I called at the market café for lunch today. I fancied an omelette, which comes with chips and salad, but it is made with 3 eggs and is a bit too much for me. On the other hand a 2-egg one is not enough. I have had this dilemma many times, and today I suggested a solution.
“A cheese and tomato omelette” and then, somewhat nervously, I asked Cassie “Could I have it with two-and-a-half eggs, please?”
I was not expecting this simple, but perhaps unusual, request to be received too well, but I was surprised by her reply.
“Would you like the yolk or the white for the half?”
I said it did not matter, and she called the order through to the kitchen.
“Two-and-a-half egg cheese and tomato omelette, yolk or white for the half.”
“Would ‘e like the ‘arf, ‘arf ‘n ‘arf?” came Paul’s reply.
I was taken aback. Chinese meals with rice and chips half-and-half are very popular here, but I have never had half an egg half-and –half.