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9 november, 2000 |
linda's and kim's friday feast I'm not really one of those TGIF people. For the most part, each day is usually a pretty good one. I dig my job, I'm home sweet home, my friends are neato, Wilma is the best cat ever, and the weather is usually fine. I would hardly even know it was Friday if it weren't for Murph's. My girlfriend Linda and I used to have a lovely Friday habit while we worked on this Y2K documentation team a couple of years ago. At the end of each week, we headed to lunch at Murphy's Lunch on Third Street. Now that I'm working in downtown Winston again, and Linda and I once again work on the same floor, Fridays are truly great again. It's when Murph's serves fried flounder. Mmm-mmm! Mouths watering, we stroll down the hill to the small diner. If you arrive after 12 noon, you may find yourself waiting in line on the sidewalk, as Murph's is a grab-your-tray-and-order kind of place. And it's popular. If you're with me and Linda, you order the fried flounder and your two vegetables, or we'll pretend we don't know you. I usually end up with either collard greens and pinto beans, or collard greens and cole slaw. You get either a roll or corn bread. Both are good for sopping, although the corn bread definitely makes you look more like a local. So get that. Slide you tray down the line, and grab either a glass of water or sweet tea. No muss, no fuss, and no holding up the line, you! I want to eat my flounder! Okay, pay at the register and get out of the way. Grab a seat at any of the small tables or booths. If you've been a few times, you'll start to recognize the regular guys. Older fellows, and lifelong Murph devotees. They're not saying much because they're busy eating. Linda and I don't have quite that much discipline, but we do manage to eat our lunch and maintian a nice conversation . Okay, first you need to pour some Texas Pete (again, the favorite local delicacy) on the flounder, which is fried to perfection. Spicy, peppery, and crunchy all over; Murph's flounder is ALWAYS good. Consistently simple and delicious, and the vegetable sides are the perfect complement each time. Washing all this down with that sweet tea -- well, let's just say it's not always real easy to return to work. You're full, you're happy, and belly-rubbing isn't allowed at work. Not like I do that or anything. So, when are you coming to visit me in Winston? Especially my European readers; come on over! Linda and I will take you to lunch. Then we'll have dinner at Forsyth Seafood Cafe, scarf down some Moravian Ginger Cookies (which you'll hear about in good time, trust me,) and then sack out in my living room in front of Harold and Maude. Doesn't that sound totally fun? I thought so. If you're in the area, tell Murph I said TGIF.
Murphy's Lunch (as in, open for lunch only. Closed at 2 or 3 in the afternoon.) |