Following are Dylan’s words and pictures from the launch event.

A few weeks ago, Daniel of Thirsty in LA asked me to step in for him while he did some liver damage over at the Manhattan Cocktail Classic. We attended a tasting event for Balblair, which was making its U.S. premiere at the Edison in Downtown LA.

For many Scotch drinkers, we’re accustomed to seeing tiers of Scotch broken out in 12, 15, 18, etc year vintages. While it is a classic approach, Balblair takes its own approach by selecting whisky based on the year it is ready. In this case, we were treated to both single malt Scotch from 1991 and 1997. We showed up at the Edison and headed towards the tasting area, cloaked behind some curtains. A good number of people showed up, about 80, including Bill of Street Gourmet LA, Fiona of Gourmet Pigs and Esther of e*Star LA.

After a short introductory speech from Balblair spokesmen, hors d’oeuvres were passed around along with the Balblair gold-colored liquid. We first sampled the 1997, which had very gentle notes of vanilla. I would almost consider it a very feminine Scotch as it was easy enough for my non-Scotch drinking wife to enjoy. I typically drink Scotch neat for a few sips and add in my own water to really wake up the aroma of the Scotch. The 1997 is actually better without water as it really took away from the subtle notes. And then the 1991 came around, and one whiff of this, I knew I would enjoy it. A nice fiery, peppery aroma that singes the nose hairs in a delightful way. It was very smooth and also had some subtle notes of fruit. Peach if I remember correctly.

The Balblair 1997 can be purchased for about $45 and the 1991 at about $100. The spokesmen of Balblair were great to talk to and spent the time to share what they like most about their Scotch.

We had a few more glasses and ended the night with some tapas at Lazy Ox Canteen.”

[Ed. note: Scotch and Lazy Ox? Now that sounds like a proper night out. Thanks Dylan!]

For more information about Balblair, visit www.balblair.com.

Related posts:

1. It’s Single Malt Season at the Wine House
2. The Scotch That Dreams Are Made Of: Glenfiddich Launches the Cask of Dreams
3. July 31: Cocktails, Scotch and Hot Dogs for a Cause at the Fairmont Miramar

They take care of us whether we’re celebrating our triumphs or drowning our sorrows, but where do bartenders go and what do they do when they’re not behind the stick? Now that spring has sprung (and seemingly gone straight to summer), it’s a great time to get out and explore our city. Beefeater 24 surveyed Los Angeles bartenders from the Edison, the Doheny (now Caña), Rush Street, and more to see where they would go in their Ultimate 24 Hours in LA. Now, I can’t vouch for the scientific validity of this survey, but there are some fun questions and a few surprises to be found in the results. Let’s review them, shall we?

Table I. (Click to enlarge)

Table I asks bartenders where they go to hike, hear live music, surf, and take a stroll. No surprises here, with Runyon Canyon, the Hollywood Bowl, Venice Beach, and the Farmer’s Market coming out on top. Although I’m curious, which bartenders enjoy strolling through Rodeo Drive?

Table II. (Click to enlarge)

Table II has a couple of touristy things: where bartenders prefer to eat a “star-gazing lunch” (the Ivy) and “shop where the stars shop” (Fred Segal is the big winner). Then an odd one, where do bartenders get their hair done? Chaz Dean apparently, though 58% of the voters didn’t respond. Kogi BBQ and In-N-Out tied in the Late Night Bite category.

Table III. (Click to enlarge)

Table III starts off with a couple of big winners: The ArcLight for favorite movie theater, and The Getty Center for art exhibits. Surprisingly, not one vote for MOCA despite its downtown location and younger, hipper demographic. Finally, bartenders were asked when they preferred to enjoy their Beefeater 24 cocktail, with 43% answering “before starting a night out in Downtown LA.” Here’s a question for a future survey: what cocktail that would be?

Related posts:

1. Themed Cocktail Hours at First and Hope
2. Call for Entries: Two Bartenders will Make the Auchentoshan Switch and Cross the Atlantic for Two Weeks
3. Haiti Relief Events at The Doheny and The Edison

Cheers to a fantastic 2010!

