I hate to eat alone, especially when I travel. Rather than eat alone I prefer to pick up some take-out sushi, order in a pizza, or worst-case scenario…order room service. There’s an old joke about the gentleman calling room service one morning, that goes like this:

Guest: I want eggs, bacon, and toast…but I want the eggs all runny and greasy, the bacon black and burnt to a crisp, and the toast burnt, and soaked in butter.

Room Service: Sir, we can’t send you a breakfast like that!

Guest: Why not? You sent it to me yesterday!

Thus I found myself at the Sheraton 4-Points Winnipeg Airport last night, late arrival in a snowstorm, finally checked in and unpacked by around 10 PM. I looked for something light and healthy to eat on the Room Service menu but it was basically your usual North American-style greasy slop…burgers, fries, nachos, steaks, etc. There was a Cajun blackened salmon, but I remembered from previous encounters that this too is usually floating in some nondescript fat. I called Room Service and asked if they could just poach the salmon, steam some veggies, and bake a potato….without butter, cream, oil, mayo, or any other “flavorings” they feel compelled to add to make it tasty. I didn’t expect much….”special” requests usually piss off the chef, who has to deviate from his routine….I usually hope he only spits on it once and that he doesn’t have a cold at the time!

Dinner arrived within 30 minutes. What’s this? The salmon was fresh and cooked just right…a little pink in the middle. The vegetables….flawless…warm and crisp. The baked potato impeccable….hot, meaty and with a crisp skin. The mixed green salad was also fresh and without the usual wilted leaves of lettuce managing to sneak their way in. Even the homemade balsamic vinaigrette was delicious. Best Room Service meal ever….it shows when the staff take pride in their work and listen to the customer. I called to thank them….after checking for any hidden goobers under the fish!