Gragnano

Una Pizza Napoletana in San Francisco's SOMA district basically serves 2 things:  pizza and drinks (wine, beer, soda, coffee).  So no cocktails for me for dinner that day.  I promptly arrived at the opening time of 5pm because I wanted to make sure I got a seat right away.  The slightly chilled gragnano sparkling red wine paired well with my Ilaria pizza (smoked Buffalo mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, arugula, extra virgin olive...

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Pescapolitana at Farina

It's rare that I don't have a busy Sunday.  So when I found myself with no plans during lunch time I headed straight to Farina in San Francisco's Mission district. They no longer serve my favorite mimosa there which was a combination of prosecco and passion fruit puree. They have replaced it with a Peach Bellini on their Classic Cocktail menu. I would have normally ordered the Bellini, but wasn't in the mood for the prosecco.  So I...

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Peaches and Herb

Peaches & Herb at 25 Lusk in San Francisco's SOMA district seduces you from the first sip to the last.  This tantalizing cocktail is strong with simple underlying tones of each of the ingredients.  Before you know it, this cocktail pops sweet melodies in your mind with famous grouse whisky, white peach, lemon, simple syrup, angostura bitters, fresh herbs (oregano), and talisker spritz.  My friend described the drink...

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Diego Riviera's Mistress No. 2

I specifically went to 25 Lusk in San Francisco's SOMA district to have this cocktail.  First it was the name, then the tequila and finally the rest of the ingredients that tempted me to 25 Lusk.  The "pueblo viejo blanco tequila, elderflower syrup, fruitlab jasmine liquer, lemon, prosecco, ancho tincture" ingredients creates neither a savory nor sweet cocktail.  Diego Riviera's Mistress No. 2 is a well balanced "Wow" libation...

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Goji Sun at Bourbon Steak San Francisco

Earlier this month I went to a family celebration at Bourbon Steak in the Westin St. Francis Hotel in Union Square in San Francisco.  I couldn't think of a better to way to celebrate than to have a tequila cocktail.  The Goji Sun is a masterfully crafted with "Don Julio Blanco, Fair Goji Liquor, Fee Borothers Plum Bitters, Pineapple Gomme, Lemon Juice.  Shaken served over crushed ice and lemon wheels."...

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Tipsy Tea, Tipsy Pig

For a city that's known for it's micro-climates, the weather this week in San Francisco has been sunny and mild throughout the entire city. I was lucky enough for lunch today to get a seat at Tipsy Pig's outdoor dining area. On a mild day like today, I couldn't think of ordering any other cocktail on their menu than The Tipsy Tea. It's basically an Arnold Palmer (lemonade/iced tea) sweetened with apricot riesling jam and spiked with vodka. The...

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Agave Spritzer

When I saw on Twitter earlier this week, that the Cocktail of the Day at Michael Mina in San Francisco was the Agave Spritz I was disappointed that I wasn't going to be able to try it.  I was overjoyed today when I saw that the restaurant had extended their Cocktail of the Day concept to Cocktail of the Week during their happy hour.  I rearranged my late afternoon schedule to make sure I could taste the Agave Spritz.  The mixture...

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Basil Supreme

The cocktail menu at Farina in San Francisco's Mission District is divided into two categories:  Classic Italian and Modern Italian. Today I decided on Modern Italian. The Basil Supreme first catches your attention with it's vibrant green color. The aromatic basil and vitamin rich cucumber not only lend their colors to the drink, but the refreshing scent and the sliver of cucumber tempt you to taste the cocktail right away. If you want to...

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Hot Lips

I got a call from a friend today at 3:30 to meet somewhere for happy hour in San Francisco.  I let my fingers do the walking and chose Coco500 in the SOMA district. Coco500 has a $5 Happy Hour for happy hour cocktails, appetizers and wine during the work week from 4pm-6pm. We had to wait to get in at 4pm because we were a tad early. I first ordered a cocktail on the happy hour. I enjoyed it. But when I saw the bartender cutting a red hot...

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La Fresa Fresca

Spruce's La Fresa Fresca gets straight to the point with it's name. With Arta Blanco (tequila), strawberry, basil, lemon, lime, agave nectar and black pepper, what else would you name this refreshing strawberry cocktail? Although I started my meal at Spruce with this drink, I can also imagine having this drink as my dessert. When you are looking for a tequila based non-margarita style drink, La Fresa Fresca is for you. Restaurant specifics Full...

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Anejo Sour

Today's lunch at the Presidio Social Club in the Presidio National Park in San Francisco was all about surprises.  On this sunny Fall day in the Presidio National Park in San Francisco the hostess asked if I wanted to sit outside.  Even though I've been to PSC several times over the years, I never knew they had an outdoor dining space.  What a pleasant surprise on this sunny day. The next surprise was a new dish on their menu,...

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Halloween Orange Blossom

I decided to get into the holiday spirit last week and ordered the Halloween Orange Blossom at Osha Thai on Union Street in San Francisco.  I don't recall ever drinking calpico before, so I gave this drink with Absolut Citron, calpico, lime and orange juice a try.  If you are like me and don't know what calpico is, per the product website it's "a non-carbonated beverage made from high quality nonfat milk and lactobacilli with a sweet...

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Pisco Brulee

Reed and Greenough in San Francisco is a stylish new cocktail lounge with an old world backdrop in the Marina.  Just like the new space, the Pisco Brulee is a modern twist on an old classic. I would normally overlook a pisco sour on any cocktail menu unless I was at a Peruvian restaurant.  The Pisco Brulee at Reed and Greenough caught my attention with it's torched adaptation on the classic pisco sour.  It's so much fun to...

