A Lover's Game, Ice Cream Bar

The Ice Cream Bar in Cole Valley in San Francisco takes you back to the good old soda fountain days. I chose a drink from the Crush part of the menu (fruit based sodas). A Lover's Game crush has muddled raspberries, house chocolate syrup, soda and love. The soda jerk recommended that I drink my crush straight, without the straw since it changes the flavor profile of the drink. Loved every sip which gets sweeter, more chocolatey and richer as...

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Absinthe Lemonade, Absinthe

The Absinthe Lemonade at Absinthe in San Francisco in Hayes Valley is not your typical lemonade.  How could it be with a mixture of lemonade, ginger beer and cranberry?  For an adult version of this drink, order the Citron Lemonade that adds vodka to the mix. The Skinny Closed Mondays, lunch, dinner, full bar http://www.absinthe.com/ Other Absinthe drinks Galapagos Sazerac Mata Leao  Citron Presse (non-alcoholic) ...

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Luxury Mojito, Nihon

Hands down, my favorite place for happy hour and a mojito (Luxury Mojito) has always been Nihon in the SOMA neighborhood of San Francisco. The Luxury Mojito is a decadent Japanese twist on the classic mojito. It's made with silver rum, nigori sake, mint, lime, sugar, and topped with champagne.  Unlike most mojitos, this isn't a sweet cocktai...

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Pomegranate Margarita, Tropisueno

The Pomegranate Margarita at Tropisueno in SOMA neighborhood of San Francisco, is not your typical pomegranate margarita.  This cocktail special of the month has El Jimador tequila, pomegranate puree and  rhubarb bitters.   The rhubarb bitters ground any sweetness that you would taste.  Absolutely delicious. Happy National Margarita Day! Restaurant Specifics Lunch, Dinner, full bar http://www.tropisueno.com/ Pomegranate...

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Sazerac, Absinthe

I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate Fat Tuesday than to have a Sazerac at Absinthe in Hayes Valley neighborhood of San Francisco. Here's the cocktail ingredients and story per the Absinthe menu, "Rye whiskey, a dash of Peychaud's bitters, & a touch of sugar.  Stirred & served in a coupe glass rinsed with Pernod absinthe, with a lemon twist. A classic Absinthe cocktail from Famous New Orleans Frinks (1940). by Stanley Clisby...

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Dawa Cocktail, Laurel Court Bar in the Fairmont Hotel

Within a week of reading an article about the Dawa cocktail, I was pleasantly surprised to find it on the cocktail menu at the Laurel Court Bar in the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco. The Dawa cocktail with vodka, brown sugar and lime is reportedly the most popular cocktail in Kenya. Dawa means "medicine" or "magic potion" in Swahili. Do the medicinal qualities come from the lime, vodka, brown sugar or a combination of all three? There are several...

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Margarita, Zuni Cafe

Zuni Cafe in San Francisco serves one my favorite margaritas in the city.  I love the simplicity of this tart margarita that's made with fresh squeezed lime juice, silver tequila, and Cointreau. Zuni serves it with different options:  up, on the rocks, salt and no salt.  With National Margarita day coming up on Wednesday 2/22/2012, make a margarita at home or go to your favorite place to celebrate....

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Pina Caliente, Poquito

The Pina Caliente cocktail at Poquito in the Dogpatch neighborhood of San Francisco was a pleasant find.  Given the name, I was expecting a strong spicy zing. The Pina Caliente, a concoction of arta tequila, chili, lime and pineapple, is a well balanced mild spicy drink with a hint of sweet.  I could have bitten into the jalapeno garnish, but I wasn't brave enough at the time.  I will definitely return to nibble on the jalapeno...

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Sex in the Snow, Hobson's Choice

At Hobson's Choice in the Haight, there are 3 drinks of the month for February.  The Sex in the Snow, is a variation of the classic Sex on the Beach.  The concoction of the vodka, peach schnapps, cranberry and orange juices and a touch of crème de Cacao as their menu says is "Even more fun than the beach!"  I agree. ...

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Stone Rye, Pican

The cocktail menu at Pican in Oakland is divided into Pican Signature, Southern Twist and Classics.  Since I've been wanting to try a Rye cocktail, I chose the Stone Rye from the Southern Twist portion of the menu.  I was pleasantly surprised with this concoction of Redemption Rye, rock candy syrup, Cherry Heering and egg whites.  The Cherry Heering (a Danish cherry liqueur) not only adds a hint of cherry to the drink, but creates...

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Between the Sheets, Hobson's Choice

When I walked into Hobson's Choice, I was greeted by the bartender wearing a t-shirt with Between the Sheets printed on the front. When I found out it was a drink on the cocktail menu, I knew I had to give it a try. Per the cocktail menu, Between the Sheets is "A classic, made with Silver Rum, Brandy, Triple Sec, sweet & sour and a sugared rim. With a name like that, it's gotta be good!" Although it's on the sweeter end of what I normally...

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5 spot, Maven

The 5 Spot at the Maven, in the Lower Haight District of San Francisco, definitely hits the spot.  The combination of aged rhum, lime, ginger, maple, thai basil, and five spice give the drink an intriguing aroma, visual punch, complex flavor and frosty chill.  As you contemplate the deliciousness of the drink, you definitely feel like you are soaking in some ancient wisdom.  Was the name inspired from the 5 spice or from stimulating...

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Bacon Bloody Mary, Paul K

I just read that a new restaurant has signed a lease for the Paul K restaurant space in Hayes Valley.  So before Paul K closes, I want to share some of my favorite drinks that I've had there over the years.  The Bacon Bloody Mary is brunch in a glass.  How else would you describe this version of a bloody mary that is made with maple bacon infused vodka and a tomato juice house mix? ...

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The Risk Taker, Trademark

The restaurant I originally wanted to go to didn't have their cocktail menu available. So I found myself walking down Belden Alley in San Francisco's Financial District on a sunny winter day. When you walk down Belden Alley, you feel like you are in a touristy European alley. All the hosts/hostesses are encouraging you to dine at their establishment. I chose Trademark not only because,  I went to an unforgettable party at it's predecessor,...

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Mescal por mi Amante, Wo Hing General Store

Mescal por mi Amante, translates from Spanish to English as Mescal for my Lover. What a perfect name for this sexy drink at Wo Hing General Store in the Mission District of San Francisco. This strawberry infused mezcal, lemon, egg whites, agave nectar, and angostura bitters concoction makes you want to slip into something more comfortable with it's luscious smoky heavenly flavor.  If you've been reading the blog, I've...

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