Little Asian's Drunk Observation of the Week: The Bartender

In Little Asian's opinion, what can make or break your dining or bar experience is a bartender. This is what in Little Asian's mind constitutes a good bartender:

1. They are familiar with you -- if you have a regular haunt, a good bartender gets the etiquette of rewarding the regular drinker at their establishment. Or if you're new to a joint, they make you feel right at home. They don't have to know your name. Not every place is Cheers, but if they know your face, that's a nice plus. And come on, we know when people are familiar with each other's faces. The smile and the hello will be immediate and genuine.

2. They'll give you a buy back. Usually, every fourth drink will be free. Although really fancy smancy places don't do this -- and restaurants definitely don't. It's just the bars themselves.

3. They'll let you have a little taste of the unknown. If you're interested in a particular alcohol, don't know much about it, the bartender will be knowledgeable enough to fill in the gaps as well is be willing to give you a little taste before you commit to the drink.

4. They'll be quick and fast, without looking crazy. They won't make you wait a millenia for a drink and they'll also try to keep the nice facade going.

5. They don't bore you with "this is just my money job", I'm really an "artist" talk. They're a bartender and they know their alcohol. They know the deal, they know the scheme, they know you're there to talk drinking.

And when you do find a bartender like this, they're worth the notice. A particularly great bartender I noticed was over at Franny's, a lovely restaurant in Brooklyn. Her name is Vanessa and she was a superstar. Since it was a restaurant, there were no buy backs, but she was great: one of the fastest, most efficient barkeeps I've ever seen. She kept the orders going, knew her stuff, and never missed a bit. I'd recommend going to Franny's just to get the great service at the bar. And since that great bartender is so hard to find, you better enjoy them where you see them.

Little Asian's Drunk Observation of the Week

You know that great Bruce Springsteen song -- Girls in Their Summer Clothes? If you don't know it, shame on you. Download it. Listen to it. It's great.

Well, here's what I don't get. I know it's been a bit down and dreary in NY. I know it's been raining like God doesn't like us, but come on, chicas! It's summer in NY! So last night when I was out drinking sake all night, I see this lovely thin little Asian on the street with a nice, pretty summer dress and light sweater -- lovely outfit -- except for her LARGE CHUNKY WINTER LEATHER BOOTS! Why are you chicas out there wearing clunky leather boots with summer dresses? It looks weird! It is weird. And Little Asian is so bold to say -- not good drinking attire! Doesn't look sexy and I'm sure you get drunk enough, it'll make you trip all the more easier.

When Bruce said, "Girls in Their Summer Clothes...cool in the evening light...girls in their summer clothes pass me by..." he did not mean with leather boots.

Take a tip from the Drunk Little Asian and The Boss. Flip flop it, sandal it, but don't boot your feet while it's summer in the city.

Little Asian and Sake

Little Asian is lucky enough to have a stomach that speaks to her. Last night, out for sake and delicious ramen -- she has learned -- three shot sized glasses is a lot for a Little Asian. I know -- it's lame, isn't it? A Little Asian that can't take on a little sake. But that being said, Ippudo, a lovely little restaurant on 4th Ave between 9th and 10th gets Little Asian's double thumbs up for a night out. It has THE most delicious pork bun since the dawn of time. That coupled with sake is one tasty drinking night out. But sharing a large bottle of sake did take Little Asian's head for a whirl on the drunken merry go round.

After Ippudo, we checked out Song, a nice little digs on 2nd Ave between 6th and 7th. What impressed Little Asian were the GINORMOUS ccs of beer that they offer. I tasted an interesting Stawberry Rice Wine. I don't think it was my cup of tea, but work a once and a lifetime tasting.

To Trust or Not to Trust A Non Drinker?

Here's a question the Little Asian poses for you: How do you feel about hanging out with peeps that don't drink?

Among Little Asians friends, it's been a common saying, "I just don't trust people that don't drink." Little Asian counted herself amongst these people, but as I grow older, I do wonder what it is about drinking that equals trust.

I suppose it could be -- you trust people that are willing to get as shitfaced as you are. Or perhaps, it can be seen that if you drink, then it means you know how to party and have a good time.

Perhaps it has to do with judgement -- the live and let live aspect of drinking -- because friends that say, "Oh, man, she drinks like a cow" or the "Whoa, what an idiot that guy is for chugging like a demon" -- are they true friends?

Little Asian thinks that she'll always trust a person that can have a good time, that lets her have that good time, but also doesn't sit like a Mormon in the corner and damn you to hell for having a drink or two.

What to Drink on a Sensitive Tummy?

If you have notice the lack of Drunk Little Asian posts as of the past couple of weeks that is because the Little's Asian's been having stomach woes. And to be kind to my stomach, I've taken a short drinking hiatus.

It's a hard thing -- getting older. I remember the days when I could drink 2 or 3 pints of Long Island Ice Tea in a sitting. But as we grow up, the Drunk Little Asian has come to realize the tough truth of adult drinking life -- we just can't get as drunk as we used to. Hangovers are harder, stomachs are softer, and we get drunk easier. We're just not made of the steel of our college years and younger twenties. Not that I'm saying, I'm old, mind you. Just trying to refine myself as a mature drinker.

But what to drink when the stomach feels funny? It depends on your stomach woe really. My personal stomach woe is acid reflux -- so the more the acid, the more the reflux. I have sadly said my farewells to red wine and for the most part beer -- I do occasionally take breaks from that because beer truly is too tasty to ignore forever.

So I have limited myself to mostly white wines, the occasional light cocktail, and am discovering that I like rose wine. But there is much to learn and much to taste even within those drinking limitations.

Here was a drink that was especially kind to the Little Asian's tummy this weekend:

Boxed Yellow and Blue Spanish Rose -- a lovely, affordable boxed wine with a clean, gentle taste. Perfect for a summer afternoon at the beach or just sunning outside.

http://blogs.villagevoice.com/forkintheroad/archives/2009/06/yellowbluegreen.php