#mezcal bar san francisco

[xtruss]

Is The Margarita Actually American? A True Cocktail Classic, The Margarita Is A Great Gateway Into Agave Spirits.

— By The Thinking Drinkers | July 3, 2024

Open Seven Nights a Week, Cantina OK! Sydney is renowned for its distinctive take on the traditional margarita. Photograph By Dexter Kim

Other Than Straight Up, What’s The Best Way To Enjoy Tequila?

Easy. Have it in a margarita. It’s been one of America’s favourite mixed drinks for the past 10 years and it’s a stone-cold tequila, and mezcal, classic. What’s more, it’s a superb sip for summer, it’s simple to make and easy to drink — even if you’re apprehensive about agave spirits. You need, however, to let agave spirits into your life. They were the only spirits to see a rise in UK sales and last year.

Sounds Good. What Is It?

Depending on which bartender you ask, the margarita is a tequila twist on a sour, a sidecar or a daisy – all of which comprise of a base spirit, an acidic component (lemon, lime) and a sweet ingredient (liqueur). The first written recipe, published in a 1953 issue of Esquire, recommended an ounce of tequila, a dash of triple sec and lime or lemon juice — and purists argue that, aside from the addition of a salt rim, a true margarita shouldn’t veer away from this core trio. In this, its most classic form, it’s served either on the rocks, straight up or frozen.

Who Invented It?

Oh no. We were hoping you weren’t going to ask that. No other cocktail’s creation is mired in more mystery. All manner of theories abound — many of which, like the margarita itself, should be taken with a generous pinch of salt.

Several bars, either side of the Mexican border, claim to have been the drink’s birthplace, with some believing it was a Texan Drink, created in homage to either actor Rita Hayworth (whose real name was Margarita Cansino) or singer Peggy (Margaret) Lee in the late 1940s.

Another popular tale is of a Texan Socialite called Margaret ‘Margarita’ Sames who, while living it up in Acapulco, mixed Tequila with Cointreau before adding Lime and a Salt Rim. Known initially as ‘Margarita’s drink’, its popularity spread via her significant social network, which included John Wayne and Tommy Hilton, who added it to the cocktail menu across his Eponymous Hotel Chain.

While the marketing folk at Cointreau push Sames’s story, some hail bartender Carlos ‘Danny’ Herrera as The Creator, claiming he first poured the drink at a Tijuana Roadside Restaurant for a Young Dancer named Marjorie King. Danny served the drink to Majorie, who claimed she was allergic to every spirit other than tequila, in a Stemmed Glass Rimmed with Rock Salt and Christened it ‘Margarita’ — the nearest name in Spanish to Marjorie. When pressed on the exact date for when this happened, Danny wavered between 1947 and 1948. “Three things happen when you get old,” he said. “You lose your memory, and I can’t recall the other two.”

What If You Find Tequila And Mezcal, You Know, A Bit ‘Challenging’?

Just like the Martini and the Daiquiri, the popularity of the Margarita has seen it mutate. Some use additional or Alternative Ingredients, ranging from Chilli and Amaretto to Red Wine, Chartreuse and even Single Malt Scotch whisky.

The Tommy’s margarita, however, is the most iconic twist on the classic. Created in Tommy’s Mexican Restaurant in San Francisco in the late 1980s by owner, and, and Legendary Agave Aficionado, Julio Bermejo, it’s a slightly sweeter version (owing to the use of agave syrup instead of triple sec), which is served on the rocks.

Visitors to 400 Rabbits, Nottingham's first Mezcaleria, can enjoy authentic, reasonably priced agave spirits into the early hours. Photograph By 400 Rabbits

Ingredients:

50ml Ocho Blanco Tequila

25ml Pierre Ferrand Dry Curaçao

25ml Freshly Squeezed Lime Juice

Salt Flakes (Ideally Maldon)

Lime Wedge (Optional)

— Recipe For The Perfect Margarita By Agave Spirits Expert Jess Estes

Method:

Shake all the tequila, dry curaçao and lime juice vigorously in a cocktail shaker before double straining (running the mix through two strainers) into a rocks glass half-rimmed with salt, over cubed ice. Garnish with a lime wedge, if you like.

Where To Drink It?

1. Hacha, London. This awesome agaveria in south London’s Brixton Village is the spiritual home of the sensational mirror margarita. Designed by owner and bartender legend Deano Moncrieffe, it’s entirely see-through and made with the oils of red, white and pink grapefruits.

2. Tommy’s Mexican Restaurant, San Francisco. Hailed as the epicentre of agave spirits in the US and stocking more than 300 tequilas and mezcals, this iconic yet unassuming Mexican restaurant is owned by Julio Bermejo, who tirelessly campaigned for quality 100% agave tequilas in the 1990s.

3. Cantina OK!, Sydney. It’s all about the agave at this tiny, 20-person, hole-in-the-wall bar. Its legendary margaritas are made with hand-sourced tequilas and mezcals, hand-shaved ice and fresh hand-pressed lime juice.

4. 400 Rabbits, Nottingham. A cracking cocktail burrow inspired by Mayaheul, the Aztec deity of the agave plant, who was said to have birthed a bountiful brood of intoxicated rabbits. Expect fun times, knowledgeable staff and great drinks at reasonable prices.

— Published in Issue 24 (Summer 2024) of Food by National Geographic Traveller (UK).

[broctheparty]

La Botana

2 ounces mezcal, like Del Maguey Vida Clásico

3/4 ounce orange juice, freshly squeezed

3/4 ounce pickling brine

1/2 ounce simple syrup

1/2 ounce lime juice, freshly squeezed

6 dashes habanero bitters

2 ounces Mexican lager, like Modelo Especial

Garnish: orange twist

Combine all ingredients except lager and garnish into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake for 10–15 seconds until well chilled. Add lager to shaker, then strain the entire drink into a footed pilsner glass over fresh ice. Garnish with an orange twist.

[gurlwords]

6/30/23

Tonight my friend emily and I went to violet’s for dinner and drinks. the appetizers were OK, entrees incredible, dessert a disaster. afterwards she found a sports bar we should check out, but beforehand we got beer and mezcal at Mia Margarita across the street. we got into the sports bar at about 10pm, and didn’t leave until 1 in the morning. the bartender decided this wasn’t a sports bar, it was a karaoke bar, and that we had to sing karaoke from her iphone that we passed around. the couple near us requested avril lavigne songs, we sang usher yeah and 1,000 miles. the guy in the corner was playing pool and only drank orange juice - yes, ONLY, drank orange juice. the bartender poured it straight from the jug. there was a guy, christopher, kept buying us half shots while insisting that i only sing believe by cher with my eyes closed. the bartender, fernie, kept moisturizing our hands and told us we’re going to get chicken feet and skin next next week. emily chatted with an older guy who graduated from SFSU with an english degree and knew all about world literature. this was one of those nights. a san francisco night. you can’t expect it, but someone taps you on the shoulder and says “I know you”. it was the best. we are so lucky. a sports bar in san francisco. we giggled joyfully in the richmond neighborhood fog, all the way to emily’s car before she drove us home. 

[sfnewsvine]

October 15 2022 | The Perfect Spot

Pricey Buddies ~ AFICI’s A5 charcuterie Simply coming back from an epic week in Seoul, S. Korea, and a gala few days of occasions with Style of Seoul, awarding the highest 100 eating places and bars in Seoul, I relish October residence in San Francisco earlier than I head to my beloved New Orleans (once more) over Halloween week (Extra to return on Nola and Korea in future articles). In SF, I anticipate an upcoming weekend on the coast with my lengthy beloved Highland Park Scotch, SF Restaurant Week (October 21-30) and Whiskyfest SF October 28 on the Marriott Marquis  with seminars, distillers and a whole bunch of whiskies from across the globe to freely style (hope to see you there; tickets right here). Along with my common articles at The Daring Italic, my weekly eating column opinions one restaurant every week. I welcome these to observe me, and even join a membership for my articles at Medium, which partially goes to help us as writers. Comply with or help right here. I thanks. Per ordinary, I’m posting my day by day analysis in eating and drink at @ThePerfectSpot on Twitter, Fb, Instagram. THIS ISSUE:  Towa’s Umami Tomato, NYC The Newest  — Home Pasta & Caviar to A5 Charcuterie Decadence: SoMa’s new AFICI.  Imbiber — Honing Palate & Learn how to Make a Tequila with Spirits Whisperer Virginia Miller: My interview at Edible LA Journal.  High Tastes — One 12 months In: Inventive NorCal Japanese shines at restaurant Nisei.  Wandering Traveler — NYC Information: 12 prime locations to dine now.  High Tastes — September Eats Guidelines: 6 standouts of the month, from Brittany-style French crêpes to NY slice pizza.  Imbiber — Distiller Bottle Column: I overview tequila, Scotch, gin, vodka, sake, mezcal, American whiskeys, RTDs (canned/bottled cocktails). I’m additionally out there for consulting, moderating, main lessons and tastings and extra (information at virginia-miller.com). Cheers, Virginia __________________________________________________ ThePerfect Spot Founder The Worlds 50 Finest Eating places’ Academy Chair Table8 Nationwide Editor/VP — ZAGAT SF Editor — SF Bay Guardian Critic The Daring Italic Weekly Restaurant Opinions & Journey Column **Decide or Lead Decide at ADI Worldwide Craft Spirits, SF World Spirits, Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards, IWSC Spirits, Whiskies of World, New Orleans Spirits Competitors, World Gin Awards, World Drinks Awards** Common Retailers: — The Daring Italic — Liquor.com — Meals Republic — WhereTraveler — Gin Journal — Time Out Eating & Drink — Distiller Journal — Bobcut Eating Column — Haute Residing — Google’s Touringbird — Oakland Journal — Wine Entry Freelance: Alaska Airways Journal,Whisky Journal UK, Thrillist, The Instances London, Liquor.com Drinkwire, Paste Journal Journey, Eater, Tasting Panel, PureWow, Drink Me Journal, Spoonwiz, Citysearch, NBC’s The Feast, Blackboard Eats, Tasting Desk, Grubstreet Books: Pur in Spirit & Distilled Tales Supply hyperlink Originally published at SF Newsvine

