It happens from time to time that readers of this blog want to meet me, and as anxious as it makes me I try to oblige. GarytheTourist sent me an e-mail and after we failed to connect by phone he finally nailed me. He suggested this place whence I hadn't been in ages so it sounded good to me.
When I started this blog four years ago this week as it happens, I planned to keep myself out of it pretty much and just take pictures of where I lived. I have kept into the pictures from time to time over the years and Gary had been keeping an eagle eye out for me so he knew who I was when I stumbled in, even though I was wearing Birkenstocks and not my tattered pink Crocs. I need a new pair from the store called Neat Stuff on Flagler, as far as I know the only supplier around here of Size 12 pink Crocs.
Anyway I made it to Pepe's on time and we sized each other up. Gary has a daughter going to college soon and a dog that isn't. We talked dogs as I have no idea what daughters involve.
Marcie was our cheerful server and I managed to engage her in modest conversation without bursting a blood vessel so that was good. I always feel as though chatting up the servers is an imposition as they have a hard enough job as it is without having to pander to the customer's need for conversation. Apparently I am all wet about this and I need to change my attitude.
It was a horribly self indulgent lunch. I had an Anchor Steam for an appetizer, I love that beer from San Francisco where, when I drove a truck I used to deliver to their family owned brewery right in the city on Third Street as I recall.
For the main course Gary had the fish sandwich on the grounds they don't have decent fish in Tennessee which I suppose could be true but the woods up there are very pretty as I recall. As I don't live in a land locked state I had the guacamole burger which to my surprise and delight came with a healthy dollop of chili. Marcie returned with the second Anchor Steam to wash down the meat and I was happy.
She smiled a lot. The mainstay of a decent meal is conversation so Gary and I engaged in that. We set straight the confusion of modern health care coverage because he is an anaesthesiologist by trade. He also kayaks like a demented fiend and was planning a marathon paddle through the back country which made me feel faint just talking about it. The Anchor Steam was an excellent antidote. Then we had pudding and i should note that Gary was the one who insisted we share a Key Lime Pie.
I thought it was quite good. It's not as tart as the home made one at Parrotdise on Little Torch key but the crust was crumbly and I liked scooping it up with the molten remains of the whipped cream. We sat back and burped.
Well, actually we were rather more polite than that, though in retrospect it would have been manly to sit around and eructate. 
The food was good, the setting was pleasant and the conversation didn't dry up leaving awkward pauses so I think it is safe to say the lunch was s success.
Gary has promised to meet me again for a late breakfast and he has also promised to drop off some key West pictures I shall use in July. He has plans to go kayaking off Big Pine as well so perhaps he can kayak round to my house so I can watch him sweat horribly as he begs for a glass of water. Pictures to follow.
When I started this blog four years ago this week as it happens, I planned to keep myself out of it pretty much and just take pictures of where I lived. I have kept into the pictures from time to time over the years and Gary had been keeping an eagle eye out for me so he knew who I was when I stumbled in, even though I was wearing Birkenstocks and not my tattered pink Crocs. I need a new pair from the store called Neat Stuff on Flagler, as far as I know the only supplier around here of Size 12 pink Crocs.Anyway I made it to Pepe's on time and we sized each other up. Gary has a daughter going to college soon and a dog that isn't. We talked dogs as I have no idea what daughters involve.Marcie was our cheerful server and I managed to engage her in modest conversation without bursting a blood vessel so that was good. I always feel as though chatting up the servers is an imposition as they have a hard enough job as it is without having to pander to the customer's need for conversation. Apparently I am all wet about this and I need to change my attitude.It was a horribly self indulgent lunch. I had an Anchor Steam for an appetizer, I love that beer from San Francisco where, when I drove a truck I used to deliver to their family owned brewery right in the city on Third Street as I recall.For the main course Gary had the fish sandwich on the grounds they don't have decent fish in Tennessee which I suppose could be true but the woods up there are very pretty as I recall. As I don't live in a land locked state I had the guacamole burger which to my surprise and delight came with a healthy dollop of chili. Marcie returned with the second Anchor Steam to wash down the meat and I was happy.She smiled a lot. The mainstay of a decent meal is conversation so Gary and I engaged in that. We set straight the confusion of modern health care coverage because he is an anaesthesiologist by trade. He also kayaks like a demented fiend and was planning a marathon paddle through the back country which made me feel faint just talking about it. The Anchor Steam was an excellent antidote. Then we had pudding and i should note that Gary was the one who insisted we share a Key Lime Pie.I thought it was quite good. It's not as tart as the home made one at Parrotdise on Little Torch key but the crust was crumbly and I liked scooping it up with the molten remains of the whipped cream. We sat back and burped.Well, actually we were rather more polite than that, though in retrospect it would have been manly to sit around and eructate. 
The food was good, the setting was pleasant and the conversation didn't dry up leaving awkward pauses so I think it is safe to say the lunch was s success.Gary has promised to meet me again for a late breakfast and he has also promised to drop off some key West pictures I shall use in July. He has plans to go kayaking off Big Pine as well so perhaps he can kayak round to my house so I can watch him sweat horribly as he begs for a glass of water. Pictures to follow. 
7 comments:
When it comes to engaging waitstaff - yes. You are indeed all wet.
Thank you for figuring that out on your own - saves me from saying 'I told you so.'
PS - pre-college age girls make a dog pound appear pristine and tranquil.
On the back side of the college years (and poorer for it),
Chuck.
Dear Sir:
I wouldn't give a damn if Gary had the power to heal in both hands, I would have invited Martcie to sit down and told him t hustle lunch, and to be slippy about it. For once, a decen t picture of a really beautiful woman in this blog.
Fondest regards,
Jack/reep
Twisted Roads
i love to order a cup of pepe's gravy in a cup to go. we go over to B.O'S cross the street and get an order of his hand cut fries and dip them in the gravy and enjoy. DELICIOUS ! sunny and hot ! 98 degrees in columbia,sc.............BYRDMAN
I have often said were I a woman I'd be a lesbian. Men are such simpletons. They walk miles for a cupo of gravy over their poutines, or is it poitrines? We pun in many languages here.
ahh - poutine. my arteries harden and crack at the sound of that word.
I'm right there with you Jack...given the choice between that Gary fellow and the waitress, well, there just isn't any competition. Thankfully Michael was a great host so he kept me around anyway.
Pepe's was and is still one of my favorite places to eat in Key West, especially breakfast. Used to go there back in the late 70's and early 80's when I lived down there.Back then the owner actually tried to discourage tourists buy not advertising outside and you had to know to enter on the side of the building. Other then entering through the front and plenty of advertising, the place hasn't changed much at all. The food and atmosphere are as great as it ever was!
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