Video:DRINK RECIPES: California English’s London Fog cocktailSUBSCRIBE to the READER YOUTUBE CHANNEL for the latest.Lee CarreOn a cool, overcast day, I pop into California English. Instantly, I spot a yowza of a drink being served …
December 7, 2023
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Stories by Amanda Tascher
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California English’s London Fog: a glassy, iridescent smoke bubble top made with Storyhouse Coastal Gin
Cerveza Jack’s Chai Spiced & Everything Nice: a rich-yet-refreshing drink that tastes like vanilla Coke
Taylor Giangola“I haven’t got an official name yet,” says Cerveza Jack’s Bar Lead & Manager Taylor Giangola, giving me an advance tasting of this month’s newest cocktail creation. “It’ll probably be ‘Chai Spiced and Everything …
November 2, 2023
The Lafayette Lobby Bar’s Brandy Crusta: a slushie that drinks like a drink
Anthony Schmidt“All the drinks from the Lobby Bar are a slight twist on classic New Orleans,” says Anthony Schmidt, Beverage Director for The Lafayette. And the Brandy Crusta is a no-brainer for this particularly warm …
September 6, 2023
Kindred’s Sundance No. 2: where winter crushes summer
Krisan Fromm"Sundance…number two?” I ask with piqued curiosity. Raising her voice above heavy metal music riffing throughout Kindred, bar lead Krisan Fromm replies, “We updated our ‘winter Sundance’ with a newer version that has a …
August 10, 2023
Fort Oak’s Fleetwood: find seasonal chamomile sourced from Specialty Produce
Summer sunlight illuminates the room at Fort Oak, where Bar Manager Jess Stewart offers a warm welcome. Royal blue surfaces pop against crisp white tile, gold details, and earthy accents such as a vase of …
July 6, 2023
Sandpiper’s Tiramisu Martini: dessert flavors
Arriving at Sandpiper just in time for happy hour, I find I can’t resist ordering a tempting Tiramisu Martini that General Manager Evan Vallée says is his twist on the extremely trendy espresso martini. “It …
June 1, 2023
J & Tony’s La Sabina Morada: a gateway for people experiencing amaro
“Inspiration comes from a cocktail I had in Oaxaca, Mexico,” says Sarah Block, Bar Manager for J & Tony’s Discount Cured Meats and Negroni Warehouse. A well-traveled colleague recommended visiting a bar called Sabina Sabe …
May 4, 2023
RustiCucina’s Lemontini: Italian rustic with a twist
Spring has finally sprung — some might say it’s sprung a leak — so it feels seasonally appropriate to start with a lighter shade of cocktail before enjoying dinner at North Park’s RustiCucina. Bartender Vincent …
April 6, 2023
Verbena Kitchen’s El Niño: persimmon purée
"One unique part about our cocktail program,” says Dallas Juanes, General Manager for Verbena Kitchen, “is that we’re changing what it is to be a low-ABV cocktail bar. We have only a beer and wine …
March 2, 2023
Q&A’s Diamonds & Pearls: an intro to oysters
The new-ish rooftop bar Cococabana is what lures me to the Brick Hotel in Oceanside. But the Q&A bar below is where I start things off — by trying an oyster for the very first …
February 2, 2023
Zama’s Zama-Tini: a pomegranate martini mixed with tamarind memories
“Bienvenida a la selva,” reads a neon green sign inside one of Gaslamp’s newest restaurants, Zama. Greeting me with an exuberant smile, Bar Manager Gerry Bedolla explains, “That’s our theme here, our vibe. Our concept …
January 12, 2023
Polite Provisions’ Christmas Cricket: a creamy, vegan Grasshopper
It’s that time of year: the time when Polite Provisions transforms from an alcohol apothecary into a Miracle on 30th Street. Surrounded by kitschy holiday décor, general manager Alicia Perry patiently talks me through this …
December 2, 2022
Glass Box’s Local Shito: less is more
My latest craft cocktail discovery comes — somewhat unexpectedly — from a sushi restaurant at the Del Mar Highlands’ Sky Deck. Bartender Jennifer Hamilton explains the name of Glass Box’s popular cocktail, the Local Shito: …
November 3, 2022
