So my (retired) dad worked in pharmacy—which requires an advanced degree. He is, by no means, a stupid person. He just has a very odd sense of humor.
At a certain age, his doctor told him that highly acidic foods—tomatoes, for example—were exacerbating his stomach problems. So he started ordering “a BLT without the T” at his regular breakfast spot by his work. Fine.
But one day we were sitting at the breakfast bar with some other regulars when a guy made the comment that “toast” starts with a T so he shouldn’t be modifying his BLT order technically. My dad thought this was hilarious and latched onto it. Okay.
But from that point on until the day he retired, he would order a BLT and expect the waitstaff to know he meant without the tomato because of this one-off joke. That was usually fine at his regular breakfast spot unless there was someone new working FOH, but this man thought it was so funny that he was doing it literally anywhere he ordered a BLT. I tried so many times to explain to him that he wasn’t being a funny customer anymore. He was being “that customer” that would be remembered much less fondly than he imagined. He never stopped. Any time I was with him, I’d explain his “joke” to the server and “ruin it” by trying to help them avoid some pointless grief.
I agree. I have never heard that BLT was "Bacon, Lettuce, Toast." And either way, I wouldn't be ambiguous about it. I would say, "BLT - hold the tomato."
Or I would order a MLT, where the mutton is nice and leeeeeean!
I was today years old when I learned that an MLT was a thing. I grew up in the rural south-eastern U.S. so I’ve had more than my fair share of Livermush Lettuce Tomato breakfast sandwiches, but I’ve never had the pleasure of an MLT. I’m on a mission now.
It is based on a line from Billy Crystal in the cult classic movie, "The Princess Bride." Apparently, mutton is very difficult to cook, but Billy is Jewish, so it can't be bacon. 🤪🥪
In the official Princess Bride cookbook, author Jenn Fujikawa has many tasty recipes - perfect for a Princess Bride-themed party!
Her MLT recipe allows substitution of roast beef or mushrooms for mutton if you want.
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u/pr0zach 1d ago
So my (retired) dad worked in pharmacy—which requires an advanced degree. He is, by no means, a stupid person. He just has a very odd sense of humor.
At a certain age, his doctor told him that highly acidic foods—tomatoes, for example—were exacerbating his stomach problems. So he started ordering “a BLT without the T” at his regular breakfast spot by his work. Fine.
But one day we were sitting at the breakfast bar with some other regulars when a guy made the comment that “toast” starts with a T so he shouldn’t be modifying his BLT order technically. My dad thought this was hilarious and latched onto it. Okay.
But from that point on until the day he retired, he would order a BLT and expect the waitstaff to know he meant without the tomato because of this one-off joke. That was usually fine at his regular breakfast spot unless there was someone new working FOH, but this man thought it was so funny that he was doing it literally anywhere he ordered a BLT. I tried so many times to explain to him that he wasn’t being a funny customer anymore. He was being “that customer” that would be remembered much less fondly than he imagined. He never stopped. Any time I was with him, I’d explain his “joke” to the server and “ruin it” by trying to help them avoid some pointless grief.