[natureboy55]

Piccolo Pete and The Clog humbly wander down yonder for some quality time with our dear neighbors. Hanging out, playing music, connecting the dots, and conspiring means for embrittling the walls between us in hopes of future coaction and good will across the wire. De mierda, todo milagro.

https://www.facebook.com/events/407022390018220/

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9/21 – Tijuana, BC @ Mamut w/ Skit 9/22 – Monterrey, NL @ El Beto’s Bar w/ Brujo y Ayala & Los Narcóticos https://www.facebook.com/events/677407436094136/ 9/25 – Guanajuato, GTO @ La Antigua w/ El Choco Bestia 9/26 – Mexico City, DF @ La Mezcalli w/ Telephone Exchange & Dataísmo 9/27 – Mexico City, DF @ Maquiladora Studio w/ Summoners & Mentira Mentira 9/28 – San Diego, CA @ Jupiter Records and Tapes w/ Was & DJ Scotty Jay https://www.facebook.com/events/360645698172792/ 10/3 – San Francisco, CA @ The Eagle w/ Combo & Black Thumb https://www.facebook.com/events/2130847683881862/

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http://theclog.bandcamp.com https://piccolopete.bandcamp.com

[streetartsf]

Brian Barneclo at Mezcalito on Polk St @ Union in San Francisco

We met up with the owners of Mezcalito and artist Brian Barneclo to discuss the story and creative process of the mural and discovered an amazing agave drink called Mezcal that is a unique experience at this restaurant bar in San Francisco. 

Read about it

https://www.streetartsf.com/blog/brian-barneclo-mezcalito/

[wineanddinosaur]

In Lancaster, Pa., Horse Inn Is a Bar Destination for Modern Drinkers

This article is a part of our inaugural Next Wave Awards. For the full list of 2021 winners, check out the whole series here.

Horse Inn is the kind of tavern rarely seen in America’s major cities any more — and rarely seen in the smaller ones as well. A place that can act as an early evening restaurant for families and an all-hours “local” for, well, locals (they offer a clawfoot bathtub full of cheap, canned “mystery” beers at the front bar), as well as an elevated lounge for cocktail enthusiasts and late-night whiskey snobs. You can buy a $27 Glencairn of Thomas H. Handy rye or play a game of quarter foosball if you want. Like most bars in the world, it is also a tavern whose insides haven’t been seen by any drinkers whatsoever for most of 2020 and early ‘21.

Almost immediately during that first weekend of Northeast lockdown in mid-March 2020, Horse Inn had shifted to curbside pickup. By late spring, it was selling bottled cocktails like Old Fashioneds and its Saving Grace, made with vodka, pomegranate, and lavender. Nothing revolutionary, of course, and surely not why it merits our bar program of the year.

As used to dining outdoors or bringing burgers and beers back home as we all have become, a recently reopened Horse Inn reminds you why we like to go out in the first place. Located in lovely Lancaster, Pa. — a somehow still-underrated gem just 90 minutes from Philly and Baltimore, or three hours from New York — the dark, atmospheric, two-story venue is one of the city’s oldest continually operating restaurants, dating back to Prohibition.

The second floor, where all the action happens today (are there really this many hip people living in Lancaster?!), is the site of a former hayloft. The high-backed booths — literally reclaimed horse stalls — are perfect for hiding the diners from the drinkers at the 1800s-era wooden bar, sitting atop barstools that were once Conestoga wagon wheels.

Chef and co-owner Matt Russell (the fourth owner of Horse Inn, along with his wife Starla Lane Russell) made his bones sous-ing for Sean Brock at McCrady’s in Charleston and, not surprisingly, Horse Inn offers pub grub par excellence. Go for the tips ‘n’ toast, don’t skip the hot wings or shrimp and grits, and be prepared to have some of the best produce a bar has ever served you �� things like warm-roasted squash and eggplant and sauteed kalettes, often sourced from nearby Amish farmers. But you can have just as much fun simply drinking.

Always laid back, crank up your own personal pretensions however flush you’re feeling, opting for a cold pull of $3 Yuengling or a craft cocktail that could easily stack up with the best offerings in Manhattan, San Francisco, or London. These are not simply sugary crowd-pleasers; many drinks toy with an unexpected tartness, herbaceousness, and/or savoriness.

Like Russell’s dishes, head bartender Andrew Burton’s cocktails are inspired by the incredible produce from the area. Late spring brought HAL 9000, a milk punch utilizing seasonal strawberries. When it got hot, Burton offered a frozen Summer Melon Marg, made with Lapp Family Farm’s floral cantaloupe blended with tequila and Manzanilla sherry. The Tejuino-esque Mas Maiz features corn cob-infused tequila, fermented corn, and Demerara syrup, along with chipotle bitters, smoked salt, and a mezcal rinse. Starla explains that new cocktails come on the menu so fast these days, the change from tangible menus to QR codes has sure saved a lot of paper.

Horse Inn likewise has a deep whiskey lineup that will please the most tuned-in neat sippers. Yes, there’s the requisite unicorn bottles like Old Forester Birthday Bourbon and Pappy Van Winkle, though better to opt for Horse Inn’s own private barrel of 13-year-old Weller, a steal at $14 a pour. Just be sure to make a reservation, as the first-come-first-serve system that used to elicit long lines every single night had to be scrapped in the age of Covid.

“Our vision was to make going out special again,” says Starla. “We wanted it to be a three-hour event. We wanted people to come inside and forget about the troubles of the day and relax and let us show them a great time.”

The article In Lancaster, Pa., Horse Inn Is a Bar Destination for Modern Drinkers appeared first on VinePair.

source https://vinepair.com/articles/next-wave-horse-inn/

[easyfoodnetwork]

What’s Your Comfort Level With Restaurants Right Now?

Outdoor dining in New York | Robert Sietsema/Eater

From the Editor: Everything you missed in food news last week

This post originally appeared on September 26, 2020 in Amanda Kludt’s newsletter “From the Editor,” a roundup of the most vital news and stories in the food world each week. Read the archives and subscribe now.

I’ve probably asked this before but, I’m curious how you’re feeling about going to restaurants right now and how that opinion has evolved over the course of the summer. We’ve polled readers, I ask my friends, I talk to my editors in two dozen cities across the country and in the UK, and it seems hard to come to a consensus. (Yet people seem, as is the case with so much these days, very sure in their own convictions about what is right.)

Some people will only do takeout, some only counter service. Some will go to a waiter service restaurant. Some will eat indoors warily, some happily. Some will speak about it openly, post about it readily. Some will sneak in visits, hoping their friends don’t know. The restaurateurs I’ve spoken with seem just as divided, with some ready and willing to open full throttle and others holding out or taking baby steps.

It impacts coverage because we want to thread the needle of providing the information, recommendations, and guidance people are looking for while providing context around safety and risk.

If you have thoughts, I’m amanda@eater.com.

On Eater

— Closures: Lawry’s the Prime Rib in Chicago; Bellwether in Los Angeles; The Shed at Glenwood in Atlanta; and lauded Chinese destination Kym’s in London.

— Openings: a brick and mortar location of Filipino food truck Carabao in Austin; a pretty serious-looking taqueria called Umbrella Taco, Post Script, a restaurant in a tented parking lot, and Bull & Butterfly, a steakhouse inspired by the flavors up and down the coast of California, in LA; Lucky Day, a mezcal bar draped in 15,000 LED lights, in Vegas; Ostia, a Mediterranean restaurant from a chef leaving Jonathan Waxman’s empire, in Houston; Joomak, a cool playful Korean pop-up restaurant, in New York; popular Portland brewery Great Notion’s first Seattle outpost; Nopalito, a restaurant serving vegetarian tortas, in Montreal; and Olin, an American-Mediterranean brasserie, in Detroit.

— New York’s outdoor dining can continue indefinitely, and Chicago released its new rules for fall and winter outdoor dining (though restaurants are scrambling for heaters). Meanwhile, Indiana and Florida have opened at 100% capacity indoors. In both London and Seattle, bar and restaurant owners are fighting their cities’ 10 pm last calls.

Jakob Layman

Post Script in Venice, CA

— If you want to know how Eater readers are feeling about dining indoors, check out these surveys in SF, Portland, and New York.