Barrel and Board’s Q.U.E.E.N.: named after Janelle Monae/Eryka Badu song
“All our drinks are named after songs by strong, fabulous women,” says Moe Girton of Barrel & Board’s cocktail menu, which I note doubles as a fire playlist. I hit play on drink/song number one, …
October 6, 2022
Specialty Produce really is special
There’s no doubt you’ve seen their logo on delivery trucks. They might supply one of your favorite local restaurants. And if your drink is garnished with edible flowers, it probably came fresh from their fridge. …
October 5, 2022
MOTHERSHIP’s Warbird: Captain’s grog
Captain’s log: Earthdate 2022. A man wearing a NASA hat welcomes me inside the newly-launched MOTHERSHIP. I traverse the cavernous interior, noticing the gorgeous stained-glass egg pods hanging from the ceiling. “They’re like the ‘fruits’ …
September 1, 2022
Starlite’s The Stockholm: sweet, sour, and creamy
They say you learn something new every day. Today, I’m learning about two things: aquavit and aquafaba. Jack Reynolds welcomes me to Starlite, where he serves up The Stockholm, named for aquavit’s traditionally Scandinavian origins. …
August 18, 2022
The Bar at Moniker General’s Guava Clouds, S.A.: a play on the classic margarita
I’ve just grabbed dinner with a friend at Liberty Public Market, and now I’m meandering toward the sound of a band coming from The Bar at Moniker General, where we are bound to stumble onto …
August 4, 2022
The Cordova Bar’s Passion Fruit Daiquiri: it's the jam
I have come to Linda Vista to scope out a friend’s favorite neighborhood bar, The Cordova. After perusing my drink options, I decide that a Passion Fruit Daiquiri sounds just right for this toasty summer …
July 21, 2022
Coco Maya’s Coco Bongo Highball: Going coastal Yucatan all the way through Puerto Rico
The last time I met with Rob McShea, he was showing me how to smoke a cocktail using a cloche at Louisiana Purchase. Now I’m visiting him at the newly opened Coco Maya in Little …
July 7, 2022
Kingfisher’s Jungle Fang: refreshing, tropical, spicy
“We put a lot of emphasis on providing a very welcoming environment,” says Beverage Director David Tye about the ambiance that Kingfisher has so lovingly curated. “A place where you come in, being like, ‘Alright, …
June 9, 2022
A drink named for Valentina Ramírez, a soldier in the Mexican revolution
Bare brick walls, faux fur bear skin rugs, green velvet booths, copper-painted bar top... I’m stealing glances at the scenery of soon-to-be-opened Madam Bonnie’s while I chat with all-smiles bar manager Dakota Godden. “Madam Bonnie …
May 26, 2022
Realm of the 52 Remedies’ Saigon Dreamer: on the nose flavor
I’ve done it again: found my way inside another speakeasy. This time, it’s Realm of the 52 Remedies, where Chris Lee tells me how the Saigon Dreamer cocktail was inspired by an Asian coffee shop. …
May 12, 2022
Bartender’s choice at Noble Experiment/Youngblood
I can’t tell you how to get here, exactly, but I’m inside Neighborhood’s speakeasy, Noble Experiment. And I can’t give you the exact name of the cocktail, but you could call it a tequila sour. …
April 28, 2022
Herb & Sea’s Mezcal & Spice: seasonal & fresh
The cool, crisp air inside Herb & Sea restaurant rescues me from a warm afternoon in downtown Encinitas. Behind the bar, Laz Jiminez greets me with a spirited smile before recommending the Mezcal & Spice …
April 14, 2022
Cannonball’s Midnight in Tokyo: like a Japanese hot toddy
On a windy, overcast day on the boardwalk of Mission Beach, I make my way up to Cannonball’s rooftop bar. Alvaro Cruz recommends Midnight in Tokyo as the perfect drink to help warm up. “With …
March 31, 2022
Juniper & Ivy’s Wee Little Lad: a play on strawberries and cream
“Berries and cream, berries and cream, I’m a wee little lad who loves berries and cream,” sang a colleague of Nick Gergen’s when he told her about the strawberries-and-cream-flavored cocktail he was creating for Juniper …
March 17, 2022
Campfire’s Over/Under: grapes above, agave below
