Mag Mell That Ends Well — Page 22
Industrial Barmbrack: the reference to the Cheesecake Factory should be evident, but you might not know that barmbrack is a traditional Irish dessert bread. Its name derives from the Irish language and roughly translates as “speckled bread”, because it is made with raisins, sultanas, and currants, giving it a speckled look when you slice into it. So says Wikipedia. I thought this would be a silly substitution for cheesecake in Fetch’s Otherworld, and kinda appropriate; the Irish make barmbrack a central part of their Halloween celebrations, and Halloween is deeply rooted in Samhain and other Celtic traditions related to the Otherworld.
Look, man, it all ties together!
Or is all loosely associated. Whichever. It works with the themes of gentrification and displacement I’m working with, too, as what better symbolizes late capitalist suburban sprawl than the Cheesecake Factory?
MORRIGAN: You call this pillow fluffed? Molly!
MOLLY: Yes, mum!
FETCH: No good deed....
TARA: No kidding. Let’s get lunch.
PANEL 2: Exterior of a Cheesecake Factory style restaurant — Industrial Barmbrack.
FETCH: This was a brilliant idea. Thanks, Tara.
TARA: You’re welcome. No smart remarks about the venue?
PANEL 3: Fetch looks around at the tacky interior. He and Tara sit at a booth, most of their lunch eaten.
FETCH: Oh, you mean the pretentious mix of stained glass windows, greco-roman columns, sea shell motifs, limestone floors, and pseudo-native american art? Just to give “atmosphere” to the simple act of eating a five pound slice of peasant bread?
PANEL 4: Fetch smiles at Tara.
FETCH: None at all. I’d hate to seem ungrateful.
TARA: Such a well-mannered boy.
I’d never been to a Cheesecake Factory. I had no notion as to what was inside (other than cheesecake).
To be fair, as a child the idea of a Cheese Cake was horribly disgusting, I’d pictured some blend of sharp cheddar with a German Chocolate cake, and thus never even tried it until I was 25 and at a Carl’s Jr.
I was unimpressed. Cheesecake is not delicious to me.
The thought of going someplace where it is featured never even crossed my mind.
I grew up in New York state, where there is a lot of cheesecake, it’s a specialty there. So I acquired a taste as a young person and I like it. I have been to a Cheesecake Factory twice, I think. It is big portion food that is pretty tasty, but can be overwhelming, too. The interiors are just wow.