So I 95% agree with this. with one MASSIVE exception.
IF you can afford it - take the damn year off and travel before you are too old to go to all the places you want to see - I did it when I was 44. Pretty burnt out from a stupid job which, to be fair, had put the money in the bank.
And DO not do the typically American thing of flying in, getting taken round the tourist sites in two days max, and then flying out to another country. I am sure other nationality's do this but it does seem an American thing. Lack of vacation time I suppose.
No. Get out there and interact with the locals, visit the tourist spots sure but go elsewhere too. Immerse yourself, take your time. You will end up with with a much more rounded sense of the World.
My rule was if I saw or heard another English speaking tourist I moved on.
All the countries have these types of tourists. In the 80's I remember large groups of Japanese tourists blasting through Europe. I would add to the recommendation, learn at least one other language as you will never integrate with normal people without that. I was too poor young to just take off and travel, so I got a job in Switzerland and used it as a home base to travel. I stayed with friends and family when traveling. I don't use German anymore, but learned Spanish and opened up Latin America to more intensive travel. I found a spot in Mexico where they don't even lock the doors because almost zero tourists and no crime. There are hidden gems out there. Also off-season. I was in Pompeii with no more than 10 other people in the entire enormous archeological site. I was alone at Paestum. The worse the weather, the better, for avoiding tourists.
You're doing it all wrong... First mistake, you went to NYC. Second mistake you went to brunch in NYC, with a bunch of A-holes.... You start with going to brunch for the right occasion, like when you're on vacation or celebrating a milestone. Then go to the right place.
Best brunch I ever had was right in your backyard. My wife and I spent a long weekend eating our way through Charleston and sightseeing in between. Capped it off with the Gospel Brunch at Hall's Chop House. Forget avacado toast, I'm talking bacon wrapped filet and eggs, crab cake benedict, etc. Afterwards we walked off the meal strolling down King St. and browsing City Market in glorious spring weather. Then made our way back to our suite at Belmond Charleston Place, lounged in our robes and took naps. THAT is how you do brunch.
Why bring eggs into it? Eggxactly. I think it’s just an excuse to drink alcohol. Like a lot of things. Tailgating is also. Airports and airplanes are another. People will drink a mimosa or Bloody Mary at 6 a.m. on a plane and act like it’s normal. Then switch to a Jack and Coke at 7 a.m. and say how much they love first class. Nothing more first class than a Jack and Coke. Brunch is a way to keep the drinks flowing all weekend long.
I have never seen someone drink a Jack n Coke in first class. No problem in my mind if they did actually, because I don't care what someone drinks next to me in first class (or any class) as long as they don't bother me otherwise, and I have flown first class a lot.
Perhaps the people you flew with in first class drank Jack n Cokes?
This is the first of your Substack that I have read that I REALLY disagree with.
I kinda get what you are trying to lay down here... And hopefully this isn't just semantic... But BRUNCH doesn't mean "only where the elites of NYC go to down champs and eat food and look cool on a weekend."
However I get that this is your perspective. I promise you - try brunch in other environments. It will change your perspective (hopefully). Court of Two Sisters in New Orleans comes to mind in terms of its great food offerings with a much less pretentious vibe.
Personally, I've got soused with good peeps in several environs and exchanged ideas or solidified business.
To many it's all show. To most of us, I believe, it's fun and practical.
Nailed it. What baffles me is the smugness of the brunch crowd you describe. Deep down they must be insecure, knowing that they had life handed to them on a platter. We’ve all had our advantages and lucky breaks, but there’s a difference when you know you’ve made some of your own luck and taken advantage of it through initiative and hard work.
We have brunch where I live on the beach in Ft. Pierce. It is like $30. You can also order just breakfast for $12-$15 which is what I do. I drink coffee, soda water and hang looking at the ocean, look inside the beach bar and see football pregame. After I'm done play bocce and during football season watch the end of all the first games for 45 minutes and then go paddleboarding if it is not too windy. To me that is living
This was my introduction to Bill Burr and talks about brunch. Copy and paste the link as it is only about 45 seconds.
Off season is a very good point. Countries in Africa " off season" is a good example... South America too. Jared will there be peed off we're turning his blog into a travelogue !😁
Hilarious. I have never in my life gone to brunch, but I have worked it and I was not fond of the patrons. I do a few things on that list, Yoga! Pilates! Year off. I have never been accused of being hoity toity and the whole Michelin Star thing is a joke. I once ate at a Michelin rated restaurant in Italy and the food was just decent. Another, unrated, restaurant blew them away completely, best restaurant food of my life. Kick back and ask, "Where would Anthony Bourdain eat?" and you wil get a much better meal.
I'm a native of the places you're writing about. You're pandering to class envy while being woefully ignorant about your subject matter.
Wednesday Martin in Primates of Park Avenue didn't know what she was writing about either. You wrote "She is a horrendous human being (I can’t say why here), but she was a pretty darn good cultural critic"
She was not a good cultural critic. But I find it offensive that you gratuitously insulted her like that. That's just rude. That's lower class behavior regardless of how much money one has.
Your writing may appeal to people's base instincts, but it's fraudulent.
He thrives on this sort of response., And he is entitled to his opinion - often I disagree with him but he does, now and then, :-) pen some good stuff.
So I 95% agree with this. with one MASSIVE exception.
IF you can afford it - take the damn year off and travel before you are too old to go to all the places you want to see - I did it when I was 44. Pretty burnt out from a stupid job which, to be fair, had put the money in the bank.
