bluefacedpixie

Other titles for this post included I miss Seattle, How do you find Coffee?, When did I become a city boy? and The Explanation Of Awesome; but somehow I think I am going to talk about food.

I’m on the road in Virginia and am finding myself in an America I first discovered in the mid-nineties. I’m sitting in a hotel where the nearest thing of significance is a mall. Across the next major junction is – another mall. Food in this area (because unfortunately this Marriott Courtyard only does breakfast) is – the mall.

Wow. I’ve got too used to city life. The ability to find food in restaurants that, at most, have five locations in the same town. I never needed to choose between chains so much – Red Robin, Uno, Chili’s, Longhorn, Chuck ‘E Cheese (sic), Macaroni Grill etc… Now I’m a fan of these guys and their persistence and omnipresence across America – nothing beats being dog-tired on the road after mountain-biking/hiking/boarding/goofing-off and seeing them at the side of the road. But as an everyday eating option?

So here is the reckoning so far: Uno’s – poor, M & S Grill (maybe a chain, something in a more city-like downtown Reston) – actually good, great steak, Chili’s – average. But the deal is, Chili’s already started to feel great good. Need I even say Awesome?. Has my ever-ending Scottish challenge with American “awesome” (aka “it’s alright”) actually been due to the blandness of the-only-available-food? I need to think about this.

So rather than go on, I will sideline into coffee. I think I’ve discovered one of the few places in the Universe that has a deficiency in Starbucks. I’ve not been to a local one yet, but did find one on the route to see Mint at exit 33 (Conneticut Drive) on the I-something. Paul was very impressed by my homing instinct. But really how do people survive without espresso here??? I did find a Daily Grind here yesterday, but have gone a day cold-turkey (i.e. only filter).

This is strange, but I go home soon.