Guilty Pleasures

So I'm sitting in the West End Starbucks on Byres Rd.. cheating on my coffee life partner Costa.  I feel guilt for this as in the early 2000's I decided to be monogamous to my Italian mistress as she was hot, dark and tasted better than any American fly by night trendy contemporary. Things went well for years, I avoided the giant corporate bosom of Ms Starbucks for the quaint classier smaller cups of Miss Costa, no wrapping her wares up in crimson at Christmas to tease and tantalise customers like a 40's movie harlot, no sirree, Miss Costa was always an understated but confident mistress secure in the knowledge that class always shines. We had a solid relationship for years, Massimo skinny Latte, Tuna Melt and occasionally a muffin or a bag of crisps, perfect, what more does a man need?

 Then it happened..........London July 2010......Out with friends to catch a matinee at the Old Vic and afterwards walking back to Waterloo we pass a Starbucks, "Shall we have a coffee?" someone suggests, I protest "Costa is far better, lets go there,"  I'm of course shot down, it's ages away and besides it's raining now are the replies, so sullen, in I trot. It's only one coffee what's the harm?  An order of a Massimo skinny latte is met with derision. "Do you mean a Venti skinny latte sir?" Whatever, just pour my beverage you green aproned buffoon I think.."anything else?" I look around and there it is...A croque monsieur..a hot ham and cheese (usually Gruyere or Emmental) with a little mustard grilled Sandwich, French in origin as a fast food snack, but even allowing for it's Frenchness it was stunning.. such a simple thing but flavour.... well, I was hooked, I've been to France but somehow missed this treat and now wow, like I said..the bait has been swallowed. .. Miss Costa does not supply such wares, it's the hold ups and heels of sarnies, and every now and again I just need some of that pleasure..

 So here I sit, at the back of the shop,  guiltily lapping up my hot cheese and ham, licking the mustard off of my fingers, and feeling slightly guilty at my indiscretion....I'll always love Miss Costa, but Ms Starbucks shall remain a guilty pleasure...