Underhill-Lounge

So. Most people that meet me think I’m a pretty relaxed non-competitive kind of guy.
You know, that’s bullshit.
I’m actually an incredibly and annoyingly competitive guy.
Sometimes passive aggressive.
It’s just that a lot of the people I hang with, and sometimes myself, don’t notice until well after the fact.
I have been over to people’s houses. [...]

So things got a bit sticky for a while.
Because I know a bunch of cocktail people, online or in person, they sometimes send me notes asking for advice on where to go for cocktails in San Francisco. A while ago, a foreign bartender asked me for advice. I gave him a list [...]

While at Flower talking to E., I had asked if there was anyone at Tilted Portal who would be into making a few cocktails from “The Savoy Cocktail Book.” E. mentioned that one of the bartenders, J., was an eGullet reader, and that he thought she might be interested in participating. Also, that [...]

Last year I was sitting in the bar chatting with an out of town friend.
Down from us was another gentleman who looked vaguely familiar.
When I was giving my Savoy spiel to the bartender, he introduced himself. We’ll call him “E”.
E. is the bar manager at a well regarded restaurant in San Francisco. We’ll [...]

The lovely Humuhumu and charming Trott were kind enough to drop by this evening to sample some cocktails tolerate my exercise in craziness.
By way of explanation, I’ll start the story.
When bartenders find out I’m the Savoy guy, the first thing they typically ask is, “Have you ever worked as a bartender?”
The answer is, no, I’ve [...]

Not organized enough to be “Mise en Place.” Just lots of booze.

Carter Beats the Devil. Damn I love this drink.

Monte Carlo, strangely out of alphabetical order.

A rather girly Clover Club, if I do say so myself. Perhaps leaning towards the dreaded Pink Lady Land.

Ye Olde Corpse Reviver No. 2.

Creole Cocktail.

Dark and Stormy. [...]

Between-The-Sheets Cocktail
1 Dash Lemon Juice.
1/3 Brandy. (3/4 oz Germain-Robin Fine Alambic Brandy)
1/3 Cointreau. (3/4 oz Cointreau)
1/3 Bacardi Rum. (3/4 oz Flor de Cana Rum)
Shake well and strain into cocktail glass.
So here’s the thing about the Between the Sheets. Aside from that dash of Lemon Juice, it is made up entirely of 80 proof spirits. [...]

Berry Wall Cocktail
1/2 Dry Gin.
1/2 Italian Vermouth.
4 Dashes Curacao.
Shake well and strain into cocktail glass. Squeeze lemon peel on top.
For a long time this cocktail’s name caught my eye and I wondered about it. A Martini made with sweet vermouth. A Martinez, really. Why call it a “Berry Wall”? No berries [...]

Bentley Cocktail
1/2 Calvados, or Apple Brandy. (1 1/2 oz Germain-Robin Apple Brandy)
1/2 Dubonnet. (1 1/2 oz Dubonnet Rouge)
Shake well and strain into cocktail glass.
A fine, if unremarkable, cocktail. Found it a bit more interesting with the addition of orange peel and a dash of orange bitters.
Some drinky types have mentioned that the Dubonnet sold in [...]

Had a friend over Friday night and made Roast Chicken Breasts with Porcini Mushroom Risotto. Unfortunately, too busy cooking to take pictures.
I first made a gremolata-substance as a sort of “rub” for the chicken.
Mince 3 cloves garlic, zest of one lemon, 1/4 cup parsley, and 2 tablespoons fresh oregano. To this add a [...]