Schooled

Have you ever been schooled by a bartender?  I got my second life lesson this weekend in Atlanta.  Mandy, Reece and I started the evening with a wonderful meal of oysters, mussels, liver, and chicken "oysters" at JCT Kitchen.  I tried the Allagash White Ale - yummy.  After we were sufficiently amused with couple staging their proposal for some photos, and the most awkward date ever - she's 6'1 and he's 5'4 - we crossed the tracks to Ormsby's.  This is a super fun bar: pool tables, darts, jukebox, and Bocce ball!  After stalking the Bocce courts for a bit we played with an interesting couple.  Damn it Brad!  I tried 2 new beers: Hitachino White Ale and then a draught - Weihenstephan Hefeweizen.  I stepped out for a moment and my beer was commandeered and replaced with a Sapphire martini!  Then we moved on to Skeeball followed by a round of darts. 

It was at this point I went to the bar and ordered a Sapphire martini, not dirty.  Why did I say, "not dirty" instead of "no fruit, no olives" like I usually do?  Who knows - let's blame it on the beer.  So I was admiring the way the bartender chilled the glass, painstakingly shook the shaker for at least 1 minute...mmm.  Very nice moves.  And then, when he brought the drink there was a toothpick of olives in it!  How did this happen? So as I removed the olives and handed them back to the bartender I said, "I am sorry I said not dirty" and he said, "I know - dirty is olive juice."  Wow.  So, kind readers, learn from my lesson - be clear with your drink order or be schooled.

Oh, and the first time a bartender taught me a lesson - I was 19 and at a bar in London.  I ordered a pitcher of sex on the beach and 2 glasses.  Picture me standing there with my index finger and middle finger extended, a common symbol of the number 2.  But not with the palm facing the bartender (like a peace sign) but the palm facing me.  The bartender became furious and waving his middle finger at me said, "How would you like it if I came to America and ordered 1 fucking beer and 1 fucking cheeseburger?"  And so if you really want to insult a Londoner, please do give them the reverse peace sign...but he still gave me my glasses!

Ormsby's martini?  4 - but mostly because of the attitude he served with it.