A Melt Manifesto: For God's Sake, Save the Purple Parm, Mr. Fish
On the streets for a cause, Mike O'Toole (right) discusses the miracle of an eggplant sandwich with Peter Althoff (left).
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Mr. Matt Fish,
We would like to start by stating that all actions taken are intended to be respectful to you and your business. Melt has been a staple of our cuisine for some time, we do not wish to convey any dissatisfaction with Melt or its management. We hope that this exercise serves to show you our level of adoration for your business and, in particular, the Purple Parma sandwich.
That being said, we feel the introduction of the Purple Parma has been seen by many as a blessing of almost biblical proportions (see ‘manna in the desert’). Since the dawn of the eggplant in southeast India nearly 4,000 years ago, a service of this magnitude has not been paid. Though you may think this verbose, perhaps an overstatement, the field of eggplant sandwichry has been lacking key ingredients. This oversight has kept the eggplant out of the spotlight while arguably bland meats have been bathed in the finest of seasonings, even the hotdog has gained carts and vendors to peddle the streets. Your interpretation of the eggplant and its breading has been a heroic protest to this stagnant chain of thought. Silently, and occasionally audibly (through the approving ‘mmm’s of customers) this eggplant has been tried and tested, and in the pages attached, these people have offered their overwhelming approval.
Our request to you, is to acknowledge the growing following of this unique sandwich trend and, more importantly, the eggplant as a worthy cause. Though it may have been seen as a slice of variety and a new option to regulars, we feel there are many who would benefit should this breaded patty of magic remain between the wholesome slices at Melt as a regular menu item. We hope this is not unreasonable, and that you may set aside some time to discuss the possibilities of this addition. In payment for your time and attention, we are offering t-shirts with the logo of our cause at no cost to staff of Melt and yourself. Please feel free to contact us in the evening at either of the numbers below. We look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Michael Patrick O’Toole & Andrew McNair Ratcliff
