By Staff
Meatloaf. May I have the meatloaf, please? On a recent trip to our cottage, we stopped at Boston Market in Holland for lunch. My eyes popped when I saw "meatloaf dinner" on the menu board. Wow, what a find! I smiled at the young lady behind the cash register, "I'll have the meatloaf, please. Meatloaf is nursery food."
"Excuse me? What is nursery food?" she inquired.
"That's food that reminds you of your childhood and makes you feel good," I replied.
"I hope you had a nice childhood," was her reply.
I'm not sure that my childhood was better than anyone else's, but I remember certain food that made me feel good. Meatloaf was one.
We were in Denver a while back and met my wife's nephew and his new bride at Wolfgang Puck's for dinner. The sushi was grand! But I was waiting for a table and the opportunity to order-meatloaf! At last our table was ready. Our waiter, charming and personable, began taking our orders. I was last. "I'll have the meatloaf dinner, please," the buttons on my shirt nearly popping with anticipation.
"I'm sorry, sir-we are out of meatloaf. What would you like instead?"
"I'll take the meatloaf sandwich, then," I replied.
"Read my lips, sir-we don't have meatloaf tonight."
"Read MY lips, young man-I WANT MEATLOAF!" I laughed, and acknowledged that my taste buds had been anticipating Wolfgang Puck's famous meatloaf all day. "That is a very popular item, and it sells out quickly," the waiter explained. I settled for wild salmon (it was delicious!). The next time I'm in Denver (or any other city where Wolfgang has a restaurant) I WILL get meatloaf!
Nursery food. For some it is mac and cheese. For others it's hamburgers or grilled cheese sandwiches or home made chili or green beans. For me, it's-meatloaf.
I truly enjoy fine dining at Woodfire, LaSalle Grille, or Millennium Steakhouse-but it's meatloaf, with mashed potatoes and gravy, that makes me feel good all under. Thank you, Boston Market, for having a comfort item on your menu. Thank you, Prime Table in Niles for having a comfort item on your menu. And, thanks to my wife, who makes meatloaf when I really need comfort.
Meatloaf, in any of its myriad forms, is as good as a blankie or teddy bear, or twisting my hair around a finger when I'm really tired. I'm old enough to admit my weakness for comfort. And when I'm really old and can't chew filet mignon, I'll savor meatloaf.
By the way, if you like meatloaf, try substituting Quaker Instant Oatmeal with apple and cinnamon for breadcrumbs or oatmeal. It's a nice twist from the ordinary but still a great comfort. Don't forget the mashed potatoes and brown gravy!
Whatever it is that makes you feel good all under (as the Hanes Underwear commercial used to say), remember that comfort food is as necessary as air and water.