Bartending
After Midnight
fsmomaha.com
(or Babysitting)
by Jesse Erickson
I
t’s Friday night; you and your friends have already had your
delicious dinner. Your server was fantastic and you tipped them
appropriately – 20% or better. Now what to do? Go home? Yeah,
right – it’s Friday and you’re finally free of the cubicle that traps you
during the week. It’s time to put your party pants (or dress) on and
drink!
“Play it straight and your chances of
getting excellent service and being a
‘smart’ custo mer go way up.”
You might choose one for your favorite haunts where the
bartenders know your name, or perhaps you’ve decided to mix it
up and take on the challenge of a new libations room. It’s busy,
but you’ve lucked out, there’s a place to sit. You belly up to the bar
and wait patiently for the bartender to serve you. As can happen,
it’s taking a bit longer than you’d like for the bartender to get to
you. It might be the 26 Vegas Bombs that were just ordered, or
the five crazy cocktails that have multiple ingredients and – what’s
that? A flaming orange peel? Weird. Too bad bartenders don’t have
eight arms like the goddess Durga. Everyone would be served much
faster. Is there plastic surgery for that?
Finally, there before you, is the bartender asking “what can I get
you?”
Well, damn. After all the time you’ve been waiting, taking note
of the bartenders with only two arms like normal mortals, the last
thing you thought about was what you wanted. You ask yourself
quickly “do I just order my usual or do I gaze at the menu for a
minute whilst the bartender gazes at me in wonder?” Knowing there
are others waiting for drinks also, you do the obvious thing; you
order your trite gin and tonic.
Knowing you’re going to be staying around for a few, you decide
to open a tab. With card in hand, you make the trade. Your drink
is put before you, and your card is taken. Now, while sipping your
libation and talking to your friends, you begin looking through
the cocktail menu. After all, you can only drink so many gin and
tonics before you want to wet your taste buds with something more
adventurous.
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