Cocktails

If you like scotch and you like oysters then this name has probably already gotten your attention. Located in Sherman Oaks, Tipple and Brine opened in April and is one of the many spots to brighten the Valley’s dining scene and entice those living in other parts of the city to fight the traffic to get there. It’s worth it! Rustic (reclaimed wood) but industrial (Edison lights), it’s a casual neighborhood restaurant and bar. Tipple and Brine Start with the signature item – oysters! Even better, do an oyster luge – eat an oyster, then pour some Scotch into the briny liquid left in the shell and slurp. Can’t chose a Scotch from the couple dozen options? They make it easy for you. For $8, they select the oyster and a 1 oz shot of Scotch that will best pair with it.
06 July, 2014
Harlowe There is always somewhere new to enjoy a drink in Los Angeles and one of the newest spots is Harlowe. But while Harlowe is new, it has an "old" feel. Harlowe Exterior Owned by the 1933 Group, Harlowe is another one of their bars (think Sassafras, Oldfield’s Liquor Room) that makes you feel like you have stepped back in time. Located in what used to be a nightclub, Harlowe was inspired by Hollywood's Golden Age and is filled with vintage decor, custom fixtures and original turn-of-the-century portraits on every wall. The oblong bar sits in the center of the room with a few tables scattered around the perimeter of the room and on the patio.
03 July, 2014
Is a night out dinner and a movie?  Or a movie followed by dinner?  What about dinner in the movie? I am not talking about sneaking in your take-out. I am talking about the luxury iPic Theater, that reopened the doors of the Avco movie theater on Wilshire and Westwood a few months ago.  And recently, Tanzy an Italian restaurant with outlets in Scottsdale and Boca Raton, opened within the theater. Tanzy and iPic Entrances When you enter the iPic theater, the box office is more like a concierge service at a hotel. You are then led to your theater and your assigned seats.
02 July, 2014
It’s been 4 years since Rick Bayless, the Chicago-based American chef who specializes in traditional Mexican cuisine with modern interpretations, opened his restaurant Red O on Melrose Avenue in LA. Since then he has opened a second location in Newport Beach, making two locations where you can experience sophisticated Mexican cuisine. While the menu is seasonal and changes regularly, for their 4 year anniversary, most of the menu was redone. Overseen by Executive Corporate Chef Keith Stich, and in conjunction with Rick Bayless, this is the first major change in 4 years so we went in to check it out! The cocktails have been updated as well by Director of Wine and Spirits Dan OIiver so we began with cocktails, of course!
01 July, 2014
Girasol, meaning "sunflower" in Spanish, opened in Studio City one year ago. Chef/owner CJ Jacobson has blended his influences, which include Axe, Wolfgang Puck Catering, Campanile and The Yard, as well as time on Top Chef, and most impressively, his time at Noma in Copenhagen, the world’s best restaurant. I enjoyed the food the first time I went and 6 months later, felt the same. The food is fresh and seasonal, with ingredients foraged and sourced from local farmers. And the presentation of the food is so bright, cheerful and inviting.
26 June, 2014
One key to making a good cocktail is balance. And, it can be intimidating to make drinks at home with all of the various ounces, splashes and dashes in a recipe. I have been building up my bar tools for the last few years, amassing jiggers of different sizes, shakers and mixing spoons, just so that I can follow a variety of recipes. When the ReJigger, a new cocktail-measuring tool, came across my desk, I thought I would check it out. The ReJigger is made out of BPA free, dishwasher safe plastic and is sectioned into three compartments, each measured for the right quantity of each ingredient for a mixed drink. It's that simple to make a quick and balanced drink at home! Three ingredients, three tools (rejigger, pint glass and serving glass) and three steps.
10 June, 2014
After a long day of wine tasting, nothing beats a casual, tasty meal with a cold drink. So, after the recent Santa Barbara Vintners Festival in Solvang, CA, we were looking for that spot and found Dos Carlitos Restaurant & Tequila Bar in the quiet little town of Santa Ynez. A family-owned business with two long standing restaurants in Santa Barbara - Carlitos Café y Cantina (Est. 1979) and Cava Restaurant & Bar (Est. 1997) - Dos Carlitos is a casual, relaxed restaurant with an outdoor patio and features fresh homemade tortillas and an open fire grill (La Parilla).
28 May, 2014
When I think of North Beach in San Francisco, I think of all of the Italian restaurants that line the streets. But located just off Washington Square Park on the corner of Union and Powell is The Square SF. The Square (1) The Square SF opened earlier this year in the location that used to be the famous Washington Square Bar & Grill. But today, The Square is a modern gastropub.
23 May, 2014
When my friend mentioned that we were going to Verbena for dinner during our food tour of San Francisco, I hadn't heard of the new restaurant by Chef Sean Baker, but I had heard of his other restaurant, Gather, in Oakland. Considering Gather's reputation for local, sustainable fresh ingredients, I was rather excited. Located on Polk Ave in the hip Russian Hill, Verbena is a quintessential Northern California restaurant from the menu to the sustainable, natural decor. The menu is produce-focused but has a fair amount of omnivore options. And all of the products used come from small artisan farmers and ranchers in the area with which they have direct relationship. Verbena (1) We started with cocktails which feature seasonal ingredients and spirits from small producers.
16 May, 2014
It’s Cinco de Mayo and therefore it’s Tequila time!. After all, here in the US, we always love a reason to go out and celebrate. But if you want to avoid the crowds and excessive revelry, it’s just as easy to stay home and celebrate with friends. That’s we what prefer. And what better way to enjoy tequila, other than neat, but in a Margarita. Now, when it comes to making your Margaritas at home, we are not suggesting that you run out and buy overly sweet mixers made with unnatural ingredients. All you need is three ingredients the famous Tommy’s Original Margarita, which originates from Tommy’s in San Francisco. The result will be a simple and refreshing drink to enjoy this Cinco de Mayo, or anytime!
05 May, 2014
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