Yes,thanks!
I’ve been on a Bloody Mary kick for a while. Liking a cocktail again gives me more options at restaurants other than asking for a glass of red wine.Always ordering the same thing gets very boring.
I’d gone off cocktails for ages,preferring wine. But there are drawbacks:ordering wine at a bar or restaurant can be disappointing. Wines at the bars I used to patronize tended to be the cheapest jug of sludge they could get away with selling. If you are watching the tab at the restaurant you might go for the cheapest per glass price which might be thin and vinegary but it only cost 5 bucks! You compromise quite a lot when ordering wine at a restaurant if you mainly watch the pricelist–which I cannot help but do. Restaurants double or triple the original price of the bottle. And if you have just been at the wine store you will see a bottle selling for 42 dollars that you know you can get for 10.I know there is a solid reason that they do this.I know they must cover their food costs and alcohol is the best way to do this.But I will still know that bottle of Cab costs 8 bucks in the liquor store around the corner.
Cocktails at restaurants aren’t cheap,either. But now that I no longer carouse like a sailor on leave, when I do go out it is usually with the mans for dinner. So I can justify an expensive cocktail every now and then.
The establishments I’ve been to in the last few months that are mixing decent Bloody Marys, some more decent than others:
I judge based on heat(spice) and garnishments.I like olives in my Bloody Mary.I like it even better if I don’t have to ask for them.I don’t mind paying 8,9 even 10 dollars for this cocktail.I also noticed the drink tastes better if I ask for top shelf.Perhaps I am a snob after all?
In Brooklyn
Mojitos (Cuban-On Washington between Park and Flushing in Brooklyn)
Least successful Bloody Mary probably for obvious reasons. Mojitos is better known for their um, Mojitos but they can mix a Bloody Mary depending on who is bartending and whether or not they have any tomato juice. They tend to skip the horseradish and the heat and you don’t get any olives.Tall glass.No celery stalk, mild flavor.
Chez Oskar (French-Dekalb, corner of Aldephi in Fort Greene)
Their Bloody Mary is strong and hot (spicy hot) and served in a short glass with a lemon slice and sometimes they remember the olives. No celery stalk.
Chez Lola (French-Myrtle corner of Vanderbilt)
Wins the prize for most unique! I really like the Chez Lola Bloody Mary.The cocktail came in a salt and hot pepper or chile powder rimmed tall glass. It was strong and hot and had a stalk of celery.The hot salty rim had a beauty side effect:lip plumping! On the second round I felt like Angelina.
In Hell’s Kitchen
The Delta Bar and Grill (Cajun-47th and 9th)
Delicious! Hot and strong, olives(asked for) and no celery stalk but loads of horseradish,in a tall glass.Expensive as hell if you choose top shelf vodka. Ketel 1 Vodka:$9.00. But worth it.
Marseille (French-630 9th Ave.)
Another pricey but absolutely delicious concoction.The olives were huge and crisp on a toothpick balanced across the rim(neat!). Not much noticeable heat and subtle use of horseradish, served in a tall glass. Add Top shelf vodka (I chose Ketel 1 Vodka again) $10.00.