— A judge issued an emergency “no contact” order against a big name chef and restaurant owner in Chicago because of his alleged deranged retaliation campaign against a staffer who publicly complained about the workplace environment he fostered.

Post Script, a new restaurant in a parking lot in Venice, CA | Jakob Layman

— Surveying the interesting and innovative San Francisco fine dining landscape.

— I may or may not have demanded the Eater NY staff write a guide to Instagram bakeries in town, because I’ve become enamored with certain outfits I’ve tried.

— Michigan’s Upper Peninsula had a record summer due to increased domestic tourism.

— The move: Pen pals but for snacks.

— To watch: How a former rock star opened the first bibimbap spot on the French Riviera.

Off Eater

A visual history of Mexican restaurants in New York City. [Stony Brook University]

The downside of the pet-nat trend is it’s overshadowing the wines that inspired the style in the first place. [Punch]

I hate karaoke but love Thrillist’s ode to it. [Thrillist]

Gabriela Cámara made this year’s TIME 100 list. [TIME]

Big brands are helping Daniel Boulud reopen his upscale Upper East Side restaurant, so he’ll be name-checking his sponsors on the menu. [Bloomberg]

Every relationship has a beverage abandoner. [MEL]

from Eater - All https://ift.tt/2EL381i https://ift.tt/3i8JQ3p

Outdoor dining in New York | Robert Sietsema/Eater

From the Editor: Everything you missed in food news last week

This post originally appeared on September 26, 2020 in Amanda Kludt’s newsletter “From the Editor,” a roundup of the most vital news and stories in the food world each week. Read the archives and subscribe now.

I’ve probably asked this before but, I’m curious how you’re feeling about going to restaurants right now and how that opinion has evolved over the course of the summer. We’ve polled readers, I ask my friends, I talk to my editors in two dozen cities across the country and in the UK, and it seems hard to come to a consensus. (Yet people seem, as is the case with so much these days, very sure in their own convictions about what is right.)

Some people will only do takeout, some only counter service. Some will go to a waiter service restaurant. Some will eat indoors warily, some happily. Some will speak about it openly, post about it readily. Some will sneak in visits, hoping their friends don’t know. The restaurateurs I’ve spoken with seem just as divided, with some ready and willing to open full throttle and others holding out or taking baby steps.

It impacts coverage because we want to thread the needle of providing the information, recommendations, and guidance people are looking for while providing context around safety and risk.

If you have thoughts, I’m amanda@eater.com.

On Eater

— Closures: Lawry’s the Prime Rib in Chicago; Bellwether in Los Angeles; The Shed at Glenwood in Atlanta; and lauded Chinese destination Kym’s in London.

— Openings: a brick and mortar location of Filipino food truck Carabao in Austin; a pretty serious-looking taqueria called Umbrella Taco, Post Script, a restaurant in a tented parking lot, and Bull & Butterfly, a steakhouse inspired by the flavors up and down the coast of California, in LA; Lucky Day, a mezcal bar draped in 15,000 LED lights, in Vegas; Ostia, a Mediterranean restaurant from a chef leaving Jonathan Waxman’s empire, in Houston; Joomak, a cool playful Korean pop-up restaurant, in New York; popular Portland brewery Great Notion’s first Seattle outpost; Nopalito, a restaurant serving vegetarian tortas, in Montreal; and Olin, an American-Mediterranean brasserie, in Detroit.

— New York’s outdoor dining can continue indefinitely, and Chicago released its new rules for fall and winter outdoor dining (though restaurants are scrambling for heaters). Meanwhile, Indiana and Florida have opened at 100% capacity indoors. In both London and Seattle, bar and restaurant owners are fighting their cities’ 10 pm last calls.

Jakob Layman

Post Script in Venice, CA

— If you want to know how Eater readers are feeling about dining indoors, check out these surveys in SF, Portland, and New York.

— A judge issued an emergency “no contact” order against a big name chef and restaurant owner in Chicago because of his alleged deranged retaliation campaign against a staffer who publicly complained about the workplace environment he fostered.

Post Script, a new restaurant in a parking lot in Venice, CA | Jakob Layman

— Surveying the interesting and innovative San Francisco fine dining landscape.

— I may or may not have demanded the Eater NY staff write a guide to Instagram bakeries in town, because I’ve become enamored with certain outfits I’ve tried.

— Michigan’s Upper Peninsula had a record summer due to increased domestic tourism.

— The move: Pen pals but for snacks.

— To watch: How a former rock star opened the first bibimbap spot on the French Riviera.

Off Eater

A visual history of Mexican restaurants in New York City. [Stony Brook University]

The downside of the pet-nat trend is it’s overshadowing the wines that inspired the style in the first place. [Punch]

I hate karaoke but love Thrillist’s ode to it. [Thrillist]

Gabriela Cámara made this year’s TIME 100 list. [TIME]

Big brands are helping Daniel Boulud reopen his upscale Upper East Side restaurant, so he’ll be name-checking his sponsors on the menu. [Bloomberg]

Every relationship has a beverage abandoner. [MEL]

from Eater - All https://ift.tt/2EL381i via Blogger https://ift.tt/33aLcqg

[travelcenter-uk]

A Holiday Guide to USA Quad City 2021

Are you looking for ideas for that ultimate holiday? This time around, do something unique; get ready for the great USA Quad City trip with our multi-centre holidays. But this is not just any road trip; this one’s situated across the West Coast and East Coast of the United States believed to be amongst the most gorgeous places on Earth.      

The United States of America is a massive nation, packed with various sceneries and cultures. Because of all the contrasts across the different areas, it could be helpful to separate some places and discover more about what truly makes them so different. On your USA Quad City trip, you’ll find that the East Coast and West Coast are tremendously diverse places when it comes to the way of life, and each one serves various kinds of people.    

The West Coast is famous for its stunning beaches, its flourishing cities, and young, diverse occupants, and no matter what kind of traveller you are (explorer, artsy, family, historical, or relaxed), you’ll discover an ideal holiday in one of the many East Coast states as well.

Promising the best entertainment from morning till evening, this trip to the great USA Quad City gives you the chance to experience the best of the East and West Coast on your multi-centre USA holidays. These four destinations are the most famous cities that you could explore during your USA Quad City tour, here’s what each of them is famous for.

New York

New York is known as the city that never sleeps, is famous for the Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, and the Brooklyn Bridge, you can shop at designer stores, and reward your taste buds with some of the world’s most delicious cuisines. When you’re done with all of that, you’ll have to make time for the museums. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, MOMA, Guggenheim, and the American Museum of Natural History all top the list.      

Gourmet restaurants, well-known tourist appeals, and marvellous street art – New York has all of it and so much more. Whatever you’re searching for, you’ll come across it in the Big Apple. The one issue you’ll encounter is not having enough time to see and do everything.

San Francisco

One of the most famous and distinguishable metropolises in the world, San Francisco is home to fashionistas, hippies, and techies while also consisting of brilliant summers, monuments, architecture, fog, and rolling mountains.

It’s famous for the emblematic Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, San Francisco cable cars, as well as its wealthy and varied culture.

Los Angeles

Recognized as the biggest city on the west coast, Los Angeles is famous for its huge amusement parks such as Disneyland, Six Flags Magic Mountain, Universal Studios Hollywood, Knott’s Berry Farm, Legoland, and Pacific Park (Santa Monica Pier).

One of the other things that Los Angeles is known for is its TV, Movie and Music Industries. LA is the perfect destination for movie buffs, as there are several movie studio tours, as well as the Hollywood Walk of Fame. And, music fans would enjoy touring the music-themed attractions situated all over the city.

Las Vegas

Well-known for exhilaration and fun, this city in the desert offers up all types of options for travellers. The Strip, Las Vegas‘ popular resort-bordered street, shines with lights and reconstructed glitzy locations from cities all over the world. The Grand Canyon is just a brief helicopter ride away, and the adjacent hills and mountains are home to all sorts of leisure opportunities.  

Las Vegas is a globally recognized resort city, famous mainly for its gambling, shopping, excellent dining, entertainment, and nightlife.

Top Trendy Restaurants in the Cities

Anton’s, New York City – The rustic previous space of West Village’s Frankies 570 Spuntino has turned into Anton’s, a throwback European restaurant from Nick Anderer. The chef — who used to head the kitchens at Marta and Maialino — goes into his Italian food training with a pasta section titled “macaroni,” with choices like a bucatini amatriciana and linguini with clams. Elsewhere, discover raw oysters, salads, and entrees such as roast chicken or barbecued pork rib chop with apple sauce. Cocktails are variants on classics, which include pre-batched martinis that come directly from the freezer.

Holy Ground at 109 W Broadway, New York City – The next time you need a meat-heavy dinner in a refreshing-space, but didn’t plan far enough ahead of time to grab a table at 4 Charles or Minetta Tavern, visit Holy Ground. It’s an underground spot in Tribeca where you can envision Duke Ellington relaxing in a red leather booth having an old-fashioned and porterhouse. This place isn’t a customary steakhouse though – the Old Fashioneds are prepared with mezcal and tequila, and the menu concentrates on slow-smoked meats such as pork shoulder and wagyu brisket.

