I have found my new favorite hang. The Pirate Cat Radio Cafe in San Francisco. Been doing a lot of interview — TV, print and radio — as part of the PR ramble for my I Hate People! book. This morning was the first radio show I've done that was actually in The City, and it wasn't set up by the publisher or the publicist. It was a request from an old comedy buddy, Kevin Hancock, who hosts "Pretty Good, Not Much" from 8 until noon on Thursdays on PCR. (They broadcast, unlicensed, at 87.9 FM and online, as well as podcast.)
Not knowing what to expect, I show up a few minutes early and am greeted by Monkey, the owner and creator of Pirate Cat Radio. Started it as a teenage out of his bedroom in Los Gatos. (Think Christian Slater in "Turn Up The Volume", except cool.) He's behind the counter, at the controls of the espresso machine, when he asks if he can help me. I let him know I'm there as a guest for the show and he instantly offers me the specialty of the house.
The Bacon Maple Latte.
It's as if he's reached into my mind and pulled out most of my favorite flavors. Bacon. Maple. And coffee. The bacon ain't no artificial flavor. It's "refined bacon", Monkey says. As he scoops it out of its container, I can see that his term is a euphemism for "bacon fat". Then a big ol' tablespoon of maple syrup goes into the steam cup under the spigot.
30 second later and I'm sipping espresso blended with the great tastes of bacon and maple through a veil of foamy 2% milk. Good lord. Even as my taste buds thrill, I can practically hear my arteries shrieking. Clearly, I need something to cleanse my palate before I go on the air.
Monkey has just the thing.
A vegan doughnut.
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