A Sip and A Thought: BreakWater Grille's 'Summer Sangria'

MONTGOMERY, TX -- Breakwater Grille, bills itself as a casual dining experience, and it is. But the real draw to the BWG is its lake view, where patrons can grab a bite, a drink, and enjoy the atmosphere; either within the confines of their walls, or al fresco, under their sun shade sail or at one of the many picnic tables strategically placed on the lawn and open to the sky. Many may believe that The Grille is only for members of Walden, but it's open to the public. The pool next door may be for Walden members, but that doesn’t stop you from enjoying the bathing beauties come spring and summer, and not to mention taking a toast to their good health.

Parents and their kids will come out, even on winter weekdays, to bask in the available sunlight; and watch their kids run around and release some energy. They’ll order a burger, club sandwich, some fries, or wings, and just sit and enjoy the remains of the day. Some may even order a mixed-drink, which was why I was on-station to enjoy.

The BWG has a great selection of beers, wines, frozen drinks, punches, and your choice of popular mixed-drinks that sound; well, some sound odd, like the Moscow Mule, or the Apple Jolly Rancher. But I wasn’t drawn to that, I had enough dealings with Russians in East Germany, and I never took to Jolly Ranchers as a kid.

So I asked my server, since I was thinking that we are in the midst of winter, I’d like to try something springy, or summery. Heck, ’’Give me something that isn’t even on the menu,’’ I said. I got a funny look in return, then asked for the manager. I was soon accosted by the supervisor, Fabio Matta, who incidentally had read one of my restaurant reviews. In my mind, I suddenly got a feeling of being a minor celebrity about town, and almost extended my ring for him to kiss. Imagine me being a bishop. lol.

Fabio had something in mind, ’’Give me a minute,’’ he said. He soon returned with a concoction of his own making, a ’’Summer Sangria,’’ he called it. And already I felt the temperature around me rise five degrees. I looked at it. Studied it. Initially I thought, It’s a fruit basket on some iced red wine. No it’s not. It’s a work of art. Why didn’t Paul Cézanne paint this? His avant-gardism would have been even more heralded.

I was determined to try it. I made sure to squeeze the fruit, including the cherry. If fat is flavor in cooking, then most certainly juice is flavor in mixed drinks. I promptly ate the cherry.

The Summer Sangria. It’s tangy and sweet. Refreshing. Fruity. It reminded me of what a Carmen Miranda Fruit Hat would taste like sliced up, on top of a great selection of iced liqueurs, red wine, a fruity syrup, and a small sampling of mixed juices. I took a small sip and let it rest on my palate. The flavors were moving so fast in rest, that it would’ve taken a slew of traffic cops to stop them.

The sangria went down smooth. Not overpowering. It begs for additional sips of enjoyment, but this is the time to relax, and let all the ingredients come together. After all, you’ve got time. That’s what places like the BWG are all about. You can spend hours eating, sipping, visiting, chatting to your heart’s content; all while taking in the lake view, and contemplating life and what it has to offer.

BWG is a destination for trigonometry students looking to solve what ‘Tan (A-B) equals’. I can imagine poets going out there looking for their best inspired Iambic pentameters, or perhaps bottlenecked artists or writers hoping to clear that logjam of ideas that have built up their noggins. I’ve no doubt that couples have met here and formed relationships, as well as business deals have been conducted. And why not? BWG is a great meeting place for a burger basket and a cold beer, or just with some Messi Fries and a glass of vino. When the swimming season hits, and with a Summer Sangria in your hands, life’s possibilities are endless.

The real joy of the BWG is sitting around on a spring, summer, or early fall evening and simply enjoying the atmosphere, even with kids and dogs running around. Seating may be hard to find at times, but come prepared with a lawn chair and your golden. Who doesn’t like watching and being watched, not to mention viewing the Sun as it makes its way beyond the horizon. Special moments are there for the making, especially on those days you’d like to go on forever. And it's all the better when you are appreciating sips of The Breakwater Grille’s ‘Summer Sangria’.

The Breakwater Grille is owned by the Walden Community Association and is located at 13109 Melville Drive. Their website is: breakwatergrille.com

Ruben can be reached at: ruben@montgomerycountynews.net