Non Sequitur by Wiley Miller for December 01, 2023

If it’s my Mom’s fried liver, I’ll gladly pass on that and dessert. If it’s my Mom’s lasagna, I’ll eat enough that I won’t have room for dessert.

I’d eat there once. Just to see if she overcooks the veggies like my mom did.

“When I eat here, I think of Mom. They fed her this slop in prison.”

Problem solved. (Maybe) Just order dessert.

For mom’s home cooking, I’ll do anything. Miss ya mom!

Mom shouldn’t have to post these signs. You should just know what is acceptable. If you don’t know the rules, forget the rules, or don’t follow them (for whatever reason), “Mom” will let you know real quick.

“Home of Cody’s ‘Top of the World White-Hot BBQ Sauce’!”

“Shirt not tucked in and not washed behind the ears, no service.”

Where’s the “Wash up before you sit down” sign?

Wise advice from Nelson Algren in A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE: “Never play cards with a man called Doc. Never eat at a place called Mom’s. Never sleep with (anyone) whose troubles are worse than your own.”

you also have to wash dishes…

Mom doesn’t approve of doggy bags?

If mom’s home cooking who’s in the kitchen at the restaurant

Do you eat at the truck stop restaurant with two signs, Eats and Gas ?

Get dessert first. Then worry about the plate.

Your choices are: eat what’s before you or go hungry

This one is a cartoon staple, like the desert island and pearly gates.

And … ‘’Wash your hands and take off the hat at the table.’’

Wouldn’t argue about some lumps in the mashed potatoes.

Use the magic words?

Reminds me of Russ’s rules at the Red Key here in Indy. (Hang up your coat, on a hanger or wall hook, not on the back of your chair! Keep your feet on the floor! Don’t you dare carry your drink if you change your seat!)

It depends on the portion size.

Pies like mom use to make: $10. Pies like she was trying to make: $15.

Well how can you have any pudding if you don’t eat your meat.

It does bother me to see how much perfectly good food people just throw away. Take it home and warm it up for a snack later or something. Just don’t order so much in the first place.

{sings} Just eat it (Eat it), eat it (Eat it)Get yourself an egg and beat itHave some more chicken, have some more pieIt doesn’t matter if it’s boiled or friedJust eat it (Eat it), just eat it (Eat it)Just eat it (Eat it), just eat it (Eat it, woo)

Today’s Special: “Eat what’s put in front of you”.

love it!

No dessert and it will be in the fridge for you in the morning. Gonna learn to love cold veggies.

There was a diner in Salem, OR that had a sign that said “Authentic ’50’s Diner.” Except that an authentic ’50’s diner wouldn’t have had that sign.

I grew up in a household where my grandparents came from Central Europe. Being able to put a good spread on the table was a sign of wealth. My parents were products of the Great Depression. Wasting food was a sin. “Cleaning one’s plate was urged.”

The combination of the cultures led to overeating. I still have issues with portion control today, but at least now, I can start with a smaller plate and not what mom used to heap on it.

If they have Weiner Schnitzel with spaghetti on the menu, I’m going in

Some years ago, when I was still in my middle age period, I would visit a restaurant named Mom’s Kitchen every Tuesday for the Country Fried Steak Special with all the trimmings and a glass of sweet tea. I was such a regular that I was never given a menu. Then one Tuesday after sitting down I was brought a glass of water with a slice of lemon and a bowl of steamed vegetables and a slice of plain whole wheat bread. As I stared blankly at my servings the waitress informed me that Mom said I was cut off from the Chicken Fried Steak until I lost 10 pounds and got my blood pressure under control. After continuing to stare at my food for several more minutes I finally started eating wondering who the heck had tattled on me and when did the owner of Mom’s Kitchen become my adopted mom?

Same here, but we had great gravy!

Elbows off the table. Sit up straight!

I keep thinking about opening a restaurant where the menu reminds me of home, (like spaghetti & meatballs, Mac and cheese, meatloaf… ) but I wouldn’t call it Mom’s. …I was thinking about ‘The Comfort Café’

“Never eat at a place called Mom’s. Never play cards with a man named Doc…”

I never understood why it states on that sign “Wipe your feet”. You aren’t barefoot, so it should read “wipe your shoes”. One time I took off my shoes and socks and wiped the bottom of my feet on the carpet to comply with the sign at a restaurant. All I was doing was complying with the sign, not being a wiseguy.

Years ago there were a lot of restaurants with flashing neon signs that just said “EAT”. Haven’t seen any of those for quite a while.

Meatloaf—-everybody makes it different

My own mother was a home-economics teacher whose cooking was wonderful. But, after teaching all day and then coming home to make supper for the family, the last thing she wanted to do was teach my sister and me how to cook and bake, so we never learned. I suppose I could’ve tried to figure it out for myself later in life, but I never did.

This sign is presented as a kind of joke, but its real-world equivalent can be seen in many buffets (my faves are Indian and Chinese) where a sign at the beginning of the line admonishes “Take as much as you want, but eat everything you take.” Which, really, seems like a perfectly reasonable request, since you can always go back for more if you want to.

“Ziggy” generously shares his meme?

M

My Mom was from a German background, every thing was cooked very well. Mom and I were the only ones in our family that liked liver and onions. The secret is quality of the meat and how you cook it.

The 50’s Prime Time Cafe at Disney Hollywood Studios has the no elbows on the table rule, and awards stickers for clean plates.

Sit up straight. Chew your food properly. Elbows off the table. Use your napkin. Don’t slurp the soup…

A restaurant can’t by definition do home cooking.

…sit up straight. use your napkin, and don’t talk with food in your mouth!

My aunt (the oldest sister) learned to cook. My Mom learned how to wash dishes.

“Never eat at a place called Mom’s.”—Nelson Algren

How is that special, by any definition?

Never eat at a place called “Mom’s”.

I’ve heard of a theme restaurant, but that is too much.

Don’t forget to ask if you may leave the table.

And Merriam-Webster’s choice (by frequency of online lookup) for Word of the Year was “authentic.”

“IF YOU DON’T EAT YOUR MEAT, YOU CAN’T HAVE ANY PUDDING!”

Reminds me of a comic (was it F Minus?) where they ate just like at home, on folding TV tables.