On a cool day in Carlsbad, Nick Sinutko presents me with one of Campfire’s current menu cocktails, the Over/Under. He describes the drink as “a super juicy, refreshing, and herbaceous cocktail that utilizes grape as …
March 3, 2022
Wolfie’s Carousel Bar’s Fleur de France: floored by the floral flavor
“It’s beautiful, it’s purple, and it’s probably the one you’ve seen the most of all over Instagram,” anticipates Tina Heschke when I arrive seeking the specialite de la maison. She’s describing the Fleur de France …
February 17, 2022
Wormwood’s Le Frappe: A beginner’s lesson on absinthe
New to the neighborhood, Wormwood introduces itself as an absinthe-focused bar. After greeting me, Ben Marquart busts out a beginner’s lesson on absinthe. He decides Le Frappe is a good place to start. “It’s an …
February 4, 2022
Park & Rec’s loving cup
It’s a Saturday night in University Heights, and groups of friends are pouring into Park & Rec. Busy bartender Alex Rodriguez is slinging cocktails left and right, keeping pace with the crowd as they order …
January 20, 2022
Kettner Exchange’s Thin Mint milkshake cocktail
Claire Sexton Kettner Exchange 2001 Kettner Boulevard Little Italy “It’s like a Thin Mint Girl Scout cookie,” says Claire Sexton, Bar Director at Kettner Exchange, about her cocktail, the Scouts Honor. The recipe was partially …
January 6, 2022
The Corner Drafthouse’s Heart of Gold: a Christmas cocktail
Caroline Wilhelm The Corner Drafthouse 495 Laurel Street Banker’s Hill Drawn by twinkling lights and decorations, I duck into The Corner Drafthouse during their Christmas Pop Up, and bartender Caroline Wilhelm offers to help me …
December 23, 2021
619 Spirits North Park’s Blood of the Scorpion: that kick of spice
Justin Greenwood 619 Spirits North Park 3015 Lincoln Avenue North Park A pretty candy-red cocktail adorned with a sprig of green, the Blood of the Scorpion comes served with a warning. “It’s based with our …
December 9, 2021
A5 old fashioned: Wagyu fat-washed bourbon
Anthony Belcufini Animae 969 Pacific Highway Downtown “Every single night, it’s probably the top seller,” says Anthony Belcufini about Animae’s A5 Old Fashioned. “And it ties into what we do in the back of the …
November 25, 2021
Wild Turkey bourbon and Elysian Night Owl flock together in his Birds of a Feather
Ramon Torres Barleymash 600 Fifth Avenue #6916 Gaslamp It’s a summerlike day in the city, but my desire for festive autumnal libations rages on. Thankfully, I’m not alone in wanting to soak up the season’s …
November 11, 2021
Understory’s Satanic Nightjar: sweet, spicy and herbal
Scott Slater Understory 12841 El Camino Real, Suite 209-210 Carmel Valley The hunt for a spooky cocktail brought me to Understory, the central bar within Sky Deck at Del Mar Highlands Town Center. Explains bartender …
October 28, 2021
The Rabbit Hole’s Apple Cinnamon Fashioned: fall flavors
Josh Blanton The Rabbit Hole 3377 Adams Avenue Normal Heights Feeling festive, I make my way down to The Rabbit Hole in Normal Heights, where they’ve curated a fall-themed drink menu. There, bartender Josh Blanton …
October 14, 2021
Madison’s Queen of Crowns: luck of the draw
Danny Kuehner Madison 4622 Park Boulevard University Heights “What’s your most interesting drink?” I ask Danny Kuehner, bartender for Madison in University Heights. His answer, the Queen of Crowns, does not disappoint, in part because …
September 30, 2021
Irish coffee meets mezcal at Metl Bar Creamery & Cafe
Katiee Mitchell Metl Bar Creamery & Cafe 2835 University Avenue North Park Metl Bar Creamery & Cafe may have gained a reputation as the House of Boozy Ice Cream, but I want to shake things …
September 16, 2021
Tamarind Martini: a Mexiterranean candy cuisine cocktail
YVette Lara Romesco Mexiterranean Bistro 4346 Bonita Road Bonita “The Tamarind Martini is our top selling drink,” says Yvette Lara about Romesco’s signature fusion-inspired cocktail. “It’s very tasty, because it has that spice — we …
September 2, 2021