Dragon Beaux, San Francisco – A blend of classic and modern dim sum is on the menu at this always-packed Richmond District restaurant from the team behind Bay Area Stalwart Koi Palace. Everyone enjoys taking Instagram worthy pictures of the soup dumplings with coloured skins, but those in the know fill their tables with the type of inventive, accurately executed dim sum specialties you’ll come across at forward-thinking places in Hong Kong: blood-red rice rolls packed with fried fish, the city’s top sugar-crusted baked pork buns, and, for good measure, destination-worthy crackle-skinned roast pork belly. Try the winter melon hot pot with roasted squab during the night, when Dragon Beaux moves over and turns into a hot pot restaurant.

Pearl 6101, San Francisco – This restaurant has gained the hearts of metropolitan diners far past its warm, suburban Richmond neighbourhood location. In an exquisitely-tiled corner dining room, chef-partners Mel Lopez and Joyce Conway, offer customers handmade pasta and hefty wood-fired pork chops, accompanied by drinks such as the not to be missed Pearl Martini from partner/bar manager Nahiel Nazzal (it’s Oakland-distilled “sea gin” with Italian vermouth and pickled sea bean).

Olivetta, Los Angeles – There may not be a trendier restaurant in Los Angeles than Olivetta at the moment. The attractive space has four separate rooms with diverse auras, but the chief dining room with its luxurious sitting area, extravagant design, and modest noise level is the ideal spot to experience Michael Fiorelli’s welcoming but refined take on California Italian food. Try the grilled branzino, rye macaroni, and kale salad.

Found Oyster, Los Angeles – LA can always use more seafood restaurants, and this jewel of an oyster bar in East Hollywood has a compact menu from chef Ari Kolender that pulls from his East Coast upbringing. Find everything from steamers and shucked oysters to an enormous lobster roll.

Jing, Las Vegas – Downtown Summerlin’s new Japanese restaurant focusses on sushi, shareable wagyu hot rocks, and wok dishes with a menu from Joseph Elevado, the previous executive chef at Social House at Treasure Island and Andrea’s at Encore Las Vegas. Fire and water features equip the space that comprises of a courtyard and live entertainment.

Pepper Lunch, Las Vegas – A anticipated inclusion to Shanghai Plaza, the self-described “DIY Teppan” restaurant is already attracting crowds who are excited to cook their own dishes on the Japanese fast-casual chain’s signature iron hot plates, which go up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. After ordering at the counter or through an app, the iron plates are filled up — with the chain’s signature pepper rice, Hamburg sizzling curry, dry-aged steak, or pasta, to name a couple of choices — and brought to the table, where customers could decide the final temperature of their meal.

Top Travel Tips for Travelling Within the Cities

When you’re in New York, remember the hot zones for foot traffic so you can keep away from them.

Taxis are normally very expensive in New York and if you’re in a hurry, traffic will make it about the same speed (or slower) than the subway. Sometimes, walking is even quicker.

When in San Francisco wear comfy shoes. You would be doing plenty of walking on steep hills.

Locate the oyster happy hours – There are plenty of restaurants all over San Francisco that has an oyster happy hour at least once a week for around $1 per oyster. Ichi Sushi, Waterbar, and Waterfront Restaurant are great places to begin.

Spend Smart: There are some shocking ways to save money in Los Angeles. Dining on the best of food doesn’t have to break the bank as several amazing restaurants provide lunchtime specials on their most famous dishes. How about tours that cost nothing at all? Tourists could get complimentary tickets to places like television tapings, museums, and cultural events.

Know what to look forward to in Hollywood and Beverly Hills: In Hollywood, you’ll come across museums consisting of souvenirs from Hollywood’s past, the Walk of Fame, and the renowned footprints at Grauman’s Chinese Theater.

In Las Vegas distances are further than they seem, The Strip is four miles long, and because the buildings are so close together, they look closer than they really are – a two-building stroll from, say, Bally’s to Planet Hollywood is achievable, but any more than that, and you’ll ruin your walking shoes.

Plan your Attack – As with any new travel destination, you’ll get the most out of your Las Vegas holiday when you acquaint yourself with your surroundings first. After your check-in, take a stroll around your hotel and casino and remember where the vending machines, restaurants, restrooms, and seating areas are.

The Best Hotels in the Cities

Fairfield Inn & Suites New York Queens/Queensboro.

Holiday Inn L.I. City Manhattan View, New York.

Holiday Inn Express San Francisco Union Square.

The Cova Hotel, San Francisco.

Queen Mary Hotel Los Angeles.

The Main Street Station Hotel and Casino.

The Luxor Hotel and Casino.

OYO Hotel and Casino Las Vegas.

Read More:- https://blog.travelcenter.uk/a-holiday-guide-to-usa-quad-city-2021/

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Dans  » Trois Poèmes,’ Hannah Sullivan Écrit Magnifiquement et Couvre Beaucoup de Terrain

Il y a beaucoup de choses que vous pouvez dire à propos de “Vous, Très Jeune, à New York,” la ville cosmopolite poème qui s’ouvre “Trois Poèmes,” Hannah Sullivan première collection.

C’est super bar à cocktail (et plongée-bar) verset. Son narrateur boissons pisco sours et le gin et les petits lots de Mezcal. Dans un bar, dit-elle, d’un ton qui rapt du encore soutenue par déflationniste de l’ironie:

Schramsberg ’98 est bien pour Caitlin dans le nouveau Bellini. Jed artisanat un verre de bagagiste, café de rhum, et le Brachetto d’acqui, Il ne peut être rédigé en Chinois, mais est condamnée comme “vice grip” Son goût de la crème fouettée et les reins, de la bière amère et de miel. Il le fait pour la jeune fille, en cuir, avec un visage comme la Vierge Marie.

Si il vous manque des bars à cocktail, la Ville de New York avant l’arrêt ou simplement pellucide et étonnamment intelligent de la poésie, “Trois Poèmes” est un livre pour vous. Sullivan attrape le “slam-tenir des cornes” dans les taxis et comment, quand on est jeune, à New York, vous pouvez empiler dans un taxi avec d’autres trop nombreux et de “faire le plongeon latéral sur leurs genoux de sorte que la cabine prend cinq.”

Elle se rappelle “Une certaine forme de gel dans le Meatpacking District, et l’odeur des carcasses / Terne avec la saveur de la congélation du sang à côté de la benne de l’Hudson vent.”

Il y a un peu des deux Frédéric Seidel et T. S. Eliot dans la presse de ses phrases, le croustillant progrès de ses couplets rimés. Ils s’emparer de la ville dans ce qui semble être le début de aughts:

Une fois par an, vous allez dans une cabine de Bohême Jardin de la Bière Et manger de la rose, écorché kielbasa, du pénis et des artères durcissement,

Alors que les hommes âgés de danse à une bande en bleu brodé de tuyau, La tenue de leurs coudes de façon rigide, comme ciré Pinocchios.

Vos amis porter de la flanelle et Mcdonald’s badges, Ils parlent de Ben Bernanke et de Isabel Marant coins.

Sullivan vit à Londres et enseigne l’anglais à Oxford. Elle a étudié les lettres classiques à Cambridge avant de vivre aux États-unis depuis une décennie. Son cadre de référence est sans effort de large.

Image

Hannah Sullivan, l’auteur de “Trois Poèmes.”Le Crédit…Teresa Walton

Elle est un poète qui rime du poème de Shelley “Epipsychidion” avec “un peu inhumain”, et les Tueurs  » de la chanson “Mr Brightside” avec “des diapositives PowerPoint.”

Son narrateur mange les restes de whoopie pie (son seul repas de la journée) et, curieux, Googles la boulangerie. Dans une ligne qui vous attrape court, elle écrit:

Sur Yelp quelqu’un a écrit, “Cette affaire de gâteaux sent si bon Si jamais je dois aller sur un appareil de protection respiratoire (*touche du bois*)

J’espère qu’ils utilisent ce gâteau cas que mon respirateur.”

Il y a une bonne partie de sexe dans “Vous, Très Jeune, à New York.” Son narrateur notes, lors de la rencontre avec un ex, “Tenter le mauvais goût de la banane de Durex sur votre langue.” Il y a l’éloignement et de la perte. “Votre mère vous demande / À votre ami à nouveau,” écrit-elle, “mais la demande se bloque dans la barre latérale”.

Les petites, pointues pinceaux d’artistes se sont connus en tant que “brights”; Sullivan semble propre d’une centaine de milliers d’entre eux. Parfois, elle les plonge dans de mascara, d’autres fois dans le sang. Un autre poème de ce recueil, intitulé “Répéter Jusqu’à ce Moment: La Héraclite Poème,” contient ces lignes:

Ce qui survivra de nous? Larkin pensais que la réponse pourrait être “l’amour”, Mais je ne pouvais pas le prouver.

Le narrateur a ses propres idées:

De courtes chaînes de carbone dans la poussière, C’est la réponse pratique. Vieux portables, les stimulateurs cardiaques, jambe de pins. L’ADN de fibres de révéler la cause de la mort. E-mails envoyés et brouillons nous n’avons pas les envoyer. Les choses que nous avons dit et de ceux que nous devrions ai.

La deuxième et la troisième des poèmes dans ce livre, changement de locale entre San Francisco et Londres, entre autres. Beaucoup de temps est passé dans les aéroports, où il y a “Le pop de Krispy Kreme signe et la tan embonpoint / De Scotch la bouteille après des douanes à caresser.” Vous pouvez vivre sur peu de choses de ce genre.

