Flor de Jalisco at Bloodhound in San Francisco

After the signature drink Bloodhound, I stayed within the Citrus Based cocktail section of the menu and ordered the Flor de Jalisco. This drink is so delicious it's hard to drink slow. It's a perfect combination of spirit, sweet and pop. I've got to try New York's Death & Co's version of the Flor de Jalisco made with marmalade. But I have a feeling that the pineapple syrup, sloe gin and bitters, gives Bloodhound's version an edge.

The Drink - Flor de Jalisco, $9
blanco tequila, lemon, pineapple syrup, sloe gin, soda, bitters

The Place
San Francisco, South of Market (SOMA)
Bar
Open daily 4PM to 2AM
http://www.bloodhoundsf.com/

Other Bloodhound drinks
Bloodhound

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Bloodhound at Bloodhound in San Francisco

I've been wanting to check out Bloodhound since it opened. Luckily I thought of it when I had to meet some friends nearby. I can't believe it's taken me this long to take a trip to his hunting lounge. Their cocktails are categorized by Spirituous, Citrus Based and Old Fashioned. I started the night (or late afternoon) with the signature drink from the Citrus based section of the cocktail menu, the Bloodhound. The fresh squeezed grapefruit juice and the campari (for the added color and alcohol) were nice touches to the classic Greyhound. Bonus, you get to pick your poison (vodka, gin or tequila).

The Drink - Bloodhound, $9
Vodka (or gin or tequila), campari, grapefruit juice

The Place
San Francisco, South of Market (SOMA)
Bar
Open daily 4PM to 2AM
http://www.bloodhoundsf.com/

Other pictures from this visit

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Baby Turtle at Trick Dog in San Francisco

I conclude my Ode to the Pantone Menu at Trick Dog with the most delicate cocktail, the Baby Turtle. As I was waiting for the bartender for my drink, another patron also ordered the cocktail and asked "Do you think the cocktail color matches the color swatch from the menu?" As seen below, it didn't. But does it really matter? Not in my eyes. I knew I would order this cocktail with the tequila and low glycemic grapefruit. The color from the campari, the egg white and the cinnamon made this drink heavenly.

Although I wasn't able to try every drink, I enjoyed every colorful cocktail I sampled from the Pantone menu. I can't wait to try the cocktails on the new menu.

The Drink - Baby Turtle
Tequila Ocho reposado, Campari, grapefruit, cinnamon, lime, egg white (served on the rocks) from the Pantone menu.

The Place
San Francisco, Mission
Bar with food
Open daily 3PM to 12AM
http://www.trickdogbar.com/

Other Trick Dog drinks
Pantone
Grandma's Sweater
Razzle Dazzle
St. Elmo's Fire

Other pictures from the Trick Dog visit

The color swatch doesn't quite match, but who cares when the cocktail is so delicious!

 Love these.

 Love the industrial lights.

Love the industrial lights. 

 The loft area, the place to go when downstairs is crowded.

I'll be back!

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St. Elmo's Fire at Trick Dog in San Francisco

If you order Trick Dog's St. Elmo's Fire cocktail because you think it's a pina colada with the rum, pineapple and coconut, you're in for a surprise. Just like the weather phenomena, St. Elmo's Fire, this cocktail packs a twist. I enjoyed the bold flavor of this drink and the added texture from the coconut garnish. What's the twist, it's not coconut, it's coconut vinegar. I love how many cocktail establishments have embraced the vinegar/shrub trend. The added acidity from the vinegar is a welcome balance to sweet ingredients. I never watched the 80's film St. Elmo's Fire. But I do remember the song. In fact when I ordered it, I only remembered the chorus. A few of these, you'll be looking up the song on youtube or some other channel so you can sing along.

