• Yes they can. And they’re known by specific names (or modifiers). As for research... almost 30 years of tending bar and serving drinks has done well for me in that regard.
  

Okay. Took me a bit to get my metaphor-rebuttal.

Of course Manhattans are made with brandy! Also old-fashioneds. Oh. And cherries. And cake. And pie. And bread. And ice cream. And coffee. And... well... we basically live on a diet of cheese and brandy—with a schnitz to wash it down. :D

Must’ve been Wisconsin. We have a law that says you must have 4oz of cheese with every meal.

The state of Massachusetts has town names that generally fall into 2 categories: British and impossible to pronounce, or Native American and impossible to pronounce. It helps us weed out the non-natives and make fun of them.

What he did would be the equivalent of going into a pet store, asking for a mammal, and ridiculing someone for bringing out a dog or a cat. Sorry, but that guy is a moron.

I had a stock answer for that one. In a completely normal tone, I’d say “I’m sorry, we’re currently out of stock on those. The new delivery comes on the 6th Saturday of the month.” (Or possibly on the 32nd of the month)

but they do offer GF soy sauce.

Citation: Every old lady I served in about 30 years of restaurant work.

Episcopalian?

Nope. Those are a roll, a bagel, and either a song by Maurice Ravel or a movie starring Bo Derek.

1) You say you don’t eat meat, they then ask if you eat chicken. When you say no, because chicken is meat, they’ll ask if you eat fish. Again, you’ll say no, because it’s meat, much to their astonishment. Apparently only steak is “meat” to them.1) You say you don’t eat meat, they then ask if you eat chicken. When you…

Back in my days as a purchasing clerk for a school district, I was in charge of reimbursements for things teachers bought with their own money. They were called “Direct Pay”. So, a couple times a week, I’d get a phone call from a teacher asking “Hi... can you help me with a DP?” Even after 3 years it took an effort…

what’s the difference between a “grill” and a “grille,” anyway?

Yep. I’ve been in China for 4 years, and I’m still not used to that. FWIW, it’s not just the kids. Grown men will stop and pee anywhere. Even some of the women do it. The best I remember was seeing a group of men peeing on the exterior wall of... the public bathroom. *headdesk*.

oh... in that case, he’s just weird. :P

The only odd food order I remember was from 2 regulars (different restaurants). One was an old man who’d come in for breakfast on Sundays at the bar. He’d have his usual 2 cups of coffee, but add on 2 eggs and dry burnt toast. I don’t mean dark toast, I mean burnt. And completely lacking in butter, jam or anything…

my little brother routinely eats shrimp with the shell on

Everyone knows” is absurd. Clearly everyone didn’t.

From high school, through university, and beyond, I worked for a small bar/restaurant in rural Wisconsin: Alice’s Restaurant (Yes, that was actually the name and yes, it was actually owned by Alice). Two of my best stories come from there.