year olds had their fingers in the various salad
dressings. They would stick their fingers in a few dressings at a time, then stick each finger in their mouths and scream
with delight about which one they liked best. Not too many germs are there?
Bon appetite!