The Drink - St. Elmo's Fire
Denizen White Rum, Amaro Averna, pineapple, coconut vinegar, all spice, lime (served on crushed ice) from the now retired Pantone menu

The Place
San Francisco, Mission
Bar with food
Open daily 3PM to 12AM
http://www.trickdogbar.com/

Other Trick Dog drinks
Pantone
Grandma's Sweater
Razzle Dazzle

Other pictures from the Trick Dog visit

Shrimp Cocktail, $11

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Razzle Dazzle at Trick Dog in San Francisco

On my first trip to Trick Dog, I wasn't looking for any Razzle Dazzle, but surprisingly I literally found it. When my research partner saw it on the now retired Pantone menu, they said "I just have to order it. I'm not looking at the rest of the drinks on the menu...just yet." What made it special? The Trick Dog Spring Cordial, of course.

The Drink - Razzle Dazzle
Hangar One Vodka, Trick Dog Spring Cordial, strawberry, lime (served up)

The Place
San Francisco, Mission
Bar with food
Open daily 3PM to 12AM
http://www.trickdogbar.com/

Other Trick Dog drinks
Pantone
Grandma's Sweater
St. Elmo's Fire

Other pictures from the visit

Irresitable Thrice Cooked Fries

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Grandma's Sweater at Trick Dog in San Francisco

With the typical San Francisco Summer weather, it was nice to see Grandma's Sweater on the cocktail menu at Trick Dog. On this afternoon, it was even overcast in the Mission/Portrero neighborhood. From the first sip to the last, this Grandma's Sweater from the retired Pantone menu made me feel all warm and cozy. My non-gin loving research partner enjoyed this cocktail so much, they ordered two. Each cocktail at Trick Dog not only wows you with it's flavor but also with it's presentation. Isn't this the best looking mint ever?

The Drink - Grandma's Sweater
Beefeater Gin, Zucca Rabarbaro (an amaro based on rhubarb), blood orange, lime, mint, bitter lemon soda (served long)

The Place
San Francisco, Mission
Bar with food
Open daily 3PM to 12AM
http://www.trickdogbar.com/

Other Trick Dog drinks
Pantone
Razzle Dazzle
St. Elmo's Fire

Other pictures from the visit

No trip to Trick Dog is complete without trying the Trick Dog (A hamburger in a hot dog bun). Now I know what all my Olympic Club friends were talking about with a Burger Dog.

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Pantone at Trick Dog in San Francisco

I've been wanting to try the cocktails at Trick Dog in San Franciso since they opened. I've ventured there a couple times. But given no space at the bar or the side areas, I had to walk away. I struck gold a few weeks ago and was lucky enough to enjoy some of the cocktails on the Pantone menu before they changed over to the Record Menu on 45's. But over the next several days, I'll share my ode to the Pantone menu. So we start with the signature cocktail from their first menu, the Pantone. For me you can't go wrong with beet (for natural color and detox effects) and ginger (for the pop of flavor) in a cocktail. I originally asked "What's Kummel?" However, I just decided to order the cocktail. For the curious, per Wikipedia, Kummel "is a sweet, colorless liqueur flavored with caraway seed, cumin and fennel." I loved the color, the pop of spice and the bourbon. 

Whatever the menu format, you are guaranteed a delicious cocktail experience at Trick Dog.

The Drink - Pantone
Four Roses Bourbon, Combier, Kummel, beet, ginger, lemon (served up)

The Place
San Francisco, Mission
Bar with food
Open daily 3PM to 12AM
http://www.trickdogbar.com/

Other Trick Dog drinks
Grandma's Sweater
Razzle Dazzle
St. Elmo's Fire

Other pictures from the visit

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The Clover Club at Clover Club in Brooklyn

With a circa 1892 mahogany bar brought from a coal mining town in Pennsylvania and decor to match, Clover Club in Brooklyn's Cobble Hill harkens back to the days when Model T's were the thing of the streets. Opened by seasoned mixologist Julie Reiner, Clover Club serves up a great selection of cocktails and a food menu to please. The namesake cocktail The Clover Club has a history dating back to  circa 1910 where it was consumed at the original Clover Club in Philadelphia. Simple in ingredients, Gin, Dry Vermouth, Lemon Juice, Raspberry Syrup and raw Egg Whites the drink is complex to make in order to achieve the lovely foamy white head. The drink is bright and tangy with a light raspberry flavor and just a hint of sweetness. The egg whites give the drink body as well as the creamy head. Beautifully executed at Clover Club, The Clover Club is an attractive and pleasantly refreshing libation.

