incandragon

Before we took our walking tour, we looked around for a place to eat breakfast. We didn't have much time, so it had to be fast. Just a coffee and pastry. We found the entrance of Grand Central Public Market -- not knowing anything it was some sort of landmark. It was 8:53, and the market opened at 9. There was, however, a pastry place that was just outside the market, so it was open. I grabbed a muffin and a latte. My sister grabbed a -- what was it? Guava strudel? -- and a coffee. My mom and my sister's friend dithered at the pastry place, and wondered if they should wait until the market opened, when a world of new shops would be available for perusing.

I nibbled my muffin. I noticed that a large crowd was beginning to gather at the entrance to the market, which was just a pinch in the main aisle, protected by a security guard. This crowd was entirely working-class Hispanic guys. At about three minutes till, the crowd started to press close against the starting line. And at 9 o'clock on the dot, a bell rang, the security guard stepped aside, and a massive rush of humanity surged foward fifty feet ...

... to China Cafe Chop Suey & Chow Mein. The "cafe" was just a long counter, and a small section with seats -- no walls or anything. There the lucky ones grabbed chairs, and the slowpokes made a line.

I nibbled my muffin, and wondered what the heck I was missing by not having breakfast at China Cafe Chop Suey & Chow Mein. I did see enough to note that they had waitresses who were formed from the classic "Waitress Americanus" mold. That's not to say that they weren't Asian. They might have been Asian, I couldn't tell. The Waitress Americanus transcends all race and age, as long as they have That hair, That body posture, That attitude, and naturally the classic order pad.

However, when we went over to investigate, we discovered that all of the guys in the place had beers. Ah. When night shift is over, the laborers want dinner and beer. If dinner is eggs and pancakes, or if the breakfast is Chop Suey & Chow Mein, that's fine, as long as the beer's cold. And not a whole lot of diners serve beer downtown. Hence the mad stampede to China Cafe. Find a niche, and rule it. Beer breakfast, thy name is China Cafe Chope Suey & Chow Mein.