Coca-Cola

I had a coke last Friday; the first one in maybe years. I really can’t remember how long it’s been.

I had this most recent one at the Centre Street Deli, in Thornhill, with an “Old Fashion” (smoked meat on rye). It strikes me as the right pairing. Maybe it’s because I believe that the acid of the coke will dissolve the fat in the meat, aiding digestion. It reminds me of Ben’s in Montreal, now long gone, or the Corner Restaurant on the south-east corner of De Maisonneuve and Closse. Where Moe, the owner, a portly, balding, middle-aged man, always sucking on a stogie, greeted you with a hello and a warm smile. The place was always crowded, day and night.