Get a burger and a beer in.......................

Weaverville, NC at Mike's Main Street Grill. If your looking for a great burger, this is the place. You can stop out by the highway at the corporate burger joints our you can drive a little further into town where Mike's Main Street Grill is located. The menu has everything from salads to build your own burger with all the trimmings you can think of. They also have wings and a great selection of appetizers and cold beer.

When I was in Asheville last week I asked someone where I could find a good burger in the area, they told me about Mike's in Weaverville. Next time your out on a Saturday or just out and about, check this place out you will not be disappointed.

If you're in the grill just before lunch time during the week, you can help Mike with the crossword. Check this place out, great food and service.              

http://www.mikesmainstreetgrill.com/menu.html

Flat Creek Tavern

I believe Rural America is still alive in Flat Creek. This tavern has been around forever according to some of the locals. The Flat Creek Tavern is part of local history. Everyone who I've talked to has a story to tell about this place. Here is a quick history of the place. There was a lady who owned the place and lived upstairs. In the many years that she owned the place she never allowed women in the place because they were trouble. According to some of the stories there was never any trouble because of her rule.

I was told to stop here because it was one of the oldest bars in the area. When I did  stop I was amazed at what I found. There are old neon signs. old Coca-Cola signs, a vintage Jamison cooler with the original door and hardware. that is still in use. If you take time to notice on the wall behind the bar is a black and white photo of the past owner. I was in awe.

Today the Flat Creek Tavern is owned by a local woman. When she heard the place was for sale, she didn't want anything to happen to it because she had memories of the place herself. She is a very proud owner. So if your on Future 26 west out of Asheville, look for the Flat Creek exit, turn left and and follow the road around to The Flat Creek Tavern. Its part of history in Rural America.

a gin martini.................

The martini is a classic having stood the test of time through the Great Depression, 2 World Wars, and all the rest of what history has dealt since its invention. Some say the martini originated in Martinez, California in the late 1800s and was made with a 4:1 ratio of sweet vermouth and Old Tom Gin, then garnished with a cherry. (YIKES!) Others say it was invented in New York, or maybe it was England. No matter which story you believe the martini will continue through history as a classic cocktail. Today's martini is gin and dry vermouth, with an olive garnish prepared at a 4:1 or 3:2 ratio.

my gin martini recipe:

chill martini glass by filling with ice and water or take one out of your freezer
fill shaker with ice
add 1/2 oz dry vermouth (noilly prat)
swirl shaker; strain into rocks glass and set aside
add 2 1/2 oz gin to shaker (with vermouth coated ice)
stir for approx 15 to 20 seconds with cocktail spoon. (the one most bartending school graduates use to get cherries and olives out of the big jars)
discard ice and water from martini glass if not using pre-frozen glass
strain shaker into chilled martini glass
garnish with olives
pour ice from shaker into rocks glass with vermouth.
serve martini sided by the "marinated" ice


the classic martini continues to survive history by being plain, simple and straightforward......................................

Don't forget

Before I post another blog I need to give some credit where credit is due. I want to thank the all the people I work with and the people I have worked for. Lets just put it this way. To people in Montauk, NY, Wilmington, Rehoboth and Dewey Beach, DE, DC, Baltimore, Raleigh and Pinehurst,NC. Without these people and places the stories would have never happened.  Thank's to my family and friends.

I have one special thanks to write.

The support I get from this person is more than anyone can imagine or measure. She asked me along time ago to write these stories down. Well know the time has come. No matter what I've done over the years she has always supported me, I just want to let her know. I will show initials SW. Thank you, for your love and support.  She is working on a huge project of her own, I wish her the best.

Thank you everyone, especially SW for your support.

Optimistic

Those with goodwill........

Have you ever had a guest give you the great sense of hope................ I have.

One evening in a fine establishment downtown a guest came in and ordered a drink. The guest took his drink and sat at an outside table, he then took out his pipe and tobacco. While he was enjoying his pipe I went out to see if he needed anything else, he replied no, paid his tab, tipped and was on his way.

The next day I saw this same person in line at the soup kitchen down the street. I thought nothing of it. That evening he returned ordered a drink, got out his pipe and continued to enjoy himself, just as before. On about his fourth visit the owner asked who he was and what he was doing here. I told the owner what had transpired and that he wasn't bothering anyone. The owner told me he was homeless and that he wasn't welcome. On his next visit I told him what the owner said, he was very polite about the situation and went on his merry way.

A week goes by without seeing him on the streets or in line at the soup kitchen. I went back to my regular routine and thought no more of it.

Two week go by, I'm in the Goodwill downtown dropping stuff off, when who do I see,
him, shopping for some nice clothes. After his purchase we went outside to talk. I ask him where he been and if he was working anywhere. He was, and staying in one of the local shelters. After a short visit we parted ways.

Not 2 days later, you will never guess who shows up at the restaurant on a friday night............. He get's a table and request that I wait on him. He orders a glass of red wine and a appetizer. He continues with his entree order, filet of beef, medium rare. While this is going on, I am thinking to myself how much trouble I would been in if the owner saw all this. As the evening continues my guest finishes dinner, orders dessert and another glass of wine. As my guest is taking his last sip of wine and ask's for the check, in walks the owner and 3 guests. They sit down at a four top right next to the table I have waiting on. I am now scared as hell. What happens next is something only God know's. My guest strikes up a conversation with the owner. he tells him how great everything is. Me still scared........ My guest pays his check and tips over 25%. After my guest leaves and I am bussing the table, the owner tells me how the my guest enjoyed himself and spoke very highly of me. Me still scared......

The next day while getting ready for dinner service I am asked to come to the office. I am still scared about last night. In the office I am given a card, that was left taped to the front door. Once again the owner complimented me about the gentlemen from last night. I said thank you and went back to work. Just before service I opened the card. Inside was a note of thank you. He thanked me for a great exerience and not judging him.

To this day the owner still does not know the person that sat next to him and shook his hand and thanked him for the wonderful time.

have you ever..........

As a bartender for many years in the Triangle Area of North Carolina, I thought it would be time to share stories, food and wine knowledge, drink recipes from new infusions to the old classics, which by the way are not taught in bartending schools. I will blog about scotch and bourbon, single malt to single barrel. We'll talk about vodka and gin, how many times is it filtered or which is the best.
I have many a story from "call me a cab" to "call my wife". I will not use names, establishment names or bartender names.
Please feel free to ask a question or laugh out loud.