Lamenting today's poor food offerings

Okay some random thoughts today on food while traveling.  This morning I sat through a terribly boring meeting at the Marriott and, at break, fled from the room to see what was available on the “light breakfast buffet” table.  Somehow soda doesn’t feel like breakfast food, there were small plates of unripe fruit, green cantaloupe and fibrous pineapple.  Off to the right a plate of drab, oily bran muffins.  Seriously, even bran muffins can be made to be delicious with butter milk, raisins or even some orange rind mixed into the batter.  But these poor little orphans were crying out for some attention.  You could almost see the bored chef somewhere in the hotel, trotting out a bag of premix from a dusty storage cupboard, blowing off the dust and mouse droppings and pouring it into a bowl to add water, mixing while talking on their cell.  Popped in the oven and served on a plain white plate, never loved, never cared for.  And they tasted of neglect.  This morning, when I woke up, the Holiday Inn served their version of neglected breakfast breads, rubbery eggs and watery juice from soda fountains.  Now I know businesses have to make money but seriously could you pop for a sliced strawberry to spice up a serving platter.  I am always amazed at the indifference people display towards food. 

To add insult today’s food presentations, we just were served the poorest example of Chinese food I have ever experienced.  Limp chicken strips and shriveled beef strips languishing in brown grey sauces, over cooked broccoli, minute rice doused in soy sauce and doughy deep fried egg rolls, all to be accompanied by brown yellow hot and sour soup, neither hot nor sour, but covered in beef fat.  It is almost a sacrilege what has been perpetuated against the food today.  I feel slightly naseaous.  I went for a walk though seemingly endless parking lots surrounding this hotel until I found a verge of grass against a still pond.  Signing warning me not to fish, swim or ice skate aside, I found a quiet place to feel the shade of the trees, the sun on my skin and some quiet amid this day.  The food has not been a highlight; fortunately I am here with people I enjoy.  Tonight I may just retreat to my room, order some pizza and hid from all these food abominations!! Hopefully tomorrow will show better food offerings.  Suddenly the airport food is looking good from yesterday!!!