How Stella Got Her Groove Back cocktail from Easy Lounge
In addition to the bevy of Bay Area restaurants that support local farms by serving locally grown foods on a regular basis, there appears to be a growing trend among Bay Area bartenders and mixologists to create cocktails also made from locally grown foods.
I originally learned of Easy Lounge's Saturday Farmers Market cocktails when I visited the Oakland bar in December. Each Saturday morning, the bartenders head over to the Grand Lake Farmers Market around the corner to pick up fruits and vegetables to create their weekly $6 offerings from 2pm - 5pm. Just as many chefs do, the bartenders at Easy Lounge let the season and product availability drive the cocktail menu.
This Wednesday, February 18, the folks at CUESA are hosting a Winter Farmers Market Cocktail Night at the Ferry Building. For $25, you can sample seasonally inspired cocktails created from a wide range of guest bartenders from notable San Francisco locations such as Elixr, Seasons Bar at the Four Seasons, Rye, Rosewood & 15 Romolo, Jardiniere, Bourbon & Branch and Thirsty Bear Brewing Company. The price allows you to taste 12 different seasonal creations, take home some recipes, enter drawings for prizes, and enjoy two signature drinks all in the name of supporting local, sustainable agriculture and the Bay Area cocktail culture.
Last Saturday, a friend and I made the trek from San Francisco to "research" the offerings at Easy Lounge. Since it was Valentine's Day, each of the three cocktails available had names that referenced the holiday:
The Bloody Cupid was made with Absolut Peppar vodka, fresh-made garlic & radish infused tomato juice garnished with a celery stalk, a radish slice and a green olive;
The Hot Sweet Lovin' was made with Firefly Sweet Tea flavored vodka, Marshall's Farm natural honey (American Canyon, CA), meyer lemon juice and hot Mighty Leaf African Nectar tea (San Rafael, CA);
The How Stella Got Her Groove Back was made with Flor de Cana light rum, fresh strawberries and Oroblanco (a cross between pommelos and grapefruits) grapefruit juice served on the rocks with a sugar rim.
Oroblanco grapefruits
We chatted with a man and woman who were among the 30 or so people enjoying the cocktails, and they indicated that Saturday at Easy has become a regular tradition for them. From reading reviews about Easy Lounge at yelp.com, it's pretty apparent that the Farmers Market cocktails are a noticeable and regular draw for quite a few people.
Now if I could just find a bar within walking distance of my place in San Francisco that offers the same choices.
I will take it and is okay for me for i know its health benefits.
Posted by: hgh online | September 08, 2011 at 12:51 AM