And DO not do the typically American thing of flying in, getting taken round the tourist sites in two days max, and then flying out to another country. I am sure other nationality's do this but it does seem an American thing. Lack of vacation time I suppose.
No. Get out there and interact with the locals, visit the tourist spots sure but go elsewhere too. Immerse yourself, take your time. You will end up with with a much more rounded sense of the World.
My rule was if I saw or heard another English speaking tourist I moved on.
Oh, and Brunch. I would rather chew my leg off..
All the countries have these types of tourists. In the 80's I remember large groups of Japanese tourists blasting through Europe. I would add to the recommendation, learn at least one other language as you will never integrate with normal people without that. I was too poor young to just take off and travel, so I got a job in Switzerland and used it as a home base to travel. I stayed with friends and family when traveling. I don't use German anymore, but learned Spanish and opened up Latin America to more intensive travel. I found a spot in Mexico where they don't even lock the doors because almost zero tourists and no crime. There are hidden gems out there. Also off-season. I was in Pompeii with no more than 10 other people in the entire enormous archeological site. I was alone at Paestum. The worse the weather, the better, for avoiding tourists.
You're doing it all wrong... First mistake, you went to NYC. Second mistake you went to brunch in NYC, with a bunch of A-holes.... You start with going to brunch for the right occasion, like when you're on vacation or celebrating a milestone. Then go to the right place.
Best brunch I ever had was right in your backyard. My wife and I spent a long weekend eating our way through Charleston and sightseeing in between. Capped it off with the Gospel Brunch at Hall's Chop House. Forget avacado toast, I'm talking bacon wrapped filet and eggs, crab cake benedict, etc. Afterwards we walked off the meal strolling down King St. and browsing City Market in glorious spring weather. Then made our way back to our suite at Belmond Charleston Place, lounged in our robes and took naps. THAT is how you do brunch.
Why bring eggs into it? Eggxactly. I think it’s just an excuse to drink alcohol. Like a lot of things. Tailgating is also. Airports and airplanes are another. People will drink a mimosa or Bloody Mary at 6 a.m. on a plane and act like it’s normal. Then switch to a Jack and Coke at 7 a.m. and say how much they love first class. Nothing more first class than a Jack and Coke. Brunch is a way to keep the drinks flowing all weekend long.
And golf
Gonna disagree here.
I have never seen someone drink a Jack n Coke in first class. No problem in my mind if they did actually, because I don't care what someone drinks next to me in first class (or any class) as long as they don't bother me otherwise, and I have flown first class a lot.
Perhaps the people you flew with in first class drank Jack n Cokes?
Dude.
This is a vibe.
Hey Jared,
This is the first of your Substack that I have read that I REALLY disagree with.
I kinda get what you are trying to lay down here... And hopefully this isn't just semantic... But BRUNCH doesn't mean "only where the elites of NYC go to down champs and eat food and look cool on a weekend."
However I get that this is your perspective. I promise you - try brunch in other environments. It will change your perspective (hopefully). Court of Two Sisters in New Orleans comes to mind in terms of its great food offerings with a much less pretentious vibe.
Personally, I've got soused with good peeps in several environs and exchanged ideas or solidified business.
To many it's all show. To most of us, I believe, it's fun and practical.
Nailed it. What baffles me is the smugness of the brunch crowd you describe. Deep down they must be insecure, knowing that they had life handed to them on a platter. We’ve all had our advantages and lucky breaks, but there’s a difference when you know you’ve made some of your own luck and taken advantage of it through initiative and hard work.
Love it. I feel the same way. But I do like avocado toast (made at home) and Santorini.
We have brunch where I live on the beach in Ft. Pierce. It is like $30. You can also order just breakfast for $12-$15 which is what I do. I drink coffee, soda water and hang looking at the ocean, look inside the beach bar and see football pregame. After I'm done play bocce and during football season watch the end of all the first games for 45 minutes and then go paddleboarding if it is not too windy. To me that is living
This was my introduction to Bill Burr and talks about brunch. Copy and paste the link as it is only about 45 seconds.
https://youtu.be/YAy6gyuYPhc?si=euFkfb7jqX974u3e&t=43
Oh, this was a good one, Jared.
Off season is a very good point. Countries in Africa " off season" is a good example... South America too. Jared will there be peed off we're turning his blog into a travelogue !😁
Hilarious. I have never in my life gone to brunch, but I have worked it and I was not fond of the patrons. I do a few things on that list, Yoga! Pilates! Year off. I have never been accused of being hoity toity and the whole Michelin Star thing is a joke. I once ate at a Michelin rated restaurant in Italy and the food was just decent. Another, unrated, restaurant blew them away completely, best restaurant food of my life. Kick back and ask, "Where would Anthony Bourdain eat?" and you wil get a much better meal.
What are your thoughts about tailgating?
I'm a native of the places you're writing about. You're pandering to class envy while being woefully ignorant about your subject matter.
Wednesday Martin in Primates of Park Avenue didn't know what she was writing about either. You wrote "She is a horrendous human being (I can’t say why here), but she was a pretty darn good cultural critic"
She was not a good cultural critic. But I find it offensive that you gratuitously insulted her like that. That's just rude. That's lower class behavior regardless of how much money one has.
Your writing may appeal to people's base instincts, but it's fraudulent.
robertsdavidn.substack.com/about (free)
You do know of whom you speak?
He thrives on this sort of response., And he is entitled to his opinion - often I disagree with him but he does, now and then, :-) pen some good stuff.
Fuck em
Fuck everything.