NEW YEAR’S EVE 2009
Thursday, December 31, 2009

8 oz. Burger Bar
Govind Armstrong’s Melrose eatery closes its doors to throw a private New Year’s Eve Party, and you’re invited.

• Passed appetizers, dessert buffet, Champagne toast at midnight, and a DJ
• $35 pre-sale, $45 at the door

8 oz. Burger Bar
9pm-2am
7661 Melrose Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90046
www.8ozburgerbar.com
Reservations: (323) 852-0008

~

Comme Ça
“Les Années Folles”
Take the Wayback Machine to 1920′s Paris with Comme Ça’s prix fixe menu, featuring Amuse, Relevés, Supplement, Entrées, Pièces de Resistance, and Le Dessert courses.

• Five-course tasting menu: $95
• Wine pairings: $35 (standard) or $60 (premium)
• Champagne toast
• Period attire encouraged but not required

Comme Ça
Seatings begin at 5pm
8479 Melrose Ave.
West Hollywood, CA 90069
www.commecarestaurant.com
Reservations: (323) 782-1104 or maria@commecarestaurant.com

~

Copa d’Oro
Just in time to ring in the new year, Copa d’Oro recently debuted four punches, including the appropriately-named 2010 (Sazerac Rye, Sweet Sherry, Elderflower Liqueur, fresh lemon juice, organic pear juice, Prosecco). No cover, two price points for table reservations.

Premium Tables

• $50/person (minimum four guests)
• Includes 1 bottle of Louis Roederer

Standard Tables

• $25/person (minimum four guests)
• Includes 1 bottle of Prosecco

Copa d’Oro
Featuring: DJ Kid Japer
8pm-2am
217 Broadway
Santa Monica, CA 90401
www.copadoro.com
Reservations: (310) 576-3030
NOTE: Copa d’Oro mailing list members who reserve a NYE table receive an additional complimentary bottle of Prosecco. RSVP: events@copadoro.com

~

The Doheny
“Divine Lang Syne”
Cedd Moses’ private cocktail den opens its doors to non-members on NYE, with reserved table dinner packages and luxe amenities.

Reserved Table Seating:

Divine Deluxe – $525

• Bottle of Perrier-Jouët La Fleur Brut Champagne
• Dinner for two at Rivera
• One night stay at the O Hotel

Platinum Reserve – $450

• Bottle of Perrier-Jouët La Fleur Brut Champagne
• Dinner for two at Rivera

Gold Reserve – $350

• Bottle of Perrier-Jouët La Fleur Brut Champagne
• One night stay at the O Hotel

Silver Reserve – $200

• Bottle of Perrier-Jouët La Fleur Brut Champagne

Amenities:

• Tableside punch service
• Flights of luxury scotches and cognacs
• Complimentary artisinal cheese plate
• Handmade French chocolates

The Doheny
Featuring: DJ busbus
8pm-2am
714 W. Olympic Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90015
thedoheny.com
Reservations: joel@thedoheny.com

~

The Edison
“The Nautilist’s Ball”
The Edison’s second annual NYE bash features live music, performers, dining, and of course the Green Fairy.

• Individual tickets: $75
• Limited table reservations start at $300/table
• Entry includes Champagne Toast and Desserts at Midnight.
• All table reservations include a bottle of Champagne, midnight toast, desserts and entrance.

The Edison
Featuring: DJ Imagika, Gifted Performers, and Abney Park
Doors at 8pm
108 W. 2nd St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
www.edisondowntown.com
Table reservations: (213) 613-0000

NOTE: Pre-sale tickets for NYE are sold out! Tickets will be available at the door and space will become available as guests exit the venue. Tickets purchased at the door are $75.

~

The Foundry on Melrose
“Hello 2010″
The Foundry is offering two seatings for Eric Greenspan’s special tasting menus, as well as a cocktail party in the lounge with passed apps and live jazz.

