The pink table next to my pink table had just emptied. An employee of Big Pink was cleaning the area while I was looking through the menu for my lunch. He stacked the plates and gathered the general debris restaurant eaters leave behind after a meal.
But the top plate left me speechless. Half a hamburger, untouched fries, and a pickle. I tried to accurately calculate how many average-size malnourished people this plate of food could satisfy.
I also wondered how common this unabashed wastefulness is for restaurant eaters. Do people who can afford to eat out regularly become so detached from the reality of food that they no longer understand the idea of finishing your plate, taking leftovers, or sharing? What about hungry babies, hungry children, and hungry people?
I felt like getting the employee’s attention and asking for this plate, which had already been paid for. Not because my heart was good and noble, but because I wanted a free lunch.
However, in retrospect, what I should have done is asked for it to-go. Then, on the walk home, given it to some lucky bum. Instead, I did nothing and the plate was carried off to the back and into the garbage. I can’t help but feel somewhat complicit in this gross display of wastefulness.
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Are we certain the person in the background is American? Also, perhaps this restaurant donates food at the end of the day. Many restaurants in Phoenix donate to food banks. I would assume many restaurants in your city are equally as generous.
You make a good point Writer X, and I was optimistic when I made the telephone call to ask Big Pink what they did with their leftover/unfinished food. Transcript follows:
“Hi. I was there the other day and was wondering what you guys do with your leftover food. Do you donate it?”
“No, sir.”
“Ok. What do you do with it then?”
“We just throw it away.”
Big Pink hung up before I could even say thank you.
Take a hint and stop serving so much damn food.
This comment was originally posted on Reddit
Well, that’s a big bummer, Herocious. Every restaurant must have some amount of food that’s leftover at the end of the day (and I’m not taking about the half-eaten kind left on plates). It’s a shame if this restaurant doesn’t at least have some type of arrangement with a food bank. Most food banks will gladly pick up. I wouldn’t bother to eat there again.
As Assistant to the Owner of Big Pink, I’m happy to inform everyone that we are currently making arrangements to donate all our extra food to the Daily Bread Food Bank in Miami.
Thanks for all your comments!