Over the years, I have thought to myself on multiple occasions that I don’t have a very sophisticated palate. My fear of blowing up like I’m 16 and pregnant bullies me into eating healthy, most of the time, but I do, unfortunately, have the taste buds of an obese 8-year-old child. If I had my way, I would eat chicken fingers, French fries and Kraft mac & cheese every day. But, regrettably, when I turned 27, my metabolism was like, “Later, bitch,” and decided to peace out.
But maybe it’s not an unsophisticated palate that drives my tastes. Maybe it is just low standards. It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve had to chalk some of my preferences up to low standards. I go out to eat, and everything, to me, is delicious, or I look in the mirror before leaving the house and think, “Well, I can try, but it’s not going to get much better than this,” or yeah, that guy, who gave me one drunken complement at the Cowboy, I think I’ll marry him. Oh, wait. He is dressed completely in denim and has what appears to be a rat tail. OK, I plead beer goggles … and desperation.
Unsophisticated palate or low standards? It may be a toss-up, but one or both are the reasons I’m probably not a very good food critic. Yes, I can write for Dishing from a “non-foodie” perspective (whatever that means) but being a food critic, not my forte.
Cocktails, however, I can write about with far more authority. Ask any of my friends, and they’ll tell you, I like the sauce. I can’t deny it.
In the summer, my drink of choice tends to favor grapefruit juice. It is light, tart and refreshing. Mix it with Champagne for a twist on a mimosa, or pair it with vodka and a salted glass to shake up a traditional greyhound. It’s called a salty dog, and it’s delicious.
But the best drinks I have tasted in a while are the frozen greyhounds at Creekside Market and Deli.
A. Any beverage that is alcoholic and frozen, I’m so on board, and B. They are so fresh. At Creekside, they squeeze their grapefruit juice every morning, and you can definitely tell. Then they just add vodka — no artificial syrup, no extra sugar. Grapefruit juice and vodka — slushified. Pure, simple and just my style.
Sometimes — and I can’t believe I am uttering these words — I wish they didn’t have alcohol in them, so I could get one every day. But in an effort not to succumb to my (functioning) alcoholic tendencies, I surmise that my liver could probably do without the daily dose of vodka. That being said, I’m pretty sure my liver, working closely with my metabolism, told me to f!*# off a long time ago. So drink up, friends.
With summer upon us, now is the time to head north to the parks to hike, bike, fish, boat on Jackson Lake, float the river, etc. On your way, make a pit stop at Creekside for some much-needed provisions. They make some of the best sandwiches in town, and when you get off the water, everyone is always grateful for that extra bag of chips you picked up. If you’re already planning on day-drinking — and why wouldn’t you be? — sample the frozen greyhounds. You won’t be disappointed. When you’re headed out of town on a hot day, it is the perfect way to begin another summer adventure in Jackson Hole. With a healthy morning buzz, who knows where the day may lead?
