A “special sauce” to me is not a fun exploration, but rather a risk not worth taking.
When you reverse engineer it…
My biggest fear is being seen as different
Therefore I plan everything to the millimetre
Unknowns or changes destroy me
Any deviation from the plan is disastrous*
Ordering food is stressful and problematic.
If the menu is very clear about the components of the food – and all are agreeable = heaven.
If I need to change something, my stress goes through the roof. It’s not cool being the “fussy” person who needs to change things. But worse still, they often get it wrong. Often.
The number of times I have received a burger with mayo in it, and I have just walked out…
Burgers are better with sauce, I don’t doubt. When in the pics it looks white, I know it is mayo-based, and mayo is my kryptonite.
I love the concept of chicken burgers, but – for me – they don’t go with any sauces I like (tomato or BBQ). At home they are fine sauceless, but at fast food places, they are way too dry and need sauce.
Asking what that the sauce options are, and trusting their description, and trusting that my preferences will be adhered to… I end up saying “no sauce of any kind, please”, and I get a lesser food experience because the sauce makes the meal.
Special Sauce could be anything. While the proprietor might think it is the bees knees, to me it is an unknown and scary proposition.
While we are on the topic. I always ask for the meal to no include salad. I don’t mind salad, but getting it without dressing is t0o arduous. I get plenty of healthy food at home, my way.
Also, when I order burgers, if there are 3 things I don’t want in it, I don’t bother. Those things are pickles, mayo/aioli/mustard/unknown sauce. I’ve never tasted a pickle and don’t want to start now!
*a big plus about Asperger’s, for me, is that with time I improve. Life in general gets easier, and I fit in more. These days I am used to fears and disasters, so those words overstate how I am affected these days.