Wednesday, March 19, 2008

hangover food

Depending on what one has to achieve the morning after, hangover foods come in three different types.

1: Crashed at a friend' house
2. Late for work and trying not to barf on the train and at work
3. Managed to make it home and pass out on the bed with all one's clothes, but only one shoe still on kind

For the number one type, there are two wonderful options. The first and ideal one is brunch. Unfortunately, there are limitations--mostly that you have to be able to get up and move without getting sick all over yourself, to wait in a line for at least 15 minutes if not more, and also be able to sit upright in a chair for an extended period of time. Sometimes one, if not all three, of these things are really hard.

We are a big advocate of the Enid's brunch (Hungry Bears for Life!). WriteaPostcard realizes the inanity of advocating 15 dollar eggs and 6 dollar plates of bacon, but the main selling point is this: wonderfully delicious Bloody Marys, made properly. When else is it socially acceptable to have a drink that early in the day? Only at brunch. Of course, depending on the degree of hangover-ness, this is sometimes not a viable option.

The second option is to loll about on friend's couch, beg someone to pick up a slice of pizza, and watch movies all day. This happens unfortunately often to WaP, but luckily we have friends who are nice enough to nurse us back to coherence. This is an effective method but often leaves one with a dirty tinge all over, as we lament for the wasted day (see third option as well).

2. This is the worst kind of hangover because one cannot simply wallow in the lamentations of the poor choices made the night before, but must suck it up and get some shit done. WaP's general battle plan is usually a bottle of Vitamin Water (we prefer the cran-grapefruit kind or the lemonade) and a can of V8. The latter provides the salt necessary to assist in rehydration while the Vitamin Water is inoffensive enough to be swallowed quickly and purposefully in order to aid said rehydration. Some solid food must eventually be procured; WaP generally chooses a bagel. Unfortunately, something about going to work hungover usually results in all the food ending back up in the toilet.

3. WaP inevitably ends up ordering in Chinese food when we manage to make it home post-intense party hang. The rice and the fried Sesame Chicken or whatever is eventually ordered helps get something in one's stomach and is comforting in a vaguely gross sort of way. We usually feel a little dirty and shameful when this happens, but ordering delivery is wonderful since it provides you with enough food for at least the day and allows you to not have to leave the house. Shameful, yes. But the ability to watch Martha and eat Hot and Sour Soup on the couch far outweighs the personal cost.


Now, we know there are carbon pills or something that can be taken in order to prevent the above from happening (except brunch, which should be fully embraced at every possible opportunity). WriteaPostcard once took one AFTER drinking, but was still able to get up early the next morning and drive to Pittsburgh with our friend who was hungover because he did not take the pill (we think, at least). We also realize that this is quite possibly because we are accomplished drunks and called it a night earlier. It was called PartyOn or something silly. Further investigation is in order, but as a rule, the only way to prevent hangovers is alcohol abstinence. Since that is both a ridiculous and a terrifying thought, the search for the proper hangover panacea is unending!

2 comments:

Unknown said...

i miss brunch. i have still yet to explore the hangover food options in a city where

a) brunch is no cheaper, and blows, and is only to be found in restaurants that are ugly and look like starbucks on the inside,
b) chinese food delivery, to the best of my knowledge, does not exist, at least not from the only decent chinese take-out place, and, finally,
c) i go to school, the job where every day feels like a hangover, and i am hard-pressed to leave home at all.

there are "country" diners that are good out here, but they don't serve mimosas (i'm not a bloody mary person). this is also the problem with egg, which would otherwise be one of the best brunch places around.

i return in just one month. then we can brunch and i can live at your apartment when i don't want to go to my parents.

writeapostcard said...

YES. I haven't actually brunched in a couple of weeks because of my work schedule and the fact that dave yourdon has been out of town or working on Sundays.

I've never been to Egg but I really want to go. We HAVE to go to Taco Chulo or whatever on Grand St which does 2 for 1 Mimosas that are wonderful!

It's gonna be really exciting Jeanette when you're here. I'm so excited!