By  LPJ

Todays’ buffet at a restaurant in Milpitas, California was my best. I say that because I hadn’t been at restaurant buffets in years. No legitimate memories for comparison. Except perhaps one I went to some 23 years ago called Crazy Buffet in Mountain View. However, my memory’s  vague about how crazy good it was.

At Milpitas Buffet today, I enjoyed three full servings or plates, mostly seafood and shell fish. Of course, I went for food that I don’t eat often enough at home.

A strange decision I had to make before making my choices. Do I go for what I crave most first, get a good fill and have less space in my stomach for other entrees that may be just as good or even better.  Or, do I go for those I don’t particularly crave for but are looking attractive and inviting, fill up on those, and have little space in my stomach for what I craved for earlier. I took neither path but did a hybrid of both. And I was happy.

So, for  my first plate, I piled 4 large cooked oysters, 10 baked clams, 2 baked mussels with cheese, sauteed fish balls with mushrooms, crispy fried unskinned shrimps and crab omelet spread on thin, delicate pink shells. My second plate was filled with baked salmon, fried tilapia and tempura shrimps. My third was a mix of what I already had, a most delicious encore.

Feeling like I was filled to the brim, I snubbed the desserts but for a fat slice of sweet watermelon.

While eating was the main activity at the buffet, the company and lighthearted conversations among the 10 in our group boosted the fun of the experience. The restaurant was packed, normal for weekend dining. The chatter around us was a cacophony of sounds that did not deter us from engaging in our own animated exchanges. Amusing were the vibrant spontaneous critiques of whatever one was eating, generally accented with “Uhm … soooo good!” The quietest of all in our group was the late 80ish lady, but she seemed never to stop chewing; she delightedly ate continuously though slowly. That made us happy.

This is what I love about buffets. Due to the wide choices, there’s always something good and satisfying for everyone. Everyone in our group of 10 came out robustly full and immensely content.

But here’s a somber segue. Right outside the restaurant glass door sat a mother and her young boy of around six or seven, both on the cement floor. She was holding a big sign that asked for money for food for her family of five kids. I couldn’t look away. Something tugged at my heart. Immediately, I opened my purse and drew out a 20-dollar bill and handed it over to her. She profusely thanked and blessed me. My sister Susan did the same and got her blessings, too.

I walked to my friend who was holding my bag. I zipped my bag open again, took out 10 dollars, and went to the mother saying, I’ll buy a box of food for you at the restaurant. I entered the restaurant and requested that a box of food be given to the mother and son outside. When I went out, the mother called me because her son wanted to tell me that his brothers would rather have hamburgers from the burger store across the street. I then told the restaurant to cancel my order, and gave the boy the money for the burgers. That little boy didn‘t just think of himself. He thought about his siblings hungry, hoping and waiting for what they liked most.

I was full in the stomach, but my heart was overflowing. I felt so moved. I could hardly hold my tears. While I was satisfying myself with the best that I craved for in the restaurant, outside were a mother and her little boy who hoped for food not just for himself, but also for his four other brothers at home. And his mother, maybe in her 40’s, seated on the sidewalk, humbled herself to beg for food for her five hungry children.

This was my best take of the day — and maybe, for years, as I shall always remember Milpitas Buffet for that vision outside the restaurant, and the revelation and sharing of kindness, humility and love — food for the heart, food for the soul.

FOOTNOTE:

I like to think that Jesus was a “foodie”, because I’m one. Scripture tells us that Jesus met with His apostles and disciples to teach them the ways of God, often over a meal or with food. He was invited to dine in homes where He never failed to teach.

Thousands gathered to listen to His sermon on the mount. While He satisfied the people’s thirst for the word of God, He was mindful of their physical state, as feeding the hunger of the multitude that followed Him. In His compassion, He multiplied the few loaves of bread and fishes, and even had baskets of leftovers.

Food was important to Jesus when He was on earth. Scripture also says that when Jesus resurrected from the dead, He appeared before the apostles. Their surprise mingled with joy, I imagine they must have been stunned to hear Jesus ask — “Is there anything to eat here?”

Linda P. Jacob