Published 2:15 pm Tuesday, August 11, 2026 By Philip Wolf/Black Press I tried in once in a restaurant. It was disgusting. Never again. I am, of course, talking about ordering a glass of milk with my dinner. I thought it would be OK, having enjoyed it with meals at home forever. However, not only did it come to the table room temperature, fully homogenized (I didn’t specify) and with the consistency of Elmer’s Liquid School Glue, it also felt like every eye on the place was on me when it came to the table. It actually started well. “Do you have milk?” I asked my server, politely. This drew a couple of incredulous snorts from my table mates. “Milk? What are you, five?” came the first taunt, followed in quick succession by “gross” and “want some Strawberry Quik with that?… hahahahaha!!” Undeterred, I fired back. “You just wish you had the (stuff) to order milk. You know you want to.” More chuckles. Though I did ask for it to come with my meal so it would be sufficiently chilled, it had clearly been sitting out for a while before it arrived. As I moved in for a sip, it felt like a stop-motion exercise, with everything focused on me. And it was gross. And I did wish I had Strawberry Quik. And if I was five, I probably would have stated how I felt about it in no uncertain terms. But I powered through, pretending it was the absolute nectar of the gods and hinting everyone else was missing out. Later, I allowed “it was a little warm” but that was as close as I came to admitting the significant faux pas. While I’ve never ordered milk with dinner in a restaurant again, it hasn’t diminished my decades-long love affair. Pretty much every night, I still have a glass of milk with ice before bed. A wonderful habit I first passed along to my son and then his little brother. “Helps you sleep,” I declared, convincingly passing along the wisdom my Mum once shared with me. I do know what the real problem was at the restaurant, and this is where I may lose some of you. I generally only drink skim milk. Have done so for many, many moons. Back when I used to work out (I swear), I started using it to mix in with the flavoured protein powder and then found I much preferred it (on its own) to other options. From a more practical sense, my roommates at the time wouldn’t go near it. For some, it’s too watery. For me, it’s just right. And I can’t turn back now. In an emergency, I’ll have 2 per cent. I’d even admit it may be better with cereal or oatmeal or Weetabix and for cooking. But I draw the line at the fully loaded paste. Yuck. Just can’t do it. So do any other full-blown adults out there still enjoy a nice glass of milk? Not in your coffee or tea or the occasional furtive slurp from the jug (you know who you are) but a big ol’ glass with your meals or as a standalone regular drink. Do you ever order it at dinner in a restaurant? Should I give it another go? Let me know if you have any fun milk tales. PQB News/VI Free Daily welcomes your comments, questions and local story ideas. He can be reached via email at philip.wolf@blackpress.ca or by phone at 250-905-0029.
WOLF: Does anyone out there still drink milk every day?
