“I need a shot of Jagermeister,” the super queeny host said as he breezed passed our table, bringing waters to other diners.

“Or maybe three,” he finished conspiratorially, as he walked back to his host station. He seemed quite chipper: probably jacked on a stimulant of some sort.

We laughed. Who wouldn’t? It was sunny, and Andreas and I were quite happy sitting out at one of the sidewalk tables — he drinking a mimosa, me sipping black tea.

A few minutes passed. “You going to do a shot with me?” the host said as he whipped passed our table a third time on his way to seat someone.

Dre laughed. “You paying?” he joked.

I didn’t think someone could nod with a pinky out, but the host managed to do that, and looked at me. “You want one too, honey?” I said sure, and forgot about it. I know servers who’ve almost lost jobs from drinking while working — I didn’t think the host would risk it at an outdoor table.

Dre and I laughed. A few minutes passed. Our breakfast was delivered by a sullen waiter, who looked like the little beaten straight dog that the host kept on a leash and hoped didn’t piddle on the guests’ feet. Then the host was back, and he had three shots.

“This one’s Jagermeister, this one’s Gold Schlager, and this one’s a bit of both.” Dre took the mix, I took the Schlager, leaving the host with the Jager.

“CHEERS!” the host shouted, and we all knocked back the shots. It was 10:45 a.m. I chased mine down with the last of my black tea.

The host returned after our bill had been dropped off by our waiter (who did not piddle). This time it was just three shots of Gold Schlager. I was already a bit unsure about my stomach: black tea, a shot, then Cinnamon Yum Yum (cinnamon french toast), and now more booze? I’d only been awake for an hour! I did half a shot just to be a sport, and passed it to Dre, who finished it. The host knocked back his happily, and reported that he worked until 5 p.m. if we wanted to stop by for more later.

“Now that’s how to start a vacation off right,” Dre laughed as we toddled away from the restaurant.