Le livre dévastateur du poème final, “Le bac à sable Après la Pluie”, est en grande partie de l’accouchement. C’est un poème sur le regret, du point de vue d’une femme qui sent qu’elle a “tout fait / Elle ne devrait pas le faire, / Tout unmotherly et queer, / Tabou / Frénétiquement à la recherche sur google: / tabou de la grossesse quoi ne pas faire.”

Vous suivez cet écrivain où elle souhaite prendre vous. Elle est un poète de copeaux, de mitoyenne sentiment, des liens inattendus et impieties et peu propice implications. Elle écrit la critique de la vie quotidienne — la critique de l’état de son âme. “Le bac à sable Après la Pluie” contient ces intenses perceptions:

Pensez à l’eau salée de l’anguille dans le quartier de restaurant. Il veut se débarrasser de la cuve, le cri du homard, La monotonie du point de vue de banquettes en skaï, Le repos de l’industrie du folk, de la goulûment l’instruction, de la “Nous allons faire la moitié de sashimi de style, demi-sec-frites épicées,” Et aussi de ne pas se débarrasser de la cuve, pour rester à jamais Choisi et pas encore choisi, ni vivants ni morts, Eddying entre deux murs de bulles de verre. En savoir quelque chose au sujet de l’indifférence.

Plusieurs strophes de ce poème à la fin avec le mot “expier.” On termine: “Expier avec ce que vous avez.”

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We Asked 12 Bartenders: What’s Your Go-To Well Drink?

Like all alcoholic beverages, there’s a time and place for well drinks. Also known as “rail” drinks, these convenient, whip-’em-up-quick mixed drinks typically include inexpensive liquor, a mixer, and (an often questionable) garnish. At any bar, they are dependable staples.

With so many options to choose from, VinePair polled bartenders across the U.S. to find out what they drink from the rail. Below, 12 bartenders reveal their go-to well drinks.

“My go-to is a Scotch and soda with a lemon twist. It’s refreshing, light, and complex all at once. There aren’t a whole lot of truly low-quality Scotch whiskies out there, so I pretty much always feel safe just to order straight from the well.” — Will Wyatt, Owner and Beverage Director, Mister Paradise, New York, NY

“My go-to well drink is a holdover [from] my time on the West Coast, when I first was immersing myself in the industry: Jameson on the rocks. Why? Because, hopefully, I know exactly what’s going into my glass. [I]t’s an old habit from L.A. They drink Jameson by the gallon in DTLA.” — Stuart King, Owner, Sundry and Vice, Comfort Station, Cincinnati, OH

“Campari and club soda with a splash of orange juice. It’s bracingly bitter and refreshing, and being low in alcohol, you are able to drink multiple.” — Brandyn Tepper, Bar Director, Angler, Los Angeles and San Francisco, CA

“Mezcal on the rocks with a splash of soda and an orange wedge. Although mezcal is typically considered a ‘high-end’ spirit, the evolving bar scene in Chicago has made mezcal more accessible. I typically favor mezcal that features hints of smoky, chocolatey, and spicy flavors. My favorite ‘well’ mezcal would have to be Peloton, because it hits all the right notes without breaking the bank.” — Carolina Gonzalez, Beverage Director and Mixologist, WoodWind, Chicago, IL

“If it’s a dive and not a faux-dive, I’ll go with a shot of whiskey and a bottle of beer.” — Kenneth McCoy, Chief Creative Officer, The Rum House, New York, NY

“I’m a sucker for a gin and soda with lemon. It’s the intimate, refreshing, alpine experience that I love. I’m not big on sugary beverages, and don’t want to alter the flavors of the gin. The soda elongates the botanicals and reminds me of being a kid growing up in New England.” — Amanda Thomas, Bar Chef, SoBou, New Orleans, LA

“Campari and soda. It works for me year-round when I don’t quite know if I want a cocktail or a beer, and you can follow it up with anything. Bright and refreshing, the soda hydrates while the Campari gets my mouth watering for what’s next!” — Marissa Mazzotta, Bar Director, The Shanty, New York Distilling Co., Brooklyn, NY

“It depends on my physical latitude. If I’m in Minneapolis or anywhere south, I’ll stick with a gin and tonic — good old plastic bottle rail gin is just fine. At the best dives, I’ll toss the lime if it’s too dark to discern the shade of green. When I head to the north country, my behavior changes drastically and I tend to harken back to my saccharine days of youth and drink Canadian whisky and 7UP because it tastes like candy. Two ibuprofen before bed is the key to the latter’s success.” — Dan Oskey, Co-founder, Tattersall Distilling, Minneapolis, MN

“My go-to well cocktail is a gin with club soda and a lemon. It’s something [that’s] pretty mellow yet refreshing that I can enjoy at the beginning of a meal or while hanging out with friends.” — Frances Jones, Bartender, Kindred, Davidson, NC

“I would have to say that my go-to well drink would be a gin and tonic or a rum and Coke. I don’t drink much soda, so I [save it for] mixing with alcohol. A rum and Coke was definitely my go-to order when I was 21 and realized I was not much of a fan of beer… some nostalgia there for sure.” — Marshall Minaya, Beverage Director, Valerie, New York, NY

“I will generally get a lager and a shot of Angostura bitters, but if I am in the cocktail mood at a place that doesn’t ‘do’ cocktails, I would ask for a gin and soda or a rum and tonic. These are the [drinks] I order when I don’t want to make decisions or [I’m] day drinking with friends.” — Jeff Rodgers, Bar Director, Jester Concepts, Minneapolis, MN

“This time of year, my go-to well drink is a Hot Toddy. Preferably with the house Scotch whisky, aromatic bitters, hot water, and some honey to round out the edges. I especially love how honey melds well with blended Scotch, which is typically what you may find in a well.” — Julia Momose, Partner and Creative Director, Kumiko, Chicago, IL

The article We Asked 12 Bartenders: What’s Your Go-To Well Drink? appeared first on VinePair.

source https://vinepair.com/articles/12-best-well-drinks-bars/

source https://vinology1.wordpress.com/2019/11/19/we-asked-12-bartenders-whats-your-go-to-well-drink/

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Kyirisan (Washington, DC)

Kyirisan Restaurant 1924 8th St NW, Washington, DC 20001 202.525.2383 www.kyirisandc.com Thu 07/26/2018, 08:10p-11:20p

For the third and final dinner of my latest DC visit, I chose a lesser known restaurant that sounded interesting to me. Kyirisan was opened in March 2016 by Chef Tim Ma and wife Joey Hernandez and serves Asian-French fare in the northern portion of Shaw. A note about the name: it's formed from a combination of "Kun" (the generational name of the couple's three children) and the numbers 1-2-3 (yi-er-san) in Chinese.

About the Chef: Ma was born in 1978 to parents who immigrated to the US from Taiwan in the 1970s, and he grew up in the midst of their Chinese restaurant in Maumelle, Arkansas. The family eventually moved to New York in the 80s, where his uncle ran the well-regarded Paul Ma's China Kitchen in Yorktown Heights. Later on, they relocated to northern Virginia, and Ma attended Centreville High School in Fairfax County, where he excelled in math and science. Following, he chose to attend the Georgia Institute of Technology, majoring in electrical and computer engineering, and graduated from Georgia Tech in 2000 after spending five years there; he later went on to attain a master's degree as well. He then became a government contractor, working in engineering for Raytheon in Falls Church.

However, Ma was always drawn to the kitchen, and, after a sushi meal with his sister and brother-in-law in LA in 2006, declared that he wanted to have his own restaurant. His family was not pleased, but he pushed forward, moved to New York with Hernandez, and enrolled at the French Culinary Institute in 2008. During this period, he externed at David Chang's acclaimed Momofuku Ko, and upon graduating, cooked briefly in Saint Thomas. Ma and his now-fiancée subsequently returned to NoVa and opened their first restaurant in August 2009: Maple Ave in Vienna. Located in a former donut shop in a somewhat odd part of town, the spot started out slow, but eventually made a name for itself for its Asian-inflected new American cuisine. After leaving the day-to-day running of Maple Ave to CdC Nyi Nyi Myint, the couple followed up with Water & Wall in Virginia Square, Arlington. The restaurant bowed in November 2013, and was named after the NYC intersection where the two lived while the Chef was attending culinary school.

In 2014, the Mas began looking for a home for Kyirisan, and after passing on the location where The Dabney now resides, signed on for a space in the yet-to-be-built Shay apartment complex. February 2015 saw the duo leave Maple Ave (as did Myint, who joined Water & Wall), while the Chef kicked off the Gather + Feast supper club on Kickstarter a month later. In November that year, Ma teamed up with Michael Amouri of Caffe Amouri and launched Chase the Submarine (a sandwich shop named after his son) in Vienna. As for Kyirisan (its original name Freehand was nixed by the Sydell Group), it ended up debuting in March 2016 with Myint once again on board. Not long after, the place drew a 2.5 star review from The Washington Post's Tom Sietsema, while Michelin bestowed a Bib Gourmand in October 2016. Shortly after the Michelin nod, it was announced that Ma would be consulting on the menu for the upcoming Ten Tigers Parlor, a bar with Asian-y fare that ended up opening in December that year with Myint at the helm yet again.

