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My friend John Lewis is an accountant by training, and, by all appearances, he looks and acts like a normal C.P.A. But he is really a pop-culture trendsetter.
I discovered this one day when we met for lunch at The Parkside Grill in Pasadena. When the waitress came over to greet us at our table, she asked in the usual manner, "May I start you off with some beverages?"
John stated resolutely, "I'll have a Tiger Woods."
The waitress said, with not a little conviction, "You mean an Arnold Palmer."
To which John replied, "No, I'll have a Tiger Woods." Our server flushed slightly, realizing she had missed a new wrinkle in beverage trending. She looked as if some inward scolding was going on and gushed, "Oh, I am sorry, sir. I haven't heard of that, what's in it?"
John replied confidently, "It's cranberry juice and iced tea." "Very good," replied our waitperson, happy to be in the know at last.
She turned to me and asked, "What would you like, sir?" Not wanting to miss out on the fun, I replied, "I'll have a Phil Mickelson." She assumed an "I've been pranked" demeanor and asked, a bit curtly, "What is that?"
"A tall drink of water," I said.
So, off she went to fill our order, and I asked John to tell me about The Tiger Woods, which I hadn't heard of either.
And this is when I realized that John is a pop-cultural beverage trend setter. He said, happy as can be, "Oh, there is no such drink. I have several friends across the country, and we wanted to see if we can introduce a new drink into the popular consciousness merely by ordering it in restaurants in as many cities as we can cover."
So now when John and I are out to lunch, I watch closely and enjoy the twinkle in his eye when the waiter comes over to inquire about our beverages. For I know that what's coming is history in the making. So, if you like, you may join him, there is no charge for membership, and it may just work.
Or you can join my revolution, for I have decided to become a pop-culture beverage trend setter too. And there are some great advantages to mine, it's sugar and caffeine free, organic and non-GMO too.
And it works in every restaurant, even those who don't serve cranberry juice.
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