Every now and again, I stumble upon a moment of unavoidable self-awareness. A blast of perspective shatters my tunnel vision, the camera pans outs, and I’m presented with a bird’s eye view highlighting the absurdity of a particular situation.
Yesterday, for example, I was going about my evening shift at Laughing Planet. It was my fifth day on the job, and it had been at least two hours since my last awkward encounter with a misplaced order or a short-changed customer. In other words, I was feeling good. Someone from the kitchen staff yells, “Order up!” and I quickly pick up the plate and memorize the dish: Che Guevara burrito; add rice cheese; add tempeh; sub pinto beans; whole wheat; vegan deluxe. The order is ‘To Go’ and the customer is seated somewhere in the restaurant. I pivot, take two steps toward the salsa bar, and – right before the words leave my mouth – it happens: my world stops, and – to steal a line from U2 – I’m stuck in a moment:
As the seconds pass, I can feel my brain taking a snapshot of this moment – creating and cataloging a memory of what my life looks like at twenty-four. I’m standing in a crowd of skinny jeans, holding a vegan burrito and searching for a person named Wolf. Everybody here looks like Wolf. Men with long hair; women with short hair; leather jackets; nature-themed tattoos; ear gauges; and messenger bags. I’m proud and embarrassed; free and underemployed. I know what I’m doing, but just barely. This is my life as Portland’s newest counter girl. I’m pouring local beers, brewing roasted coffee, and serving organic fare to the colorful characters of greater SE Portland. It’s an adventure, all right – an amusing interim to say the least.
Since 2000, Laughing Planet has become something of a Portland staple. The food is incredible, and the people watching is fantastic. From Belmont and Mississippi to Woodstock and 21st Ave, Laughing Planet grows best in hip, funky, and low-key environments. All food is local and organic with the potential to be vegan in the push of a button. The walls are lined with eclectic artwork, the tables are decorated with dinosaurs, and the menu supports dietary diversity by encouraging substitutions and add-ins. Perhaps most importantly, Laughing Planet has a sense of humor. They’ve seen Portlandia, and they know their audience. Shortly after the series premiere, Laughing Planet even encouraged its customers to “Put a Bird In It” by adding Draper Valley chicken. They refer to their burritos as Portable Nutrition Devices and strive to make their food accessible to “regular folks.” The list of Laughing Planet’s quirks and oddities are as long as its lines on summer evenings. That said, I highly encourage you to wait in one. Within ten minutes of placing your order, you will see a snapshot of what Portland looks like in 2011 – not to mention a nutritional sampling of what it tastes like as well.