Some bad news came in February 2017 with the shutter of Water & Wall, though that same month saw Kyirisan on Washingtonian's "100 Very Best Restaurants" list. In June 2017, Ma and company decamped from Ten Tigers, replaced by none other than Erik Bruner-Yang. Meanwhile, in November it was announced that Ma and Derek Brown (who's no longer involved, sadly) would be opening concepts inside the upcoming Eaton, a hotel project from Katherine Lo (daughter of Langham Hospitality Group chairman Ka Shui Lo). Chase the Submarine ended up closing the same month, while Michelin once again deemed Kyirisan Bib Gourmand worthy in October.

Kyirisan is located on the ground floor of The Shay apartment building and was penned by Grizform Design Architects, a local firm that was also responsible for Doi Moi, Estadio, and Fiola, among other projects. The space is supposed to have a homey sort of feel, with blue being the dominant hue it seems. Note also the "Cook Nook" in the photo above, a communal table that can accommodate up to a dozen diners.

Kyirisan's fusion-y menu is refreshingly brief, which I'm appreciating more and more these days. In addition to dinner, the restaurant also serves brunch on weekends, and has happy hour at the bar every day except Saturday. Drink-wise, you get a small array of cocktails along with a handful of beers/ciders, not to mention a compact wine list featuring smaller producers from France and the West Coast US. Corkage, meanwhile, is $25 a pop, with no limit on the number of bottles, which is nice. Click for larger versions.

Way Off Base [$15.00] | Mezcal, Scotch, Falernum, Lime, Bitters The evening's first cocktail was a winner. I definitely got a smokiness on the nose, joined by plenty of contrasting citrus. Taste-wise, things were fruity from the falernum at first, but then the spicy, boozy nature of the mezcal-whisky combo made itself known on the finish.

Chinese Smashed Cucumbers [$7.00] | Crispy Garlic, Benne Seed, Fresno Chilies Cucumbers were delightfully crunchy, their tart, refreshing flavors well matched by a smidgen of heat and the nuttiness of those sesame seeds. A fun, promising start.

Fried Okra [$12.00] | Cauliflower, Feuilletine, Cilantro Fish Sauce Okra and cauliflower were doused with a heavy helping of fish sauce, which gave the dish a decidedly salty, savory funk. It was pretty intense, so I could've used some additional herbs or something to balance things out more. I also would've liked less cook and more crunch on the veggies.

Whiskey & Weird [$13.00] | Rye, Becherovka Herbal Liqueur, Sage Shrub The next cocktail showed off a somewhat "eggy" aroma, with notes of sweet citrus and sage as well. Its taste was definitely on the sweet side, and not boozy at all, with some herbaceous notes providing a modicum of balance to the drink.

Tuna Carpaccio [$19.00] | Kabosu Shoyu, Thai Chilies, Ground Cherries, Avocado Slightly gristly cuts of tuna certainly took on some umami notes from the shoyu, while the cherries added a surprisingly floral touch. I did get the citrusy character of the kabosu on the finish, but did feel that the dish needed some more acidity, more brightness to really make it pop.

Golden Tilefish [$22.00] | Bacon & Chive Dashi, Savoy Cabbage, Green Tomato Tilefish was cooked just right, coming out properly flaky and flavorful, with a wonderfully crisp skin to boot. The dashi worked swimmingly as a complement, but the tomato, I will say, did seem a bit out of place.

Manhattan [$11.00] The classic Manhattan cocktail made a worthwhile showing tonight. I got lots of bitters on the nose, along with moderating elements of dark fruit. In terms of taste, think spirit-forward, and quite spicy from the rye, the vermouth peeking through just a bit.

Hanger Steak [$23.00] | Green Tomato Salsa Verde, Kohlrabi, Turnip, Mint Hanger steak was quite tasty, and made sense with the zippiness of its paired salsa verde. However, I wasn't as keen on the kohlrabi-turnip combination, as the root veggies just seemed bland here.

Duck Confit [$22.00] | Brussels Sprouts, Black Truffle Aioli, Apple Cider Gastrique A duck confit was as rich as you'd expect, with lots of salty, savory flavors amped up even further by the char of Brussels and a restrained muskiness from the truffle. The cider gastrique did provided a touch of tartness to the mix, but overall the dish felt heavy and could've really used something to brighten it up.

"Unnamed Cocktail #1" | Rum, Tawny Port, Amaretto, Kalamansi At this point, I asked my server (who was also a bartender) to whip up something on the fly, and this is what he came up with (which ended up being comped). It was a combination of Smith & Cross rum, ¼oz amaretto, and ½oz tawny port, along with kalamansi purée. Its aromas were citric and bitter, the richness of the port showing through. Taste-wise, I got the deep, caramel-y notes of the rum at first, joined by a bevy of sweet, nutty flavors that worked out surprisingly well.

I made sure to save room for the desserts, which basically follow the same theme as the savory menu. Click for a larger version.

Kabosu Lime Pie [$11.00] | Pistachio, Thai Basil, Gooseberry This citrusy pie delivered. The tartness of kabosu was front and center, linking up beautifully with the pistachios while the crumbly crust served as a moderating element.

Cherry Sundae [$9.00] | Black Cherry Ice Cream, Puffed Buckwheat, Chocolate The reimagined sundae was even better, and actually one of the stronger desserts I've had in DC. The ice cream was pretty marvelous by itself, but was even better when paired with the Nestlé Crunch-esque shards of chocolate. Excellent use of the buckwheat too as a nutty, crunchy component.

"Unnamed Cocktail #2" | Fernet, Arrack, Sweet Vermouth, Hopped Grapefruit Bitters We ended with another complimentary cocktail from my server, and for this one I requested something that would work as a digestif. It was a combination of 1½oz Fernet Francisco, ½oz Batavia arrack,

I had a lot of mixed feelings about my meal here. I feel like there were some good ideas, some intriguing ideas, but many of the dishes just fell short. Perhaps the kitchen simply wasn't in top form given the impending opening of Ma's restaurant inside the Eaton, which should be dropping in the coming weeks. The spot, called American Son, will be an all-day affair featuring the Chef's take on "comfort food," but informed by his immigrant background. It sounds pretty promising, and I may have to give the place a go on a future trip despite any misgivings I have about Kyirisan.

Source: http://www.kevineats.com/2018/07/kyirisan-washington-dc.html

[sunbus45-blog]

These 8 Wow-Worthy Cocktails Are All Winners in My Book

We're revealing the finalists and grand prize-winning entries for our partner Cointreau's Hollywood-inspired cocktail contest! The lucky winners will receive a trip for two to the Cannes International Film Festival in France. Here are the nominees.

If you happened to watch the Academy Awards this past Sunday, you might have seen the dazzling red carpet couture, watched Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper's live performance of "Shallow" in complete and total awe, and laugh-cried with Olivia Colman as she gave her "Best Actress" speech (I know I did). Of course, my Oscars night wouldn't have been complete without the requisite snacks and a special cocktail inspired by one of my all-time favorite movies.

It's no surprise that I had cocktails on the mind, because last week, we wrapped up the ultimate cocktail contest with our partner Cointreau. The challenge: create a Hollywood-inspired drink using the premium orange liqueur. The reward: a trip for two to the star-studded Cannes International Film Festival in France. Submissions closed on Sunday, and after lots of careful deliberation (and tasting), we're excited to announce the eight recipes (out of 195 total!) that really caught the judges' eyes.

So without further ado, here are the six finalists (in no particular order) and two (yes, two) grand prize-winning cocktails of Cointreau's The Art of the Mix contest (the judges were so impressed that they couldn't pick just one winner). Drum roll please...

"Hollywood can have a dark side," says Southern photographer Marianna Massey (aka @eatwithmeyall), who created this champagne-based cocktail called "The Black Dahlia," named after the 1920s aspiring actress whose life was tragically cut short. Made using "your favorite champagne," Cointreau, crème de violette, and a few drops of Angostura bitters, this contest-winner captured the essence of the film industry's bright and shady sides in one drink—and one gorgeous, dahlia-colored photograph.

Inspired by one of Hollywood's most iconic films, Casablanca, this cocktail from Lance Bowman (@thecincinnatibarman), beverage director at Monnie Burke's in Chicago, is called "Laszlo & The Gin-Joint." The name, Bowman says, was inspired by the moment when Laszlo (a Czech freedom fighter) orders Cointreau at Rick's Café. This drink's seamless Hollywood tie-in pushed it towards the top of the judge's list, and the taste—a refreshing yet punchy blend of gin, Cointreau, Quady essensia (a sweet orange wine), lemon juice, serrano pepper syrup, and sparkling wine—made it a clear winner.

This simple shot by bar manager @joelanthonybarron quickly caught our eye with its intense hue and moody scene. The recipe for his Wes Anderson-inspired cocktail, "She's My Rushmore" (Cointreau, gin, vanilla syrup, and bitters) showed off "nostalgic orange and creamy flavors" that locked in this entry as an early front-runner.

This exquisitely garnished cocktail, inspired byJean Renoir’s 1936 French featurette Partie de Campagne, is almost too pretty to drink—until you realize that mixologist @steve_wood has created the ultimate springtime sipper. And then you want to go ahead and drink it.

