Cocktails, Cocktails and More Cocktails!
"I can never remember whether it's on the wagon or off the wagon..." (Brother K)
"It's really best to avoid the wagon all together." (my response)
Some days, some weeks, even some Sunday mornings are made for being as far away from the wagon as possible. It's not even noon on this fine sunny Sunday morning, and all my attempts to do something productive have been thwarted.
An hour ago I left my apartment with my bike wearing my snazzy new red helmet for a short ride to and around Astoria Park. Turns out though today is the Five-Boro Bike Tour. Astoria was swarming with thousands of other riders, and there was a mess of diverted traffic all about the neighborhood.
I returned home, gathered the ridiculous amount of accumulated laundry from my closet and headed down to the laundry mat. Not a single machine was available.
So, here I sit sweaty and frustrated, afraid to take a shower because water and suds were gurgling up though my bathtub drain from nowhere earlier this morning. Of course, the problem disappeared as soon as the super arrived.
I kind of feel like I need a drink, but since the only acceptable drinks before noon on a Sunday morning are Bloody Marys or mimosas, I am out of luck. Sitting on the wagon momentarily despite myself. I will instead, have to be content to relive the tasty and plentiful cocktails of earlier this week.
Pegu Club (West Houston, last Sunday with LP)
The scene: The original was a British officer's club in Burma in the late 1800's. According to their website, Kipling wrote in Sea to Sea that the original club was 'always filled with lots of people either on their way up or their way down.' If the NY club is a parallel than I like to think that LP and I are on our way up. The space is open and elegant with an airy feel and a vintage sense of style that befits the club's origins.
The drinks: Overall extremely well made with fresh ingredients and some hard-to-come by items like orange rum liqueur. The care taken in the mixology is as fine as it gets, and the result set my lushful heart aflutter. As LP said, it's too bad the drinks are alcoholic because it would be grand to just go on drinking! My favorite was the last one listed below. (You'll see I failed to write down the name.)
The scene: A gorgeous space filled with the Tribeca after-work crowd... beautiful people in professional attire. Our group of seven-ish took up a corner of the vast bar. The bartender lacked charm and hospitality, but the food was divine. (Unbelievably delicious items included the sheep's milk ricotta crostini, marinated beets, lamb rigatoni and the La Fantasia di Cioccolata, a mix of chocolate and marsala gelatos with chocolate, caramel and candied chestnuts.)
The drink: I stuck with one lovely and delightful cocktail all evening:
The scene: You probably know it by now from other posts, but as always on Friday evening the scene at Louis 649 was comfortable and accommodating with great music and a crowd that seemed a mix of regulars and occasioners (like myself).
The drinks: After much menu perusal I settled, perhaps appropriately, on the Writer's Block (I have been a little short on wit this week). It was not quite the right drink for a warm evening, so for the next round, I expressed interest in something spring-like, perhaps reflective of the Kentucky Derby. My request was fulfilled perfectly with the Ramses, a bourbon-based drink served with a large slice of orange peel that inspired Mrs. O to declare it would be her choice drink of the summer. (I'm not sure, given the option, that she will ever depart from her signature gin-and-tonic, but we shall see!)
And, you are all cordially invited to enjoy martinis at my place this coming Saturday, May 8. If you don't receive the e-mail, drop me a note and I will send you the address. (I really mean that. I want to see all of you there!)
Stay tuned!
"I can never remember whether it's on the wagon or off the wagon..." (Brother K)
"It's really best to avoid the wagon all together." (my response)
Some days, some weeks, even some Sunday mornings are made for being as far away from the wagon as possible. It's not even noon on this fine sunny Sunday morning, and all my attempts to do something productive have been thwarted.
An hour ago I left my apartment with my bike wearing my snazzy new red helmet for a short ride to and around Astoria Park. Turns out though today is the Five-Boro Bike Tour. Astoria was swarming with thousands of other riders, and there was a mess of diverted traffic all about the neighborhood.
I returned home, gathered the ridiculous amount of accumulated laundry from my closet and headed down to the laundry mat. Not a single machine was available.
So, here I sit sweaty and frustrated, afraid to take a shower because water and suds were gurgling up though my bathtub drain from nowhere earlier this morning. Of course, the problem disappeared as soon as the super arrived.
