𝗦𝗟𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗙🍩🍩𝗟: Lunch at Noble Pie Parlor followed by dinner at Süp makes an otherwise lackluster day. Holiday Trip to Las Vegas and Reno, Part 13 January 2, 2014

I started my last full day in Reno with Yvonne at Josef's Vienna Bakery Cafe & Restaurant on W. Moana. Marveling at the baked goods offered here, I was hopeful for an equally marvelous breakfast.

Yvonne ordered some Breakfast Crepes, but found them disappointingly cool on the edges. On my side of the table, the Tamale and Eggs – a jalapeño and queso fresco tamale topped with eggs any style was fine, but not quite as satisfying as I hoped. A side of crispy applewood smoked bacon elicited more pleasure.

Striking out on my own, I took the RTC bus out to Sparks for shits and giggles. I surveyed Victorian Square, the supposedly revitalized downtown, and found it dead as a doornail. Mind you it was a weekday morning, but the only sign of activity to be found was a trickle of seniors walking into the ass-end of John Ascauga's Nugget.

Having tried the Awful-Awful burger at the Little Nugget Diner [see blog post], I was curious about Ascauga's offering, but unlike the Little Nugget, the Awful-Awful at Ascauga's isn’t available 24 hours a day. I didn’t feel like waiting another hour, so I caught the next bus back to Reno to kill some time purusing the detritus at Twin City Surplus.

From there I walked a couple miles east to a favorite haunt, The Patio Bar on W. Fifth where I relaxed with a Jameson on ice, but not before being served the wrong liquor which incidentally had a gnat-like object floating in the bottom of the glass. As I sipped upon my intended beverage, I scoped out my fellow patrons at the bar: one was on oxygen, one had a broken foot, and another had both legs replaced. Yikes!

For lunch I had a slice of an über-thin crust pizza with mozzarella and pecorino at Noble Pie Parlor, plus an IPA from Lagunitas Brewing Company of Petaluma, Califonia. A delightfully competent slice, boasting structure, flavor, and best of all, foldability. The IPA was crisp, dry, and easy to quaff.

Once again a walkabout down S. Virginia St. through the MidTown District was in order. Briefly I pursued the incredibly dusty selection of unsold liquors at Nahar Food and Liquor, a sad little dump, peddling booze, smokes, and the odd questionable substance as evidenced by past legal issues.

Needing further sustenance I stepped into nearby Süp for a bowl of their magnificent vegan Minestrone, with a lagniappe – a bite-size chocolate oatmeal cookie. What a treat! The soup was extraordinary, with plenty of vegetables, beans and pasta, swimming in a flavorful suspension. Its was a life affirming meal, and as things turned out I probably should have ordered their tempting Toasted Veggie sandwich along with it.

I quickened my journey south with a ride aboard an RTC express bus to Meadowood Mall. Despite the soup and slice of pizza I ate earlier, I felt a deep crash set in as I waited for a pick up. I was still adjusting to reduced blood glucose levels, and apparently I had gotten down to a new low that I wasn’t ready for.

By the time Yvonne had arrived, shortly after sundown, I was slumping where I sat, either it been the bench outside the mall or in the passenger seat of Yvonne's truck. Back at the house, some orange juice fixed that.