VittlesVamp

Drinking Alone

On the surface it sounds rather sad -- drinking alone. But, I don't see it as a sad activity.

First of all, I don't do it at home. No drinking solo at home. My well-stocked bar may call its siren song. Same goes for that beautiful bottle of Sonoma Pinot Noir waiting to be opened. But, I don't listen to their tune.

Instead, if I want to have a drink and I am without company, I am required to make additional effort. I need to leave the apartment. I need to pay call on a local restaurant or bar if I require the joys of a tipple.

There is something about settling yourself into a bar all by yourself, ordering a drink, watching the bartender take care as they shake, stir, or pour, and then appreciating the weight of the glass in your hand before taking the first sip. It feels utterly decadent.

Try it some time. Take a breath. Grab a seat at the bar. Appreciate your surroundings. Appreciate the exchange with the bartender. It will prove more restorative than you think.

Not sad on the surface -- or any where else for that matter.

The South on a Plate

For some it is Pimento Cheese. For others it is Boiled Peanuts. And, then there are those that are partial to Fried Green Tomatoes.

All of those make for fine eats, but none of them can hold a candle to an expertly-cooked dish of Shrimp n' Grits. Mind you, we're talking "expertly-cooked," like the specimen above from Charleston's Marina Variety Store Restaurant - where Sweet Tea comes in giant plastic cups and Bloody Mary's come with a thick slab of bacon, just because.

Have yet to have great Shrimp n' Grits in New York City. And, that's a shame. Open to suggestions, if you have any that you want to send my way.