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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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....

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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...

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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,...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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,...

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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...

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