I kind of feel like I need a drink, but since the only acceptable drinks before noon on a Sunday morning are Bloody Marys or mimosas, I am out of luck. Sitting on the wagon momentarily despite myself. I will instead, have to be content to relive the tasty and plentiful cocktails of earlier this week.
Pegu Club (West Houston, last Sunday with LP)
The scene: The original was a British officer's club in Burma in the late 1800's. According to their website, Kipling wrote in Sea to Sea that the original club was 'always filled with lots of people either on their way up or their way down.' If the NY club is a parallel than I like to think that LP and I are on our way up. The space is open and elegant with an airy feel and a vintage sense of style that befits the club's origins.
The drinks: Overall extremely well made with fresh ingredients and some hard-to-come by items like orange rum liqueur. The care taken in the mixology is as fine as it gets, and the result set my lushful heart aflutter. As LP said, it's too bad the drinks are alcoholic because it would be grand to just go on drinking! My favorite was the last one listed below. (You'll see I failed to write down the name.)
- Pegu Club Cocktail: London dry gin, Angostura bitters, Orange Curacao, fresh lime
- Little Italy: rye, Cynar (an artichoke-based bitter infused with 13 herbs and spices), and sweet vermouth
- Spring Negroni: genever, gin, Aperol (a bitter-sweet apertif made from a secret recipe)
- (?): rye, Pimm's Cup, orange rum liqueur, maraschino liqueur and Peychaud's bitters (The bartender let us sample the maraschino liqueur. Very interesting! A little like bubble gum on the finish but much more sophisticated.)
The scene: A gorgeous space filled with the Tribeca after-work crowd... beautiful people in professional attire. Our group of seven-ish took up a corner of the vast bar. The bartender lacked charm and hospitality, but the food was divine. (Unbelievably delicious items included the sheep's milk ricotta crostini, marinated beets, lamb rigatoni and the La Fantasia di Cioccolata, a mix of chocolate and marsala gelatos with chocolate, caramel and candied chestnuts.)
The drink: I stuck with one lovely and delightful cocktail all evening:
- Vaccari: house-infused chamomile whiskey, dry vermouth, grapefruit bitters, and lemon peel served on 'the rock'
The scene: You probably know it by now from other posts, but as always on Friday evening the scene at Louis 649 was comfortable and accommodating with great music and a crowd that seemed a mix of regulars and occasioners (like myself).
The drinks: After much menu perusal I settled, perhaps appropriately, on the Writer's Block (I have been a little short on wit this week). It was not quite the right drink for a warm evening, so for the next round, I expressed interest in something spring-like, perhaps reflective of the Kentucky Derby. My request was fulfilled perfectly with the Ramses, a bourbon-based drink served with a large slice of orange peel that inspired Mrs. O to declare it would be her choice drink of the summer. (I'm not sure, given the option, that she will ever depart from her signature gin-and-tonic, but we shall see!)
- Writer's Block: blanco tequila, yellow chartreuse, islay scotch and orange bitters
- Ramses: bourbon, Aperol, lemon juice (and possibly simple syrup)
And, you are all cordially invited to enjoy martinis at my place this coming Saturday, May 8. If you don't receive the e-mail, drop me a note and I will send you the address. (I really mean that. I want to see all of you there!)
Stay tuned!
arghhhhhhh...one week before i arrive.
ReplyDeleteAnd I need a night like the one posted. I miss NYC.
Can't wait to sip fantbulous drinks and eat scrumptious food with you.
Hey there,
ReplyDeleteHow do you think that chamomile infused whiskey was made....just curious. I bought grapefruit bitters and have been trying to figure out what to do with them.
They probably used dried chamomile flowers for the infusion. The whiskey was very light in color... maybe a rye? I would suggest experimenting with a whiskey you enjoy but that isn't too flavorful (or ask for a recommendation at the liquor store). Place the dried flowers in a large mason jar, pour the whiskey over, seal it, swirl the jar gently once a day, and taste it after a few days. You can always let it infuse longer for more flavor. When it's done, strain it and pour it back into the liquor bottle.
ReplyDelete