We couldn't stop talking about this brilliantly named cocktail, "The Benicio del Oro," from New York City-based comedian @leonarda__jonie. Luckily, the recipe is just as a brilliant: Cointreau, mezcal, seltzer, lime juice, sugar, and a salt-cayenne rim if you want to (you want to).

This recipe from NYC bar Saxon + Parole's head bartender, @maximebelfand, intrigued us right from the get-go. Greek yogurt, fennel bitter, and egg white all in one cocktail? There's no way that could work. But indeed it does.

This elegant cocktail (dubbed the "Method Actor") from San Francisco bartender @esalehi casts Cointreau as the lead, with gin and tart yuzu as the supporting roles. The result: a balanced and beautiful drink that tells a story from the first sip to the last.

Rounding out the finalists is this creatively-styled number, "Excuse me, Mr. President..." from @plstarlight in California. Inspired by the 2019 Academy Award nominee, Vice, this presidential drink has "complex layers to evoke the power of your tastebuds," she says.

In partnership with Cointreau, the premium orange liqueur at the heart of hundreds of original cocktail recipes, we're excited to highlight different ways you can show off #TheArtOfTheMix. Whether you’re hosting a movie night or inviting friends over for a special get-together, Cointreau is the must-have on your bar cart for cocktails that elevate the occasion.

Source: https://food52.com/blog/23837-creative-cointreau-cocktails-spring-cocktails-citrus-drinks

[adambstingus]

Frida Kahlo’s neighbourhood: exploring vibrant Coyoacán, Mexico City

Ahead of a major Frida Kahlo show at Londons V&A we visit the artists bohemian district from her house to the cantina where she drank, and from arts venues to fantastic markets and restaurants

Coyoacán was once a hard-to-pronounce place, little known outside of Mexico City. Now it is an almost-obligatory destination for most visitors. Blame it on Frida Kahlo-mania. The artist’s birthplace and final residence, now the Museo Casa Azul, is here on a quiet residential street between similar still-private homes built around the turn of the 20th century. The folk art-filled museum, open as such since 1957, now draws queues that snake around the tree-lined block (advance online purchase of tickets is advisable). But this was not always the case.

Self-portrait with necklace by Frida Kahlo, 1933. Photograph: Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP/Getty Images

On my first visit to this vast capital in 1978 as a student of art history, I wanted to visit the then little-known artist’s house. My guidebook didn’t mention it and my hotel concierge didn’t know of it – nor did the several taxi drivers I queried to help me find it. On that occasion I didn’t get there. And when I finally did, several years later, it was dusty and forgotten; I was the only visitor that day.

A short walk from the Casa Azul is the home where Leon Trotsky lived – and was killed with an ice-pick. The house has been preserved in detail: Trotsky’s bathrobe still hangs on the hook where he left it. It’s the area’s other big draw.

Museo Casa Azul, the Frida Kahlo Museum in Coyoacán. Photograph: Alamy

But it’s worth exploring the neighbourhood beyond these famous homes as there is much more to discover. Coyoacán’s main plaza, cobblestoned and plant-filled, is divided in halves, called Jardín Centenario and Jardín Hidalgo. They form a typical colonial Mexican town square, complete with benches for people-watching, gazebos for music and vendors selling balloons, toys and traditional sweets.

At the eastern side sits the church of San Juan Bautista, a highly gilded baroque affair. Across the plaza to the left of the church is the Casa de Cortés, a large yellow edifice, which occupies the site of Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés’s 16th-century country home. Corazón de Maguey is an informal restaurant offering Oaxacan and other regional dishes. In the evenings it becomes more of a bar, with a large selection of mezcals. Outside seating affords a good view of the plaza.

Corazón de Maguey, Mexico

Frida and her husband Diego Rivera liked to knock back a tequila or 10 at Cantina La Guadalupana, which opened its doors in 1932. But unlike the equivalent Hemingway hangouts around the world, La Guadalupana has not become an overpriced tourist trap: it retains its old-fashioned working-class charm, bullfighting decor and good service. Free snacks are offered with drinks and there is a serviceable menu of Mexican dishes. The Mercado de Antojitos down the block, is a well known garage-like space; it’s open late and locals stop here for a rich pozole, the hominy-filled stew or a deep-fried quesadilla of cheese, squash blossom or chorizo.

Cantina La Guadalupana. Photograph: Alamy

Coyoacán’s market, a few blocks north (Calle Malintzin between Aguayo and Allende) is where Frida shopped, although the current structure was built in the 1950s, after her death. It still offers a colourful, folksy experience perfumed by flowers, fruits and bubbling pots of spicy mole sauce. In the middle of the market is the renowned Tostadas Coyoacán, with an abundant display of tostada toppings such as prawns, chicken, crab, and spicy pork, piled high and ready to be heaped on a crispy corn tortilla. Order one of the exotic fresh fruit drinks at the adjacent booth for a perfect Mexican lunch.

Heading west from the main plaza, Avenida Francisco Sosa is lined with spectacular colonial-era homes, such as the Italian Cultural Institute and the Casa de Cultura Jesús Reyes Heroles. Across the street is the leafy Plaza Santa Catarina, one of the loveliest spots in the city.

La Casa de los Tacos, Mexico

For a knockout taco experience, head to La Casa de los Tacos. The owners, Hector Ramos, a photographer who runs an art gallery upstairs, and Alejandro Escalante, author of the renowned Tacopedia, have created a thoroughly bohemian vibe. The tacos prehispánicos feature edible insects and are surprisingly delicious. For the less adventurous, there are grilled chicken, beef and pork tacos.

Mercadaroma, meanwhile, is Coyoacán’s answer to the gourmet street market craze. Dozens of stands offer multi-regional Mexican and international foods – and fusions of both – in a smartly designed three-storey building. Try the seafood tacos from the Pacific state of Sonora at Tetakawi or a torta (Mexico’s version of the sandwich), at La Barraca Valenciana.

Mercadoroma

Plaza de la Conchita, a few blocks east of the main plaza (walking down Higuera), is another peaceful park, whose church is one of the oldest in Mexico, dating to the mid-16th century. This architectural gem is a rare example of tequitqui style, which shows the influence of indigenous Indian craftsmen on Spanish baroque architectural ornament.

In addition to architecture-viewing and great eating, Coyoacán offers several other important cultural institutions. The Cineteca Nacional is Mexico’s central film institute, housed in a soaring modern complex where as many as 30 movies are shown on any given day. The Centro Cultural y Social Veracruzano is home to a theatre, shop and El Tajin one of the area’s best restaurants. Down the same road, at no. 134 is the largest branch of Gandhi, Mexico’s major bookseller.

A stroll around Coyoacán makes for a peaceful – and delicious – day out. And a snapshot of Frida’s Mexico.

More Frida-related attractions in Mexico City, and beyond

Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo House-Studio Museum, San Angel, Mexico City

Photograph: Alamy

Designed by the couple’s friend, the architect and artist Juan O’Gorman, this was Kahlo and Rivera’s first proper marital home. It’s actually two houses joined by a bridge. They lived here from 1934 to 1939 and divorced in that year. Kahlo moved back to the Blue House and when she and Rivera remarried the following year, he moved to join her there, though he kept the San Angel house as his studio. Most interesting for visitors today is the bathroom in Frida’s quarters, which inspired one of her most famous works: What the Water Gave Me – it’s a meditation on her life and her history, as she lay in the tub. • Admission £1.30, under 13s free, estudiodiegorivera.inba.gob.mx

Xochimilco and Museo Dolores Olmedo, Mexico City

Colourful boats at the Floating Gardens in Xochimilco. Photograph: Alamy

The floating gardens of Xochimilco have been Mexico City’s favourite way to spend a Sunday for many decades, as shown by the photographs of Kahlo trailing her hand into the water from her boat. It’s still the best place to soak up the vibrant, colourful and musical culture of the Mexico Kahlo loved. Rent a boat and be ferried through canals awash with mariachi bands, tortilla- and taco-makers, beer and tequila sellers. Afterwards head for the tranquillity of the Museo Dolores Olmedo Patino, a 17th-century mansion once owned by a friend and patron of Rivera’s. As well as many works by him it contains important paintings by Kahlo, although they’re on loan to an exhibition in Milan until the summer. • Admission £3.75, free entry on Tuesdays, museodoloresolmedo.org.mx

Museo de Arte Moderno, Mexico City

Photograph: Francesca Yorke/Getty Images

Kahlo’s painting The Two Fridas features in the museum’s collection of 20th-century Mexican art. The museum is currently showing more than more than 200 works by British artist Leonora Carrington (until 23 September). Carrington arrived in Mexico City in 1942, and was based there until her death in 2011. She knew Kahlo and was friends with English millionaire Edward James, a patron of surrealist artists and creator of Las Pozas sculpture garden in the jungles of San Luis Potosí. The exhibition includes discoveries such as a colourful 22-piece set of tarot cards, intricate paintings and tapestries never shown before as well as her best-known works including her self-portrait borrowed from the Met, and her 1947 painting The Giantess. • Admission £2.40, free on Sundays, museoartemoderno.com

Cuernavaca

Interior of the Robert Brady Museum. Photograph: Alamy

Soon after their first marriage (in 1929), Kahlo and Rivera went to live in Cuernavaca, around 90km south of Mexico City, borrowing the home of the US ambassador to Mexico where they lived while Rivera was painting murals in the town’s Palacio de Cortés. They depict the atrocities committed against the indigenous people, and the Mexican Revolution, and are a macro take on the world, in contrast to Kahlo’s micro take. The Robert Brady Museum is one of the best artistic highlights of the city and contains work by Kahlo and Rivera. • Admission £1.80, museorobertbrady.com Joanna Moorhead

from All Of Beer http://allofbeer.com/frida-kahlos-neighbourhood-exploring-vibrant-coyoacan-mexico-city/ from All of Beer https://allofbeercom.tumblr.com/post/184238359442

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Frida Kahlo’s neighbourhood: exploring vibrant Coyoacán, Mexico City

Ahead of a major Frida Kahlo show at Londons V&A we visit the artists bohemian district from her house to the cantina where she drank, and from arts venues to fantastic markets and restaurants

Coyoacán was once a hard-to-pronounce place, little known outside of Mexico City. Now it is an almost-obligatory destination for most visitors. Blame it on Frida Kahlo-mania. The artist’s birthplace and final residence, now the Museo Casa Azul, is here on a quiet residential street between similar still-private homes built around the turn of the 20th century. The folk art-filled museum, open as such since 1957, now draws queues that snake around the tree-lined block (advance online purchase of tickets is advisable). But this was not always the case.

