Caroline on Crack | November 2009

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Monthly Archives: November 2009

November 4, 2009

Great Chefs of LA Winner and How To Get Tickets for Cheap

Congrats to Michelle Nguyen aka @iamchubbybunny of blog The Life of a Fat Bunny and winner of the pair of the Great Chefs of L.A. tickets! It was a hard-fought battle, well not really, but the Random Integer Generator picked Michelle and I confirmed that she did all three steps to win as well. So, Michelle, see you at Sunday’s food fest! Maybe we’ll run into each other over by Govind’s table.

In any case, for you folks who didn’t luck out this time, you can score $150 tickets to the event for only $75 (not including the $9 processing fee) from Goldstar! Hurry though as this offer expires this Friday.

Categories: Dining, Los Angeles

1 Comment

November 3, 2009

New Drago Centro Cocktails for $8 One Day Only

Drago Centro in downtown is unveiling its brand-new cocktail menu today but celebrating it this Thursday by offering every cocktail in its repertoire, normally $12 each, for $8 all day long! The new seasonal cocktail list created by DC’s sommelier and beverage director, Michael Shearin, will feature fall and winter flavors and produce. Tasty.

Check out this list:

5^th e Fig: Bertagnolli Grappa, Fresh Fig, Orange Juice, Lemon Juice
Americano: Campari, Carpano Anitca Sweet Vermouth, Fever Tree Soda Water
Api e Rose: Tanqueray Gin, Poli Miele, Rosemary, Honey, Lemon Juice
Arancia Meccanica: Sombra Mezcal, Red Bell Pepper, Cilantro, Agave Nectar, Lime Juice, Smoked Salt
Espatriato: Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Fresh Ginger, Thai Basil, Orange Juice, Lemon Juice
Fumo e Fuoco: Dewars Scotch, Birdseye Thai Chili, Honey, Lemon Juice
Negroni: Tanqueray Gin, Campari, Carpano Antica Sweet Vermouth
Oro Bianco: Oxley Gin, Chamomile Syrup, Oro Blanco Grapefruit
Pera : Belle De Brillet Poire Cognac, Cointreau, Lemon Juice
Pozione Magica No. 2 Death’s Door Gin, Aperol, Martini Bianco, Lemon Juice
Superstizione: Bourbon, Kahlua, Dry Vermouth, Peychaud’s Bitters, Orange Bitters
Violetta: Belvedere Vodka, Creme de Violette, Shiso, Vanilla Syrup, Orange Juice

Mmm, that Arancia Meccanica sounds reminiscent of Rivera’s Blood Sugar Sex Magic cocktail. But I definitely want to check out the Superstizione which reminds me of Damian of the Roger Room’s take of the Revolver cocktail. Yummy!

EVENT: THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5

Drago Centro
The City National Bank Plaza
525 South Flower Street, Suite 120
Los Angeles, California 90071 (map)
(213) 228-8998
Twitter: @DragoCentro

Categories: Cocktails, Los Angeles, Nightlife

1 Comment

November 3, 2009

Absolut Boston: Why Boston Is Luckier Than L.A.

It’s no secret that I’m not a huge fan of vodka; bourbon being my spirit of choice. But when I received a bottle of Absolut Boston to try out, I was pleasantly surprised. The third in the series of American city-inspired flavored vodkas by Absolut, it’s flavored with elderflower and black tea and possesses a subtle perfumeyness that fans of black tea will love but that isn’t off-putting or overpowering. And the best part, at least for me, was that it didn’t have that sharpness and awful burn that I detest in vodkas. I dared to even drink it neat (tasty!) and also found that it mixes beautifully with ginger ale.

Absolut Boston is definitely my favorite out of the three city vodkas. And I’m kinda jealous that Beantown inspired the best-tasting one of the trio. The Absolut New Orleans was m’OK with its mango and black pepper flavor but Absolut Los Angeles was berry blech. Elderflower and black tea totally makes sense as flavors representative of Boston, though. You know, tea party and that old metropolitan elegance.

Boston Magazine says:

In short, there are better things to drink in this city…but we’re glad to have it in our cocktail mix. And we’re glad Absolut didn’t try to do something with baked beans.

But this vodka doesn’t only celebrate Boston in taste, it will also donate a portion of its proceeds to the Charles River Conservancy, a Boston area charity dedicated to the stewardship and renewal of the parklands along the urban riverbanks. And the bottle design, a simple seafoam green square honors the city’s own Green Monster, Boston’s famous left-field wall at Fenway Park, because you know what rampant sports fans those Bostonians are.

In any case, this vodka would work great in vintage-inspired cocktails (a little Lillet perhaps?) to keep you warm at holiday parties or simply on the rocks alone and at home.

Categories: Cocktails, Gift Ideas, Other, Recipes

3 Comments

November 2, 2009

Jones Hollywood’s 15th Anniversary Party: $5 Cocktails & Food

Photo from Jones Hollywood

It’s a rare and beautiful thing when a bar in Los Angeles lives long enough to see its 15th anniversary. And that’s why Jones Hollywood, barestaurant institution near the Warner Bros. lot, intends to go all out for its 15th tomorrow night. All day from open (12pm) to close, new and old friends of the bar will be treated to $5 Herradura, Finlandia, or Jack Daniels cocktails as well as $2 selected beer like Stella and Peroni, and 15 of Jones’ most popular menu items — spaghetti and meatballs, pepperoni pizza and grilled salmon — for only $5 each.

Yup, this bar also happens to be a molto bene Italian restaurant, serving up pizzas, pasta and salads created by Chef John DeLucie of New York’s Waverly Inn. So if you’d like to reserve a table for a proper evening of dining and drinking, call (323) 850-1726. Each table will have disposable cameras for you to play with, just like they do at wedding receptions to commemorate the moment.

A blast from Jones’ past will also be in attendance: original GM, Keith McCarthy, who will guest bartend from 9pm to close. He worked at Jones for six years before moving on to the likes of Falcon Hollywood and Anisette. And current bar manager, Eric “ET” Tecosky, has been manning Jones for the past 10 years, earning a respected place in L.A.’s cocktail community and even creating his own company cocktail lovers are well familiar with, Dirty Sue, as in the original Dirty Sue Dirty Martini Mix. Check out a classic dirty martini and Dirty Sue Bloody Mary at the party.

Even though this is an all-day affair, things are sure to get packed. But not to worry, if you show up tomorrow and find it at capacity, Jones will give you a raincheck to visit at a future date when you can still enjoy those anniversary prices. So nice!

EVENT: TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3 from 12pm to 2am

Jones Hollywood
7205 Santa Monica Boulevard
West Hollywood, California 90046 (map)
(323) 850-1726
Twitter: @JonesHollywood