Dinner with the Ex

The ex and I went to the West Cafe last night. It just opened up a few weeks ago and is just across the street from where I live. For those of you in the Portland area, I would highly recommend it. We had a terrific scallop appetizer, and I had the fish special which was terrific. No, the ex did not kick us out. In fact, it was all quite friendly. Almost too friendly. I got a little tipsy and in the course of the night blurted out that I thought he still has feelings for me, to which he replied he always would and we kissed. Dumb. I know. But, these things happen. Here's a pic of me and our cute waitress from last night. She was a lot of fun.

I was excited when we got there because they had Old Fashioneds on the drink menu. I've never seen them out here, I thought they were mostly a midwest drink, but the waitress said they're popular on the East Coast, too, where the restaurant owners are from. Normally I've had them in a high ball, but they served theirs like a martini. I had three and was feeling no pain. I used to go to a restaurant in Green Bay called Cafe Espresso and they made the best Old Fashioned. You could get them garnised with pickled brussel sprouts, which may sound gross, but they're really crunchy and good.

Here's the recipe if you'd like to try one:

1/2 orange slice
1 cube sugar
2 dashes Angostura bitters
2 ounces rye or bourbon whiskey

Muddle orange, sugar, bitters together until the sugar is mostly dissolved. Fill glass with ice, then add the whiskey. Garnish with a marachino cherry, and perhaps an additional orange slice. Serve with a swizzle stick and/or straw.

You all have a good Friday! I'll be watching "Men in Trees" tonight. It's one of my favorites of the new shows this season. Check it out if you haven't seen it yet. It's a fun show.