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Zombie

The Zombie cocktail at Cafe des Amis in San Francisco packs a punch with Brugal Anejo Rum, Lemon Hart '151', pineapple, guava, lime and a cinnamon-cardamom tincture.  I also love how the cocktail menu also provides you with a nice short story to go along with each cocktail.  Per the Cafe des Amis menu, "Invented by Donn Beach of Hollywood's Don the Beachcomber restaurant, the Zombie first appeared in the late 1930's.  Cocktail...

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Voodoo Child

I am still under the spell of the Voodoo Child at Cotogna in San Francisco.  The Jamaican and Haitain Rums, Elderflower, Grapefruit and Chili Potion mesmerize you with sweet melodies and tempt you with the potent heat of the chili potion.  The slow heat first starts in your mouth and slowly over the course of drinking your lips start to tingle from the potion working it's magic.  You can't stop, you want more.  The voodoo...

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Whore's Bath

I just read in SF Eater that Azul is now closed and being replaced by a new Southern Style restuarant.  How could I have missed the headlines on this over the summer? Azul was located in a tiny alley called Tillman Place near Union Square in San Francisco.  This was one of my favorite places to go for Happy Hours when I found myself in the Union Square neighborhood on weekday afternoons.  They divided their cocktails into three...

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Pharoah's Gold

It's been over two years since I've dined at Spruce. I forgot how stunning the restaurant is when you walk in. When you check-in with the maitre'd straight through the double doors you have the bar area with the liquor bottle display in the large frame to the right, the dining area with the lush velvet couches along the dark wall to your left, and the high ceilings with the skylight. I ended my delicious lunch of heirloom tomata burrata salad...

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French Champagne Cocktail

The French Champagne Cocktail at Chez Spencer not only stimulates your taste buds but it's also grabs your attention with it's presentation with the combination of peaches, lemon, champagne and sugared rim.  It's a perfect way to start an evening. Full Bar http://chezspencer.net/home.php...

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Torisian Heat

When Zero Zero opened in San Francisco last year, my favorite cocktail was the High Smolder. The High Smolder is no longer on the cocktail menu and seems to be replaced by it's cousin, the Torisian Heat. Both drinks share the similarities of tequila (Reposada for the Torosian Heat), stone fruit-jalapeno marmalade (apricot in the High Smolder), lime juice and pineapple gum which combine to spice you up with a balance of heat from the jalapeno...

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Toco Toucan turns Twenty-Five

I am usually not a gin drinker probably from a night of one too many gin and tonics in college.  But I ended up ordering from the specialty Nolet Gin cocktail list at the Clock Bar at the Westin St. Francis this summer.  The Michael Mina restaurants had their bartenders competing for the best Nolet Gin Cocktail from April 2011 to July 2011.  Of the four cocktails on the list, the cocktail named Toco Toucan turns Twenty-Five created...

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Federico and Giulietta

I have been wanting to go to 54 Mint in San Francisco's Mint Plaza since its opened. Unfortunately, the timing just never worked out.  When a friend mentioned that they wanted to meet near Westfield mall for lunch the other day, I took advantage of the opportunity and booked a table at 54 Mint.  We grabbed an outside seat since it's now summer in San Francisco (in the 80's downtown).  I was disappointed when the server said that...

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Hot Rocket

The Hot Rocket at Rocketfish, has 3 of my favorite elements when I order a cocktail:  tequila, spice (jalapeno) and muddled herb (basil).  Lime and agave nectar round out the remaining ingredients in this well named concoction. http://www.rocketfishlounge.co...

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Aruba Arriba

On this rainy fall day in San Francisco, I am sitting with my laptop daydreaming about my previous beach vacations.  This day last year I was in Aruba for a family wedding.  I ordered the Aruba Arriba from the Tambu Bar at the Westin Aruba at 10/10/10 at 10:10 and headed straight to the beach.  I need to look through my old photos for a cocktail menu for the ingredients besides Rum and pineapple juice.  A toast to my cousin's...

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Tequila Fix

I love the Tequila Fix at Bar Agricole.  Thad Vogler and Eric Johnson show their twist on the Tequila Fix with the combination of the tequila, lime, pineapple gum and hellfire bitters.  I've sipped the night away until closing a few times with this cocktail. http://www.baragricole.co...

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Painkiller

Now that my last posting has me thinking about tropical vacations, I wanted to share another tropical drink with you, the Painkiller from Heaven's Dog.  Heaven's Dog has a wonderful selection of cocktails on their menu.  But you can also ask the bartender for a Freedom from Choice drink where per their menu "Let our bar staff choose a cocktail for you.  If you would like, tell us your spirit and let us know if you want your...

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Coconaut

Whenever I have a Coconaut at Prospect I daydream of sitting at a beach at some tropical destination.  The perfectly balanced combination of Jamaican Rum, coco lopez, lime, mint, and peychaud bitters served over crushed ice is addicting.  At the Prospect Happy Hour (Monday-Friday 4-6) they have specialty cocktails, including the Coconaut, wine, beer and bar bites for $5. www.prospectsf....

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Summer Mary

Skool is located in the Design District of San Francisco. For the past 2 summers, I have enjoyed the refreshing Summer Mary cocktail at Skool.  Per their menu, it's made with Standard Russian vodka, heirloom tomato water, lemon, basil and salt.  This is one of my favorite seasonal drinks whether I'm sitting in their cozy restaurant or the warm sunny patio.  I can't wait for the next heirloom tomato season. Restaurant Specifics Lunch,...

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EOS Refresher

I have so many pictures of drinks, it took a while for me to decide which drink I wanted to share first.  I decided on my favorite drink picture.  It’s the EOS refresher (soju, thai basil and lime juice).  I took the photo during their Happy Hour at 6pm, no flash.  Love the natural lighting effects with my smartphone that contrasts the bright light outside and the dark inside. www.eossf....

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