Granizados, Tacolicious

Tacolicious has 2 locations in San Francisco. The Marina location along with an extensive list of tequila and yummy cocktails also serves Granizados. What's that? Per their menu, it's"Somewhere between Guadalijara and 7-11". If you can't choose one of the 4 flavors, try the Granizado flight. There are 3 flavors in the flight, from the left, the Margarita Verano (hand squeezed lime, agave and tequila blanco), Tamarind(tequila blanco, lime and tamarind), and Frozen Pasion(tequila blanco, habanero, passion fruit, lime). All 3 were delicious, but can you say brain freeze?

The Skinny

Lunch and dinner 7 days a week

http://tacolicioussf.com/
Granizado flight, $9

Other Tacolicous drinks
Margarita de la Casa
Pasion
La Paloma at Mosto
Margarita Fresca
Lolita Squeeze
Mucho Gusto

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May Flowers: Spring Cocktails of the Farmer's Market

I've been looking forward to the CUESA May Flowers Spring Cocktails of the Farmer's Market event for some time. CUESA stands for Center for the Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture. CUESA and the Northern California chapter of the United States Bartenders Guild brings together chefs and mixologists from the San Francisco Bay Area to give a sampling of their creative dishes and libations around the seasonal theme. The event showcased two full sized signature cocktails, 10 sample cocktails and bites.

You have an opportunity to speak with the chefs, mixologists and brand representatives in person (as long as if the line isn't too long). It also allowed me to see the future of the Ice Cream Bar in San Francisco when it gets it's liquor license. As a San Franciscan who doesn't get out to the East Bay enough, these seasonal events are a great way for me to appreciate the talents of East Bay mixologists without setting a foot across the bridge.

The next CUESA cocktail event will be at the end of the summer, August 29th, Summer Cocktails of the Farmer's Market.

*Pictured above is the Stalk Market Punch by Alex Smith of Honor Bar.

The Skinny
Seasonal cocktail event
http://www.cuesa.org/events/2012/may-flowers-spring-cocktails-farmers-market
Event price, $40

Previous CUESA Cocktail events
Hecho en San Francisco

More pics from the event are on our Facebook page.

La Llorana by Brian Means, 5th Floor

Stalk Market Punch by Alex Smith, Honor Bar

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Puka Punch, Smugglers Cove

Smugglers Cove is located in the Hayes Valley neighborhood of San Francisco. It's truly difficult to decide which cocktail to drink at this rum centric tiki den. The Puka Punch at Smugglers Cove I believe is intended to be a drink for two but why share when you will want the whole thing for yourself! It contains 11 ingredients 4 rums and 4 fruit juices blended together to give you a libation that is tropical without being too fruity and sweet and strong enough. One is perfect, two will blow you away...

The Skinny
http://smugglerscovesf.com
Puka Punch, $14

Written by Drinks in the City Correspondent, Steven Ballinger

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Lychee Smash, Twist by Pierre Gagnaire

Twist by Pierre Gagnaire is located in the The Mandarin Oriental hotel in Las Vegas. Twist's Signature Cocktail Menu is categorized by Martinis (up for $18), Long (on the rocks for $17) and Champagne Cocktails (for $20). Every single cocktail looked so inviting. I ended up choosing the Lychee Smash with  Grey Goose Poire, Lychee Liqueur, Pear Purée, simple syrup, fresh lemon juice, and mint leaves. This drink was absolutely delicious - extremely balanced - perfect sweetness, perfect temperature and just the right amount of alcohol. Loved it!

The Skinny
Dinner Tuesday - Saturday, full bar
http://www.mandarinoriental.com/lasvegas/dining/twist/
Lychee Smash, $17

Written in collaboration with Elaine Chin, Drinks in the City NY correspondent.

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Golden Gate Cocktail, Presidio Social Club

The Presidio Social Club is located in the Presidio National Park in San Francisco. This classy restaurant was originally military barracks back when the Presidio was a military base. The Presidio's Libations menu is categorized by Barrel Aged and PSC classics. I actually chose a cocktail not on the Libations menu, but on the food menu. The Golden Gate Cocktail is a tribute to the Golden Gate Bridge which celebrates it's 75th anniversary today. It's a delicious concoction of white rum, gin, falernum, lemon, creme de cacao and topped with high proof rum.

Happy 75th Golden Gate Bridge!

The Skinny
Lunch, dinner, brunch, full bar

http://presidiosocialclub.com/

Golden Gate Cocktail, $7

Other PSC cocktails
Anejo Sour
Gunpowder

Other pictures from this visit

Bar Tools

 

The bar

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Blood Orange Aperitif, Aziza

Aziza is a Moroccan restaurant that is located in the Richmond neighborhood of San Francisco. All the cocktails on the menu are categorized by spirit and then offered with a selection of herbs, veggies or fruits. I started the evening with an aperitif with blood orange, gran classico, bitters and cacao. It definitely gets your taste buds flowing. The shaved cacao garnish really hits the spot with the blood orange base. I can't wait to return to try the aperitif with sugar snap pea, calvados and bitter orange.

