(no subject)
I'd like to begin this post by saying that I think chicken and waffles are way overrated. I like chicken and I like waffles, I'm just not too fond of them being in the same meal together. The waffle is just a little too over the top, like eating a BLT with a chocolate cake. Have you ever eaten a BLT with a chocolate cake? I rest my case. That said I did give it a shot at a place on beale called Polly's. Our server was a pretty nice girl, but the food was mediocre at best, mac and cheese should never be room temperature under any circumstances. From now on, I'm sticking with Gus's when I want great locally owned fried chicken. The deal breaker for me was when the other server (my friend's cousin) came over and very rudely implied that we were bad tippers. For starters, I've been a bartender for two years and have had friends in the restaurant industry my entire adult life. Anyone whose ever been out to eat with me knows that I tip well. The money in my wallet largely is a contribution from drunken assholes furthering my own cause of becoming a drunken asshole myself. I have no shame spreading the wealth, easy come easy go. If I need the money I won't go out. Furthermore, I feel that if you can't afford a gratuity then you shouldn't be out eating and drinking and wasting the time of the waiting and barstaff. Even when I was donating plasma two times a week, I still made it a point to take care of my bartenders. Besides your drinks will be a bit stiffer (unless you go to a bullshit jigger bar on beale)and you get better service. Trust me on that. I've dealt the swift hand of alcohol karma to many a cheapass, just as I have rewarded those who were generous. Anyways, I gave our server ten bucks on a twenty dollar check. That fat whore better not talk shit in my presence ever again, which is unlikely anyways because Polly's is off the list for me. It was some tourist trap garbage. While I'm on the subject of restaurants, I'd like to share something I've been doing for the past few months. For better or for worse, Memphis is my home and it always will be , even if I do leave this town eventually, it'll always be a part of who I am. I represent Memphis to people from all over the globe at one of my jobs and try to show off some of the better aspects of the city to them. Our city has some huge problems, but they're not insurmountable, and I try to not let them stress me out too much. I have been trying to list the things I like about Memphis and so far the list is topped by the fact that we have some fantastic locally owned restaurants, and one of my favorite activities is going out to eat. So, I'm trying to eat at one of my favorite places at least once a week. It's rarely anything too extravagant India Palace, Chinese Sub Shop, Fino's, and Westy's are a few examples. It's a tiny contribution, but I'm trying to get away from the fast food trap by supporting some local businesses instead. I'm not saying you won't see me gnawing on some McDonalds occasionally, I'm far from militant about anything, but it's one way to make sure that food joints unique to memphis stay in business and help the city keep a piece of it's character. Just a thought.