• First seating, 6-7:15pm – $95 ($135 with wine pairing)
• Second seating, 9-10:15pm – $150 ($200 with wine pairing)

Lounge Cocktail Party – $35

• 10pm-2am
• All you can eat passed hors d’oeuvres
• Complimentary champagne toast at midnight
• Live jazz all night

The Foundry on Melrose
7465 Melrose Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90046
www.thefoundryonmelrose.com
Reservations: (323) 651-0915

~

The Hungry Cat
“la nochevieja”
Hollywood’s Gato Hambriento is saying adios to the Aughts with an Iberian-influenced menu and an open bar.

• Spanish-influenced, multi-course feast
• Open bar featuring Hungry Cat Cocktails, Spanish wines, draft/bottled beers
• $135/person

The Hungry Cat
1535 Vine St.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
www.thehungrycat.com
Reservations: (323) 462-2155

Rivera
If you’ve ever thought about tasting Julian Cox’s entire top notch cocktail menu, NYE is your chance to do so…in ninety minutes. Oh, and there’s John Sedlar’s wonderful food, too.

Bottomless Cocktail Party

• 11pm-12:30am
• Unlimited cocktails from the Rivera Specialty Cocktails menu, plus “special punches”
• $50 pre-sale for a seat at the bar or lounge

Dinner options

• 6:30-7:30pm: 6-course menu ($75/guest)
• 9-10pm: 7-course menu ($110/guest)
• Wine pairings: $50 & $75
• Luis Roederer Brut Premier: $18/glass & $75/bottle

Rivera
1050 S. Flower St, #102
Los Angeles, CA 90015
www.riverarestaurant.com
Reservations: (213) 749-1460

~

Seven Grand
Get warmed up at downtown’s Whiskey Wonderland with $8 Manhattans til 9pm, then choose from three party options.

Seven Grand Private Reserve Seating

• Jackalope Drawing Room
• Choice of bottle: Perrier-Jouët La Fleur or Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon
• $180 for two guests

Seven Grand Top Shelf Seating

• Choice of bottle: Perrier-Jouët Champagne or Sazerac Rye
• $140 for two guests

General Admittance

• $20 after 9:30pm
• Complimentary East Coast Toast at 9pm, L.A. Toast at Midnight

Seven Grand
7pm-2am
Featuring: Deacon Jones Blues Review, DJ Slick Rick
515 W. 7th St., 2nd Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90014
www.sevengrand.la
Reservations: (213) 614-0737

~

The Tar Pit
The new venture from Mark Peel and Audrey Saunders is hosting what promises to be a classy evening of food, cocktails, and music. There’s no cover, instead Tar Pit is requiring food and beverage minimums per person.

• First seating, 6:30pm – $75 (dining room) / $60 (bar) food & beverage minimum per person
• Second seating, 9:30pm – $95 (dining room) / $75 (bar) minimum per person
• Live entertainment starting at 9:30pm
• Champagne midnight toast, party hats, and “festive sundries”

The Tar Pit
609 N. La Brea Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
www.tarpitbar.com
Reservations: (323) 965-1300

The Varnish
Downtown’s preeminent cocktail bar is offering a two-part New Year’s Eve.

Part One, 7-9:30pm – $9 Champagne Cocktails designed by the Varnish
-or-
Part Two, 10pm-close

• Open Bar with Varnish Cocktail List drinks
• Bottomless punch bowl with Grand Marnier Centenaire
• Champagne toast
• Limbo!
• Tables for parties of two, four, & six, or standing room at the bar
• $125/person

A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Southern California USBG.

