The memories of food.
There once was a restaurant just around the corner from where I live called Rye. When I first saw the sidewalk placard advertising which direction I should walk in order to partake, I figured it was a specialty joint that only served whiskey. Being a gin drinker, I had to think carefully as to where rye belonged in the tree of booze. As I also had to pass by the establishment every time I needed to go to the local supermarket, I quickly made note that Rye had a happy hour. In those days, happy hours were still something I felt compelled to enjoy. They had a nice combination of a cocktail with a snack from the kitchen: an Old Fashioned and a burger. Five bucks each. Not bad.
I had never made a habit of ordering a drink that I could not look through, other than beer. So ordering my first Old Fashioned was a new and pleasurable experience. The burger, two small patties between an unremarkable bun with some lettuce that thankfully was not iceberg, had the taste and quality to elevate it above many other offerings. Especially when cheese was added. Because, you know, cheese is one of the cornerstones of life.
And so, when I needed a break from the world, I would partake of a couple of Old Fashioned’s and a cheeseburger after work. Often, I would treat myself to a side of fries when I wanted to chalk up the Happy Hour as a complete meal. But it wasn’t until I brought a good friend along with me for brunch one weekend that I expanded my menu selection beyond this regular combination. I recall eggs – it was a while ago. But the desert? Well, I recall that perfectly: a banana split. Appropriately, we divided the treat between the two of us, each sampling the different ice creams. The fresh whipped cream, the pecans, the drizzled chocolate and caramel sauces. The fresh raspberries on top. I mean, really, this thing was a work of art. The fact that I had to share it with a good friend did not take away from the sheer pleasure of those competing textures and amazing flavors, but added to it. One empty bowl and two spoons.
Rye has been gone for years now, and I often regret not taking the opportunity to explore their menu more. I’m sure it was grand. Alas, I may not have bothered because the banana split was only on the brunch menu.