Self-portrait with necklace by Frida Kahlo, 1933. Photograph: Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP/Getty Images

On my first visit to this vast capital in 1978 as a student of art history, I wanted to visit the then little-known artist’s house. My guidebook didn’t mention it and my hotel concierge didn’t know of it – nor did the several taxi drivers I queried to help me find it. On that occasion I didn’t get there. And when I finally did, several years later, it was dusty and forgotten; I was the only visitor that day.

A short walk from the Casa Azul is the home where Leon Trotsky lived – and was killed with an ice-pick. The house has been preserved in detail: Trotsky’s bathrobe still hangs on the hook where he left it. It’s the area’s other big draw.

Museo Casa Azul, the Frida Kahlo Museum in Coyoacán. Photograph: Alamy

But it’s worth exploring the neighbourhood beyond these famous homes as there is much more to discover. Coyoacán’s main plaza, cobblestoned and plant-filled, is divided in halves, called Jardín Centenario and Jardín Hidalgo. They form a typical colonial Mexican town square, complete with benches for people-watching, gazebos for music and vendors selling balloons, toys and traditional sweets.

At the eastern side sits the church of San Juan Bautista, a highly gilded baroque affair. Across the plaza to the left of the church is the Casa de Cortés, a large yellow edifice, which occupies the site of Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés’s 16th-century country home. Corazón de Maguey is an informal restaurant offering Oaxacan and other regional dishes. In the evenings it becomes more of a bar, with a large selection of mezcals. Outside seating affords a good view of the plaza.

Corazón de Maguey, Mexico

Frida and her husband Diego Rivera liked to knock back a tequila or 10 at Cantina La Guadalupana, which opened its doors in 1932. But unlike the equivalent Hemingway hangouts around the world, La Guadalupana has not become an overpriced tourist trap: it retains its old-fashioned working-class charm, bullfighting decor and good service. Free snacks are offered with drinks and there is a serviceable menu of Mexican dishes. The Mercado de Antojitos down the block, is a well known garage-like space; it’s open late and locals stop here for a rich pozole, the hominy-filled stew or a deep-fried quesadilla of cheese, squash blossom or chorizo.

Cantina La Guadalupana. Photograph: Alamy

Coyoacán’s market, a few blocks north (Calle Malintzin between Aguayo and Allende) is where Frida shopped, although the current structure was built in the 1950s, after her death. It still offers a colourful, folksy experience perfumed by flowers, fruits and bubbling pots of spicy mole sauce. In the middle of the market is the renowned Tostadas Coyoacán, with an abundant display of tostada toppings such as prawns, chicken, crab, and spicy pork, piled high and ready to be heaped on a crispy corn tortilla. Order one of the exotic fresh fruit drinks at the adjacent booth for a perfect Mexican lunch.

Heading west from the main plaza, Avenida Francisco Sosa is lined with spectacular colonial-era homes, such as the Italian Cultural Institute and the Casa de Cultura Jesús Reyes Heroles. Across the street is the leafy Plaza Santa Catarina, one of the loveliest spots in the city.

La Casa de los Tacos, Mexico

For a knockout taco experience, head to La Casa de los Tacos. The owners, Hector Ramos, a photographer who runs an art gallery upstairs, and Alejandro Escalante, author of the renowned Tacopedia, have created a thoroughly bohemian vibe. The tacos prehispánicos feature edible insects and are surprisingly delicious. For the less adventurous, there are grilled chicken, beef and pork tacos.

Mercadaroma, meanwhile, is Coyoacán’s answer to the gourmet street market craze. Dozens of stands offer multi-regional Mexican and international foods – and fusions of both – in a smartly designed three-storey building. Try the seafood tacos from the Pacific state of Sonora at Tetakawi or a torta (Mexico’s version of the sandwich), at La Barraca Valenciana.

Mercadoroma

Plaza de la Conchita, a few blocks east of the main plaza (walking down Higuera), is another peaceful park, whose church is one of the oldest in Mexico, dating to the mid-16th century. This architectural gem is a rare example of tequitqui style, which shows the influence of indigenous Indian craftsmen on Spanish baroque architectural ornament.

In addition to architecture-viewing and great eating, Coyoacán offers several other important cultural institutions. The Cineteca Nacional is Mexico’s central film institute, housed in a soaring modern complex where as many as 30 movies are shown on any given day. The Centro Cultural y Social Veracruzano is home to a theatre, shop and El Tajin one of the area’s best restaurants. Down the same road, at no. 134 is the largest branch of Gandhi, Mexico’s major bookseller.

A stroll around Coyoacán makes for a peaceful – and delicious – day out. And a snapshot of Frida’s Mexico.

More Frida-related attractions in Mexico City, and beyond

Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo House-Studio Museum, San Angel, Mexico City

Photograph: Alamy

Designed by the couple’s friend, the architect and artist Juan O’Gorman, this was Kahlo and Rivera’s first proper marital home. It’s actually two houses joined by a bridge. They lived here from 1934 to 1939 and divorced in that year. Kahlo moved back to the Blue House and when she and Rivera remarried the following year, he moved to join her there, though he kept the San Angel house as his studio. Most interesting for visitors today is the bathroom in Frida’s quarters, which inspired one of her most famous works: What the Water Gave Me – it’s a meditation on her life and her history, as she lay in the tub. • Admission £1.30, under 13s free, estudiodiegorivera.inba.gob.mx

Xochimilco and Museo Dolores Olmedo, Mexico City

Colourful boats at the Floating Gardens in Xochimilco. Photograph: Alamy

The floating gardens of Xochimilco have been Mexico City’s favourite way to spend a Sunday for many decades, as shown by the photographs of Kahlo trailing her hand into the water from her boat. It’s still the best place to soak up the vibrant, colourful and musical culture of the Mexico Kahlo loved. Rent a boat and be ferried through canals awash with mariachi bands, tortilla- and taco-makers, beer and tequila sellers. Afterwards head for the tranquillity of the Museo Dolores Olmedo Patino, a 17th-century mansion once owned by a friend and patron of Rivera’s. As well as many works by him it contains important paintings by Kahlo, although they’re on loan to an exhibition in Milan until the summer. • Admission £3.75, free entry on Tuesdays, museodoloresolmedo.org.mx

Museo de Arte Moderno, Mexico City

Photograph: Francesca Yorke/Getty Images

Kahlo’s painting The Two Fridas features in the museum’s collection of 20th-century Mexican art. The museum is currently showing more than more than 200 works by British artist Leonora Carrington (until 23 September). Carrington arrived in Mexico City in 1942, and was based there until her death in 2011. She knew Kahlo and was friends with English millionaire Edward James, a patron of surrealist artists and creator of Las Pozas sculpture garden in the jungles of San Luis Potosí. The exhibition includes discoveries such as a colourful 22-piece set of tarot cards, intricate paintings and tapestries never shown before as well as her best-known works including her self-portrait borrowed from the Met, and her 1947 painting The Giantess. • Admission £2.40, free on Sundays, museoartemoderno.com

Cuernavaca

Interior of the Robert Brady Museum. Photograph: Alamy

Soon after their first marriage (in 1929), Kahlo and Rivera went to live in Cuernavaca, around 90km south of Mexico City, borrowing the home of the US ambassador to Mexico where they lived while Rivera was painting murals in the town’s Palacio de Cortés. They depict the atrocities committed against the indigenous people, and the Mexican Revolution, and are a macro take on the world, in contrast to Kahlo’s micro take. The Robert Brady Museum is one of the best artistic highlights of the city and contains work by Kahlo and Rivera. • Admission £1.80, museorobertbrady.com Joanna Moorhead

Source: http://allofbeer.com/frida-kahlos-neighbourhood-exploring-vibrant-coyoacan-mexico-city/

from All of Beer https://allofbeer.wordpress.com/2019/04/17/frida-kahlos-neighbourhood-exploring-vibrant-coyoacan-mexico-city/