The Varnish
118 E. Sixth St.
Los Angeles, CA 90014
www.thevarnishbar.com
Reservations: Eric at (213) 622-9999, or thevarnish@thevarnishbar.com

~

New Year’s Eve Guides

• Citysearch
• e*star LA
• LAist Parts I, II, III
• LA Times
• Los Angeles Magazine

Related posts:

1. So Long 2011, and Thanks for All the Fish!
2. So Long 2010, and Thanks for All the Fish!
3. All the Booze That’s Fit to Print – February 2010

The inaugural Jimmy Barela Award is sponsored by Promixo Spirits and will be given to the bartender who “expresses the most creativity in mixing an original cocktail inspired by 1800 Tequila’s popular super-premium Blanco, Reposado or Anejo brands.” Participants will include mixologists from Rivera, Comme Ca, Cicada, and 213′s own Seven Grand, The Doheny, The Varnish, Tony’s Saloon and more.

The blind tasting will be judged by Betty Hallock (LA Times food writer and editor), Jonathan Gold (Pulitzer Prize winning food critic and LA Weekly columnist), and a sure-to-be-tough peer panel of leading Los Angeles mixologists. Following the competition is an afterparty at the Red Car Bar, beginning at 8pm.

The winning cocktail will be served during Cole’s 101st Birthday Party, and featured throughout the year on the Red Car Bar’s specialty cocktail menu. The winning mixologist will also receive a cash prize and two VIP Lakers tickets provided by Promixo Spirits.

Customers who bring a book to Cole’s Sunday through Tuesday will receive a $1 Off French Dip coupon. All book donations will support the renovation of the Mary Murphy library at the Midnight Mission, currently serving Mission residents and the downtown homeless community. For more information, please visit www.midnightmission.org.

Cole’s 101st Birthday Party
Sunday, Dec. 6 to Tuesday, Dec. 8
118 E. 6th St.
Los Angeles, CA 90014
(213) 622-4090
www.colesfrenchdip.com

Inaugural Jimmy Barela Award
Sunday, Dec. 6
Competition Afterparty begins at 8pm
Feat. DJs Pony vs. Tiger

Follow HarryCole1908 on Twitter for updates on Cole’s 101st birthday celebration.

Related posts:

1. December 4: Cole’s 103rd Anniversary and Repeal Day Celebration
2. Dec. 5: Jimmy Barela Award and Cocktail Competition, Seven Grand Repeal Day Celebration
3. May 12: Thirsty in LA 2-Year Blogiversary & World Cocktail Day Celebration at Caña

“What America needs now is a drink.” ~ President Franklin D. Roosevelt

Amendment XXI (click to enlarge) | Source: NARA

While the quote above may be more appropriate than ever, FDR said those words back in 1933, after 13 years of Prohibition were finally ended.

From repealday.org: “On December 5th, 1933, Utah, the final state needed for a three quarters majority, ratified the 21st Amendment, repealing Prohibition and restoring the American right to a celebratory drink.”

Although it’s been 76 years since the end of Prohibition, Repeal Day is a relatively new tradition, the brainchild of Portland mixologist Jeffrey Morgenthaler. You can read the story behind Repeal Day on his blog.

REPEAL DAY
Saturday, December 5, 2009
www.repealday.org

~

This Saturday, December 5th, some of L.A.’s favorite cocktail venues are hosting Repeal Day celebrations. So do your patriotic duty, exercise your rights as an American, and raise a glass (or two) to the 21st Amendment!

The Edison

As we’ve come to expect from the Edison, when they do an event, they go all out. Repeal Day is no different, as the Edison will be offering ice skating with Santa at Pershing Square, then a special cocktail featuring its exclusive blend of Woodford Reserve back at the Edison.

6pm-8pm
Ice Skating in Pershing Square
532 S. Olive St.
With a gift from Santa
Hot chocolate and treats for the first 100 guests

8pm-9pm
Cracking the Barrel of Edison’s Christmas Blend of Bourbon
108 W. 2nd St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 613-0000
www.edisondowntown.com

~

Comme Ca & Pizzeria Ortica

David Myers’ Comme Ça and Pizzeria Ortica will be celebrating Repeal Day (in West Hollywood and Costa Mesa, respectively) with a mix of classic and new school cocktails.