The Skinny
Dinner 7 nights a week, full bar
http://www.aziza-sf.com/
Blood Orange Aperitif, $7

 Chilled Carrot Soup

 Flatbread with 3 spreads (piquillo-almond, yogurt dill, chickpea), $11

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Hierba Dulce, Spruce

Spruce is located in the Laurel Heights neighborhood of San Francisco. The house specialty cocktails matches Spruce's sexy interior. The Hierba Dulce is a seductive blend of Arta Blanco tequila, Dimmi (Italian aperitif), Aqua Perfecta, agave, lemon, bitters, and rosemary. What a simply refreshing cocktail on an unusually warm San Francisco Spring day. I loved how the rosemary scent intensified with each sip.

 
The Skinny
Lunch and dinner, full bar
www.sprucesf.com
Hierba Dulce, $12

Other Spruce drinks
Pharoah's Gold
La Fresa Fresca
The Bitter Truth

Other pics from the visit

 

 Pea soup amous bouche (simply divine)

 

 Veal and Forbidden Rice Entree (veal was tender)

Chicken Waldorf Salad with butter lettuce

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M&A, Per Diem

Per Diem is located in the Financial District of San Francisco. All their fun cocktails are financial market themed. The M&A (Mergers & Acquisitions) is from the New Money Cocktail section of the menu. With Espolon Reposado Tequila, Amontialdo Sherry, Apple Gastrique, Salted Caramel Syrup, and a St. George Absinthe rinse this cocktail is not for the shy. This is a bold drink worthy to enjoy over M&A discussions.

The Skinny
Weekday lunch and dinner, late night (2AM), full bar
http://perdiemsf.com/

Other Per Diem Cocktails
Bimbo

Other pics from the visit

 Panzanella Salad, $12

 Oyster Po Boy, $13

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Lychee Martini, Seasons

Seasons Bar and Lounge is located in the Four Seasons Hotel in the South of Market Neighborhood of San Francisco. The Lychee Martini is from the Classic Cocktail section of the menu. With Skyy vodka, fresh pineapple, lychee and vanilla bean, this cocktail is simple, clean and divine. Do you eat the lychee before the drink, after the drink, or since there are two, you can do both?

The Skinny
Dinner 7 nights a week, open as of 2:30 daily, full bar
http://www.fourseasons.com/sanfrancisco/dining/lounges/seasons_bar_and_lounge/ 

Lychee Martini, $14 ($8 during late night happy hour, aka Violet Hour at Seasons)

Other Seasons Bar and Lounge Drinks
Farmer's Market

Other pics from the visit

Tuna Tartare with taro chips

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Cask Ale Beer Flight, La Birreria

Eataly is Mario Batali's destination food hall for all things Italian under one retractable roof in the Flatiron neighborhood of New York City. La Birreria is located at the rooftop of Eataly. What else is there to do at a Birerria (beer in Italian) except to order beer. There were so many choices that we thought the Cask Ale beer flight was the place to start. Per the menu, "Cask-conditioned ale is beer that is served from the same cask in which it is conditioned. It is naturally carbonated, unfiltered and served at traditional cellar temperature of 50-55 degrees F. The ales are also fermented in casks and then served through hand-pumps in order to offer you a product that is naturally carbonated and incredibly good." From left to right the Wanda (chesnut mild ale), Nigella (seasonal IPA) and the Barista (brewed with Guatemalan coffee).

The Skinny
Open daily from 11:30 to 10:30
http://eatalyny.com/eat/birreria
Cask Ale Beer Flight, $12

Written in collaboration with Elaine Chin, Drinks in the City NY correspondent.

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Hecho en San Francisco

We celebrated Cinco de Mayo at a fundraiser presented by Tacolicious called Hecho de San Francisco. All proceeds from the event went to CUESA (The Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture) and La Cocina. We couldn't think of a better way to spend Cinco de Mayo than attend this benefit with all you can eat and drink. As the night progressed, slowly each station ran out of food and drink.

The next CUESA cocktail event is May Flowers Spring Cocktails Farmers Market on Wednesday 5/23. Get there early if you want to make sure you have a tasting of everything.

The Skinny
http://tacolicioussf.com/
http://www.cuesa.org/
http://www.lacocinasf.org/

Hecho en San Francisco, $55

Other pictures from the evening

 Spicy just how we like it!

 Edible flower jello shots, so pretty

 Love the bottles!

 Hmm, did we try it?

