Unlike most humans, I don’t mind a room temperature beverage. Maybe it’s because I’ve never started my day with a steaming cup of joe before. When people who don’t know me hear that I don’t drink coffee they immediately ask, “Tea?” As if there had to be an answer to the burning question of what hot beverage I imbibe first thing in the morning. But nope, no tea either.
I don’t start the day with a drink unless I’m thirsty. And if I am, it’s usually water. I don’t need liquid of any kind to get me out of bed. I actually find the whole concept strange! I am a morning person by nature and wake up ready to start the day with no slurp to motivate me.
My friends Janey and Steve are huge fans of ice! They just love their cold beverages. I’ve been with them at Starbucks and it’s extra ice, ice on the side, and more ice in their already iced venti. Janey has even been known to have a sidecar of cubes with the rare martini that she nurtures with a few frozen squares every few sips. And since she’s kicked the Diet Coke habit (go, Janey!) she’s an even bigger fan of those little frozen nuggets.
Then there are smoothie lovers. I like a smoothie but I’m not a huge fan of drinking a meal so stuffing a pound of leafy greens, chia seeds, lemon, protein powder, and some wacky combo of fruits and overripe veggies pulverized beyond imagination doesn’t really interest me, even with a purple bendy straw attractively sticking up from the brownish green sludge.
The only smoothie I make at home is made with pure fruit and ice. If I’m out and about, I’ve been known to beeline it to Great American Health Bar on West 57th Street for a drink they call the Rose Garden. They still have one of those ancient Dannon Yogurt machines that churns out really creamy froyo, so the combo of vanilla and fresh strawbs is extra.
If you wanna talk milkshakes, well then you’ve come to the right place. I love a good thick shake. I usually go chocolate peanut butter but I’ve been known to veer straight into cookies and cream territory. Summer sometimes calls for a straight up black and white— somehow vanilla just feels lighter in the summer. Winter however is the land of malts. I even keep malt powder in the house to use both as a sundae topper and to spoon into pre-blended chocolate shakes to kick them up a notch.
The best part of any drink you’re looking forward to is that very first sip. That aaahhhh feeling as you enjoy the flavor, texture, or temperature. I have a history of not ordering my own drink but instead happily syphoning off a few sips of Michael’s Mixed Berry Mule or Salt Rimmed Margarita. He’s such a gem that he’s always happy to share. And he knows that my shakes are rarely my own. I’m always willing to give him a taste which of course turns into him drinking half!
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