Drink #2 Mimosa
1.2.2012
Brunch mimosa.
You see, I’m originally from the Midwest and for the most part, “brunch” is just a tactic to sell eggs and hamburgers on the menu of places where they’re open on a Sat/Sun around 11am and it a bit late for breakfast but not quite lunch for grandparents, families, truckers and cranky teens.
Otherwise, it’s not that big of a deal.
If you’re from the Midwest, and you’re gay oh sure, perhaps you “brunch” occasionally: asking for pink grapefruit juice and perhaps a poached egg and spinach & tomato with–gasp–whole wheat multi-grain toast, two strips of bacon–turkey. And some ladies brunch. Otherwise, not so much for the general public.
[insert a sentence or two explaining that perhaps I am over-generalizing the brunch, gay and Midwest communities, but that I don’t really care. Make sure to pepper-in joke about chicken-fried steak’s a Midwest brunch staple…]
But now we live in DC, where brunch is very much a way of weekend life. Gay, straight, black, white, other. There is no “breakfast menu” on the weekend or often at all. It’s all brunch from 10a-2p. Or rather, Brunch–it very much deserves a capital in the capitol, trust me.Brunch is no joke. It’s can absolutely make or break a restaurant on the east coast and with the help of Yelp.
So, Joe and I were Brunching anyway, as we do just about every weekend since moving to DC. And even if it was on the heels of my last drink, it seemed like a good fit for the next adventure. We choose Founding Farmers for New Year’s Day Sunday brunch with some good friends. Its a local and personal favorite resturaunt for any meal. And for the very first time, I got to sit at the proverbial adult end of the Brunch table and order a bar drink.
“I’ll have coffee and a mimosa.”
The waitress didn’t even blink. And I didn’t get carded.
I feel I should explain: I actually kinda feel like a kid ordering these things at the moment. Only my 2nd drink on this adventure, and it very much feels like I’m getting away with something. Like I’m doing something very wrong that feels very write right. As if I’m getting a sales price for a full price item and only I realize the mistake but proceed anyway.
I’m sure this will fade. But for now it’s a byproduct of this process that I’m quite enjoying.
“Why don’t you have a bloody mary or a pim’s cup? Maybe a peach bellini?”
For a couple of reasons. First, because I want to be somewhat methodical about this process, and also because I felt I needed to give champagne a second chance–assuming you’ve read my very firstdrink post on champagne.
Redemption!
It tasted exactly like it smelled and I imagined it would–especially now that I’ve had champagne. On the menu it’s listed a “Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice with Riondo Prosecco Sparkling Wine”. It was sweet and fruity, a bit dry and a touch salty. I actually really enjoyed it and I was pleasantly surprised it complimented my breakfast of chicken & waffles and eggs w/ goat cheese–I’m what’s known as “gay fat”. Also because of the orange juice, it was very full bodied in flavor and on my tongue.
It was the alcoholic drink I had been envisioning. I was pleased.
“Did it transform Brunch for you?”
Kinda. Look, I love IHOP. I know how to secure pancakes, a burger, a few eggs, steak and a starter quesadilla 24hrs a day. In general, securing the food aspect of Brunch for a 360° Foodie like myself is a cake-walk easy enough. But true Brunch implies a keen variety of classic and inventive mixed drinks to enjoy as well.
And now I did. And can. And probably will. And you, my dear readers, get to enjoy the spoils by reading all about it (Brunch by Brunch), drink by drink in the year ahead.
And for those of you keeping score–and so early in the adventure, good for you–this is my 2nd drink. So I have one more to get in before Sunday (the start of my week to week) and I’ll probably choose a good starter beer. What beer, I have no idea.
I’m completely open to suggestions for a solid starter beer. Remember, I’m a virgin. Don’t suggest something too advanced or you might scare me away entirely. Doubtful, but it keeps with the theme and my mom reads these blogs, ok?
So just keep playing by my rules and everything will be alright. Thanks in advance.
Cheers, Ben
PS: For years I’ve had scores of friends offer to buy me my first drink and now you can! If you’re a friend or fan, donate a drink suggestion and a few bucks to my PayPal and I’ll write about it and thank you in the notes. Or question your judgement. Either way, you win.