Aeroplanes, Hospitals & Cafeterias

I went to Ikea with my friend yesterday. I needed some frames and the odd assortment of plastic things. Mostly it was just to have a day out. It was an adventure of sorts. A couple of exhausting hours into our 'adventure' we decided to have a rest and a bite to eat. Of course we went to the Ikea cafeteria. This is where I became terribly excited, and my friend became increasingly distressed. Our reactions were polar opposites. She hates cafeterias and I adore them. We both agreed the food was bad. No argument there.

With the extremeness of our reactions I thought a bit more about my own excitement. I care about quality food and probably can be a bit of a food snob. My mother is Italian for goodness sake! But still I love aeroplane, hospital and cafeteria food. Actually I really don't love this food. It is usually awful, but I do love the experience of it, the concept of it. Everything neat and packaged. Your choices are minimal or non existent. Maybe it's the surprise of it. What will be in this little container? It's kitschy and tacky, and just so much damn fun.

As a school aged child I flew to Europe with my dad and brother. There are lots of things I remember about that trip, but one thing I particularly remember is a dessert I had on Lufthansa airlines. It was a mousse in the prettiest shade of bubblegum pink. It looked so glorious in its pinkness, in its little cup, with its strawberry on top. Unfortunately it tasted like toothpaste. Maybe that is why I remember it so clearly. If it tasted like strawberry mousse it may have not been so remarkable. I try not to define things as being good or bad, or in such absolutes, because bad experiences can lead to good memories, or are just plain memories, and often the best stories to tell.

My new favourite website - Airline meals.