What's for Lunch? The All-in-One Glass Tower Special

Warning: Do not try this at home. 🙂

Will This Ever Replace the Blue Plate Special?

Often my kids, grandkids, or friends send me photos of food they’ve prepared or eaten at restaurants. This week Russ texted a photo of his lunch catered during a conference at the Ronald Reagan Building in DC.

I had to laugh. I’d never seen a meal served vertically in a group of bowls resembling a glass tower. The simplicity certainly makes sense for those catering meals. But what about the consumer?

Where to Start

Russ explained that it was a three course lunch. The bottom bowl—the entrée—featured salmon atop pearl pasta. The middle bowl, the salad, was akin to a tabbouleh, he said. A chocolate mousse capped with fresh fruit highlighted the top bowl.

I asked which of the courses he started with, after reminding him of the old maxim, “Life is uncertain; eat dessert first.” He neglected to share his starting point with me.

We May Never Know

I would love to have been the proverbial “fly on the wall” to hear the remarks of those befuddled by the unusual presentation. As is often the case, I, too, am befuddled. I have questions. My inquiring mind wants to know:

. . . the order in which most participants chose to eat the meal;

. . . were the three items served at the right temperature or were all the same;

. . . did they eat from the individual bowls or place the contents on their plate;

. . . did all the participants follow suit;

. . . would they order “The All-in-One Glass Tower Special” at a local diner;

. . . did the unique meal encourage a more creative conference. Or did it just create another Tower of Babel?

Researchers Needed

I have given this some thought. Maybe I need to be going to more hoity-toity diners. Be on the lookout for a place serving such a meal within 20 miles of St. Louis. In the interest of culinary science, I need to give this a try.