TheBanyanTree: My Martini Story...

[Jena Norton]

I too have a martini story or two.

Back in the day when I was not 21 but went out to dinner where liquor was served, I would order a martini and I never got carded. Typically, underage drinkers would order the frou-frou drinks and red flags would go up. And in the 1960s south, a martini was so sophisticated and chic, even if I wasn't!

I became 21 and branched out, even to the frou-frou drinks. Martinis gave way to rum drinks and wine. Until a few years ago, at a most unlikely event, when martinis once more came into my life.

Until I retired, I was active in the CA Teachers' Assn. (CTA) and was on our local executive board. We often went to local labor council events to show solidarity, etc. One of the best is the regional labor council dinner. The first time I went, the party favors were a martini shaker and martini glasses at every 2 settings, along with a shot glass, all with union logos and slogans. And you got a free shaker or martinis, above the drinks you bought tickets for. Watching plumbers, teamsters, and electricians foregoing beer and whiskey for martinis was interesting. 

Many people didn't take their shakers and glasses, so I was able to snag a shaker and several glasses for myself. And then I started back with the martinis. Bombay Sapphire for me, too! And an occasional cosmo.

My other story involves my trip to Australia a couple of years ago. Woof's son, Muscle Mutt, and his love du jour, took us out to a flash Indian restaurant on Circle Queue. Not having had a martini yet, I ordered one, with 2 olives. It came in a shot glass with 2 black olives (with pits, yet!) and they had no Bombay Sapphire.

Tomolives sound interesting. I'll have to check them out!

Jena

-----Original Message-----
From: thebanyantree-bounces at lists.remsset.com [mailto:thebanyantree-bounces at lists.remsset.com] On Behalf Of smack58 at nycap.rr.com
Sent: Tuesday, October 26, 2010 5:33 AM
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Cc: Julie Anna Teague
Subject: TheBanyanTree: My Martini Story...

My Martini Story

I learned to drink martini's by first eating the olives.  As a bartender in my early 20's, for every martini I made, I would make a little extra and soak the olives in a small glass under the bar for consumption throughout the night.  It often made me tipsy, but I never really thought about it until a pain in the ass waiter made me angry and I threw a drink at him.  I was promptly fired. Tipsy is not a good thing when an arrogant snot-nosed waiter gets on your last nerve on a busy night.

Slowly I made martinis my drink of choice...specifically Beefeater gin martinis.  No other gin would do and I ordered them straight up, shaken till they were well chilled with four olives on the side.  No "dirties" in my martini!  I drank that particular martini for years.

I had a gentleman friend who wanted me to try Bombay Sapphire gin in my martinis, but I was adamant.  I stuck with my Beefeaters until one day he sent a drink to my table (I was out with my "Martini Girls" at a table and he was at the bar).  It was so smooth, I couldn't believe the difference in the two gins.  I switched immediately and thanked him with my red face on.  Why hadn't I listened to him sooner?