Beagle for dinner

I am on my own tonight. I decided that even though I wasn't hungry, I should go have dinner. I had a sugar drop a few weeks ago from not eating, and it was not a pretty sight. So I put on my big girl clothes and hit the streets of downtown Toronto with absolutely no idea of what I wanted to eat. I just knew I didn't want to drink anything stronger than a diet Coke.

I passed Jeremiah Bullfrog, because I ate there yesterday. I passed the Condom Shack. I hit John Street, which has a lot of excellent restaurants on it and turned left, figuring to return to the Fox and Whistle or whatever it was called where I ate once in April, because it had a second story outdoor patio.

Nope. Nothing caught my eye. The specials on the Fox and whatever it was didn't do anything for me. I continued on to the theatre street and checked several of those. I was definitely in the mood to eat outdoors, but nothing was doing it for me.

After a while I turned back, remembering not to overuse the poor footsies. On John Street on the other side of the street I saw a beagle. It was tied up to the little fence for the outdoor patio of an interesting, apparently gay, restaurant/bar. I of course asked permission to pet the little girl, since I miss my girls so much. The two very attractive young men said sure, and I scratched her head and throat and told her what a pretty girl she is. I decided that any place that allows beagles is good enough for me.

I went to the front and asked for a menu. I saw some things that looked good and got seated. I nestled myself against the rail, cocooned by some overgrown coleus. As I continued reading the menu, I saw what their signature drink is. I had to have one, even though I do not really like the taste of alcohol. I asked if the drink was real, and the waiter told me that it's as real as they are allowed, which is about 75% strength. Still, it's more than I ever had. This was new for me. Here is the recipe for a drink from the Brasserie called Van Gogh's Ear:

Absinthe poured over a flaming sugar cube, chilled and shaken with tart lime and lightly rimmed with sugar.

Exactly. Absinthe.  I had never had it before, since it's illegal in the USA. Like I said, I don't really like the taste of alcohol, but I had to try it. I can be adventurous at times.

Oh, yes, yes, more, more....my first alcoholic drink that I really loved! I had told the waiter that I am more into the effect than the taste normally, but wanted to try it. He said I would for sure get the effect. I found out he was right. The taste was incredible!

Oh, I had dinner too. Wild mushroom soup. It was excellent. So was the French bread. Or is that Freedom bread?

I had a second Van Gogh's Ear. I told him I wasn't driving. I didn't tell him that I had to walk about a mile back to the Hilton. Then he told me that he would not recommend more than two. I am a very cheap drunk, so that made me nervous. But the second drink made it all right.

On the way back, I passed a man peeing on the wall in the middle of a building at Queen and Dundas. Who cares? I stumbled once on uneven pavement and righted myself, no problem. I got in the "scenic view" elevator with a young gentleman and rode up 20 floors in a glass elevator, enjoying the view of downton Toronto. On my way out of the elevator, I said, "I wonder if this elevator ever breaks down?" and left him to ride to the 25th floor on his own.

Still, I am worried. Maybe I should have washed my hands after petting that sweet little beagle.