Cocktails

December 5th may not mean anything special to most people. But this day between Thanksgiving and Christmas is a day that should mean something to anyone who enjoys a glass of wine or a cocktail. After all, December 5, 1933 is the day that Prohibition was ended by the signing of the 21st Amendment to the Constitution and when beer trucks rolled into Washington DC and President Franklin D. Roosevelt poured himself a Plymouth gin martini. This year, December 5, 2013 marked the 80th anniversary of the end of Prohibition, otherwise known as Repeal Day, and the D.C. Craft Bartenders Guild organized their annual Repeal Day Ball to celebrate the occasion on Dec. 7.
19 December, 2013
Perhaps you know Zengo Restaurant because of award-winning Chef Richard Sandoval. And perhaps you have visiting one of the locations around the country, in Santa Monica, New York, Washington DC and Denver, to taste the Latin-Asian menu.  But, did you know that in addition to the regular Latin-Asian menu, Zengo, which means "give and take" in Japanese, also offers items from their test kitchen. Every few months the chefs of Zengo come together in researching and developing seasonal menus that feature dishes from one Latin and one Asian country. The items are integrated onto the main menu, but you can locate them by spotting the "TK" next to the specialty items. Now thru December, the Zengo is offering Peruvian and Malaysian dishes as part of the "Test Kitchen" menu. The dishes includes cocktails, appetizers, entrees and even a dessert.
02 December, 2013
The team behind one of my favorite Valley spots, Black Market Liquor Bar, has come to the Westside with Scopa Italian Roots. Located in a former Szechwan Chinese restaurant space on Washington Blvd near Abbott Kinney, and next door to Sunny Spot, Scopa Italian Roots offers traditional home-cooked Italian food, inspired by Chef Antonia Lafaso’s upbringing.   Steve Livigni, Pablo Moix and Antonia Lafaso have been busily working on this new project for months. At an event this summer, they were serving drinks under the name Old Lightening which is the name of the bar that is opening adjacent to Scopa in the coming weeks.
14 November, 2013
Milan, in the north of Italy, is famous for its fashion.  But, most people I know don’t see the point in visiting the city. I disagree.  On almost every trip I take to Italy, I find myself spending a day, or two, in this large beautiful city where I do a little shopping, of course, but also some exploring. Flying into Milan’s Malpensa airport, the Malpensa Express is a 29 minute train that costs only 11 Euro into the heart of Milan (Milano Cadorna station). Quick, easy and inexpensive, this is the best way to get to/from the airport. The next challenge is finding accommodations.  While there are many hotels in Milan, finding something central that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg, but still has charm, can be a challenge. Instead of a hotel, renting an apartment or villa for a few days makes you feel like a local. Check out NovecentoCase, an agency specialized in renting apartments in city center, who partners with 5 Star Service run by Alejandro Mazza and Emotionphy Communication. They focus on finding private luxury villas that sleep between 1-6 people and include hotel amenities such as toiletries, robes and a concierge.
13 November, 2013
For the closing party at Portland Cocktail Week, U.S. Bartenders Guild members from all across the country came together and represented their home states. 40 chapters were represented, which meant alot of drinks!  From the east coast to the west coast, from the north to the south, we did our best to travel the country and taste the drinks. Yes, it was a fun night and a perfect way to conclude a successful Portland Cocktail Week.
12 November, 2013
Think "Restaurant Wars" (a la Top Chef) for bartenders.  This year at Portland Cocktail Week, Bacardi sponsored a bar challenge. There were four teams made up of eight students each, a mixture of the different education majors at PDXCW. They had to create a bar, from concept to design to entertainment to the menu, in just 10 hours!
11 November, 2013
While in Portland for Portland Cocktail Week, we tried to hit a few bars in between the classes, parties and other events. In addition to the brand new Multnomah Whisk(e)y Library that is a definite must, here are a few other bars worth a visit: The Rookery at Raven & Rose 1331 SW Broadway., Portland, OR 97201 (503) 222-7673 In Portland’s historic Ladd Carriage House, you will find the English countryside inspired farmhouse, Raven and Rose. Inspired by Irish and British dining, the ingredients are simple, yet their attention to detail is flawless. Aside from a great meal, the environment provides a cozy haven that welcomes locals and visitors alike to dine in and enjoy their historical cocktail menu. 20131022_175019
06 November, 2013
The newest bar in Portland opened the same week as Portland Cocktail Week. So, we knew we had to find some time to stop by the Multnomah Whisk(e)y Library. But, everyone seemed to have had the same idea and at 4pm, when the bar opened, we were lined up with probably 100 other people. Fortunately, we were towards the front of the line and after only waiting 15 minutes, we got a few seats by the fireplace. And we are very happy we made it in this beautiful place! A large open space, the walls are covered with shelves of bottles. The room was warm and inviting with the back lighting and the leather couches.
05 November, 2013
Have you ever found yourself searching for the perfect last minute gift (or any gift for that matter) or on your way to a gathering with nothing in hand? Or maybe you just want to congratulate a friend on a new promotion at work or support them through their latest breakup. Well, lucky for us, there’s an app for that! Originally started in Seattle, co-founders Brian and Ryan and their crafty tech team recently launched version 2.0 of the social media gifting app, Gratafy, and expanded its reach into the Los Angeles market.
04 November, 2013
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