The Drink - The Clover Club
Gin, Dry Vermouth, Lemon Juice, Raspberry Syrup and raw Egg Whites

The Place - Clover Club
New York City, Brooklyn
Bar

http://www.cloverclubny.com/

Address

210 Smith Street Brooklyn, New York 11201

718-855-7939

Hours

Monday - Thursday 4pm - 2am

Friday 12pm-4am

Saturday 10:30am - 4 am

Sunday 10:30am to 1am

* Written by Drinks in the City San Francisco correspondent Steven Ballinger.

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Theory and Practice at CraftBar in New York City

CraftBar is Tom Colicchio's restaurant on Broadway near Madison Square Park in the Flatiron District of New York City. I have been to CraftBar a few times and have never been disappointed with the cuisine or the unique cocktails, many of which are the creations of CraftBar's own mixologists. The Theory and Practice was created by S. Weiss of CraftBar in 2013. Served up in a classic cocktail style it is a mixture of Old Tom Gin, Manzanilla Sherry, Carpano Antica and Braulino Alpino  with a lemon rind on top. The drink is smooth, full bodied and rich in flavors with a sweetness derived from the  natural ingredients. It is so perfectly composed that no one ingredient stands out but all blend together to give a unique flavor sensation that you enjoy nursing sip after sip. It is a great drink anytime but is also wonderful as a late night digestif cocktail. I had one as an accompaniment to my Double Stack Cheeseburger and the two together were amazing. 

The Drink - Theory and Practice
Old Tom Gin, Manzanilla Sherry, Carpano Antica and Braulino Alpino  with a lemon rind on top

The Place - CraftBar
New York City, Manhattan, Flatiron District

900 Broadway, New York, NY 10003

212-461-4300

http://www.craftrestaurantsinc.com/craftbar-new-york/

Dinner

Monday – Wednesday 5pm – 10pm

Thursday 5pm – 11pm

Friday – Saturday 5pm – 11pm

Sunday 5pm – 9:30pm

Lunch

Monday – Friday 12pm – 5pm

Brunch

Saturday – Sunday 10:30am – 4pm

*Written by Drinks in the City San Francisco correspondent Steven Ballinger

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Coconut Water at Glaze in San Francisco

Glaze Teriyaki Grill is located in the Lower Pacific Heights neighborhood of San Francisco. The first California outpost of this NY restaurant is located on Fillmore in the former Johhny Rocket's corner. Yes, I've joined the bandwagon of coconut juice lovers. I was surprised to see it on the menu at Glaze. So I ordered it. They removed the prewrap and skillfully created an opening with the cleaver. There is no comparison in taste and the texture of straight from the coconut juice and processed coconut water in a cardboard box. I will have to savor my next coconut juice from a fresh coconut. Until then, I will be going to Glaze to enjoy it. I would buy this from Whole Foods, but I don't trust myself with a cleaver...

Another nice option, is that the can take another whack to the cocnut when you are done so you can enjoy the meat at home.

The Drink - Coconut Water, $4

The Place - Glaze
San Francisco, Fillmore

More pictures from the visit

Edamame and Cucumbers

Salmon Salad

Coconut water in shrinkwrap

Closeup of the cleaver work

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Lolita Squeeze at Tacolicious in San Francisco

Tacolicious has several locations in San Francisco and just recently opened a location in Palo Alto. With this warm weather, I'm on a Tacolicous roll. The color reminds me of a Watermelon Jolly Rancher. But don't be deceived by the color, it's not sweet. You can easily order one after another of this refreshing cocktail. Beware, one to many and you don't know who you'll be showing your version of the Lolita Squeeze.

The Drink - Lolita Squeeze, $10
Olmeca Altos reposado, watermelon, cilantro, lime, agave

The Place - Tacolicious

San Francisco, Mission District
Mexican restaurant
Lunch and dinner 7 days a week

http://tacolicioussf.com/

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

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