How to Handle “Build Your Own” Menus—What lunch and life have in common

a.k.a. – Life lessons from the lunch line…

Have you ever been to one of those lunch spots where you can go through the line and “build your own” meal?

Build your own sounds like a good idea going in, but what you end up building doesn’t always turn out so well.

My first experience with the concept was at an Asian fusion stir-fry restaurant. You’d grab a bowl and select from a massive array of ingredients while you made your way to the cooking station.

It was there you could watch as the magic would happen right before your eyes.

For me, this build your own experience was more than my eyes and stomach could handle. I selected this and I selected that. And “Oh, add some of that too.” Can you see what’s coming? What culinary “magic” was about to unfold?

I had built my own gastric disaster… a bowl of stir-fried confusion.

I was reminded of this not so tasteful treat when I read about The Pizza Foundation in Marfa, Texas. It makes many of the best pizza joints in the country lists. The way @GapingVoid describes him, co-owner Ronnie and Chief Pizza Maker is the real deal when it comes to doing pizza right.

And Ronnie has this rule that would have saved me from myself on that day of stir-fry abundance…

3 toppings max. That’s it.

That’s his rule for making great pizza.

“Why?” You might ask.

“Because Ronnie believes that too many flavors ruin the pizza, turns the pizza to gastronomic mush.” — @GapingVoid

Can you relate? I sure can.

So where am I going with this? I do have message and it’s about to come to me.

This time of year (read any time of year), we all tend to throw too many ingredients into the mix. And we all say the same thing…

“This time is going to be different.“

Think of those ingredients taking the form of many things… commitments, obligations, indulgences, parties, imbibements, work, buying stuff, various taste treats, and what have you.

Now back to stir-fry and pizza for a moment… Like most of those places that give you all those infinite choices, if you take a moment to notice they usually try to help you along with some recommended combinations.

You know, combinations created by someone who knows a little bit about culinary experiences.

They’ve been given a good road testing and have passed the taste test.

When you look a little closer, you’ll usually see these options have a lot fewer ingredients than you’ve likely piled on for no better reason than to get your fair share. We all do it.

When you choose to go for all you can get, you usually end up with a train wreck of a combination that only serves to mess things up… to make your creation less palatable.

But when you select a thoughtful few, those few that play well together…

You get something far, far better.

I’m pretty sure there’s a metaphor in there somewhere. Like Ronnie’s topping rule.

A good friend of mine from days gone by had an expression for whenever he knew he had overdone his food choices…

I just bought a ticket on the heartburn express!”
— Keith G.

And I don’t think he was ever wrong about it either.

So always remember Ronnie’s Rule—3 toppings max.

Keeping it simple is the sure bet.

You’ll be glad you did.

Be untucked.

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