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Public Transit, Pallet

Pallet is located in a restored brick building in downtown Salt Lake City. On my trip to London earlier in the month, I ended up with a six hour layover. I didn't mind as I found a gem in Pallet, which only opened a few months ago. The Public Transit, otherwise as noted on their menu, Public Tranny is a refreshing cocktail with vodka, sage, limoncello and lillet. An interesting story about the drink name is that it originally was named Public Tranny (as listed on the menu when I went). They had to change the name of the drink per some guest requests.

The Skinny
Lunch and dinner, full bar
http://eatpallet.com
Public Transit, $9

Table Setting

Decor (love the sky light)

Decor

Pear and Lime Fizz (non-alcoholic), $3

Grilled Chicken Wrap, $12

Salmon Spinach salad, $11

 

Salmon Entree, $15

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Farrah Faucet, Triptych

Triptych is located in the South of Market (SOMA) neighborhood of San Francisco. I went to brunch there this weekend. The Farrah Faucet caught my eye not only because of the spelling of her last name Fawcett but because of one ingredient. I loved the heavenly combination the champagne and peach simple syrup. The drink's name is definitely worthy of one of Charlie's Angels.

I absolutely loved the 70's memoribilia in the bathroom. If I hadn't gone to the bathroom, I would have forgotten that Kristy McNichol and her brother Jimmy came out with an record. Don't miss the bathroom photo's below.

This drink was originally slated for publication a few weeks from now. However with the news that Donna Summer passing away today, we moved it up. RIP Donna Summer.

The Skinny
Lunch, weekend brunch, dinner (7 nights a week), beer and wine
http://www.triptychsf.com/
Farrah Faucet, $7

Egg White Frittata

Chorizo Scramble

Kristy and Jimmy McNichol album cover

The Angels

Jill

Saturday Night Fever

Starsky and Hutch

Donna Summer's 45 for "Bad Girls" (I think I still have one)

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Dr. No, Bottle Cap

Bottle Cap is located in the North Beach neighborhood of San Francisco. When I saw the Dr. No cocktail on the drinks menu, I thought, that drink sounds dangerous. But it just sounded so good, that I had to try it. The Dr. No cocktail is a delicious tempting combination of Flor De Cańa Dark 7yr. Rum, Smith & Cross Jamaican Rum, Housemade Pineapple syrup, Falernum, Orgeat, Lime Juice, Ginger Beer, and bitters. With the first sip, I immediately was transported to some Caribbean island destination. Knowing the character from the James Bond movie, Dr. No, why would you ever order this drink? But with each sip, your brain says yes, yes, yes. Too many of these and you'll be needing a doctor the next morning and saying to yourself why didn't I say NO when asked for another.

The Skinny
Dinner Tuesday - Sunday, full bar, happy hour (Tues-Fri 3-7), weekend brunch
http://www.bottlecapsf.com/
Dr. No, $9

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Valentino, Cotogna

Cotogna is an Italian restaurant located in the Jackson Square neighborhood of San Francisco. I have not had a cocktail at Cotogna that I have not loved. The Valentino apertivo continues the affair. The Valentino first teases you with the color. The seduction is complete with the smoky and sexy combination of mezcal, blackberry and blood orange. I told my research companion that they should taste the drink. When they tried it, they said, "Wow, that's strong." Within seconds, they then said "Wow, that's really good." From the first glance on the menu, to the first look, to the aroma and to the final sip, the Valentino takes your breath away.

On a sunny day, if you are fortunate enough, you can get an outdoor seat along the sunny side of Pacific Ave.

The Skinny
Lunch, Dinner, full bar
http://www.cotognasf.com/
Valentino, $10

Other Cotogna drinks
Strait Breeze
Vodoo Child
Viceroy
All Summer Long
La Capilla
Crystal Beach

Other pictures from the visit

 Raviol topped with an egg

Burrata with Ramps and Mushrooms

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Poquito Piquante, Burritt Room

The Burritt Room and Tavern is located in the newly renovated Mystic Hotel just off of Union Square. The new owners have fortunately kept the sexy Burritt Room intact. The Poquito Picante cocktail is a concoction of tequila blanco, aperol, lime and chili tincture. This luscious spicy cocktail teased me with the peachy color and jalapeno garnish. The spice from the tincture was perfect, not too spicy and more than a hint of spice.

I am definitely coming back for the tequila punch (meant for 6-8 people). Perhaps for the one year Drinks in the City blogisversary!

The Skinny
Lunch and Dinner, full bar
http://www.mystichotel.com/
Poquito Piquante, $11

Formerly the Crescent Hotel, the Mystic Hotel is conveniently located across from the Sutter/Stockton parking garage.

Other Burritt Room Drinks
Without Permission
Oaxacan Crusta
Vesper Lynd

Other pictures from the visit

Asparagus Tart

Hamachi Crudo

Asparagus Side

Half portion of Salmon with Wheatberry Risotto

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