• Classics: Old-Fashioned, Sidecar & French 75
• Mary Pickford (rum, pineapple juice, grenadine, maraschino cherry)
• Colony Cocktail (gin, grapefruit juice, maraschino liqueur)
• Barbary Coast (Scotch, gin, crème de cacao, heavy cream)
• Bacardi Cocktail (rum, lime juice, grenadine)

Buy the first cocktail for $11, give ‘em the password (“Roosevelt,” natch), and pay just 76 cents for the second (limit one per guest).

Comme Ça
Repeal Day menu
Friday, Dec. 4 – Sunday, Dec. 6
8479 Melrose Ave.
West Hollywood, CA
(323) 782-1104

The Repeal Day menu will also be available at Pizzeria Ortica, from Dec. 4 through Dec. 11.

~

Casey’s Irish Pub
Repeal Day Party
9pm-2am
Feat. live music by The Damselles & TC4
DJs Pony vs. Tiger

Dinner & drink specials
Prize for best 30′s attire
Free fedoras while they last

613 S. Grand Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90017
(213) 629-2353

~

Word is that Tony’s Saloon and Rivera also have special Repeal Day shenanigans in the works, so stay tuned…

~

Update 12/5: Julian Cox announced that Rivera’s Late Night Cocktail Menu will be specially priced at $5 in honor of Repeal Day. Classics like the Manhattan, Corpse Reviver, and Blood and Sand will be available from 10pm to close.

Rivera
1050 S. Flower St, #102
Los Angeles, CA 90015
(213) 749-1460
www.riverarestaurant.com

Related posts:

1. December 4: Cole’s 103rd Anniversary and Repeal Day Celebration
2. Dec. 5: Jimmy Barela Award and Cocktail Competition, Seven Grand Repeal Day Celebration
3. So Long Aughts, and Thanks for All the Fish!

To promote the debut of its latest Nuovi Classici (“new classics”) cocktail menu, Drago Centro recently offered the entire list at $8 per drink (compared to the usual $12 price) for one day only. Never one to pass up a great deal, I met the crew at Drago on a crisp Thursday night.

By the time I arrived, Noelle had already ordered a 5th e Fig (Bertagnolli grappa, fresh fig, orange juice, lemon juice). A sip of her drink gave me a hint of the grappa’s fruit and floral notes, as well as the sweetness of the fig. It was a tasty beginning to a great cocktail session.

Superstizione

Round One

I started with the Superstizione, made with Woodford Reserve bourbon, Kahlua, dry vermouth, Peychaud’s bitters, and orange bitters. The Kahlua’s distinct coffee taste hit first and lingered, complemented by the Woodford’s subtle vanilla and spice notes. The bitters provided a nice floral and citrus finish.

Espatriato

For her first cocktail, Lena went with the Espatriato: Buffalo Trace bourbon, fresh ginger, Thai basil, orange juice, and lemon juice. The big, smoky taste of the Buffalo Trace was offset by the ginger’s bite and a hint of anise from the Thai basil.

Amy began with the Fumo e Fuoco (“Smoke and Fire”), made with Dewar’s scotch, bird’s eye Thai chili, honey, and lemon juice. While the cocktail had the fumo (no doubt from the Dewar’s), we agreed it could’ve used more fuoco. Still, it was a surprisingly smooth and balanced cocktail. (Click here for the recipe.)

As we enjoyed our drinks, we met Michael Shearin, Drago’s Sommelier/Beverage Director. He was eager to hear our feedback and justifiably proud of the cocktails. He also made sure to credit bartender Jaymee Mandeville as his collaborator and co-creator of the new menu. My first drink, the Superstizione, happened to be created by another bartender, Mark Blackhart.

Pozione Magica No. 2

Round Two

Next up for me was the Pozione Magica No. 2: Death’s Door gin, Aperol, Martini Bianco, and lemon juice. Michael dubbed this one an Italian version of the classic Corpse Reviver No. 2, and I thought it was a winner. The juniper from the Death’s Door, the bitter/orange of the Aperol, and the Martini’s vanilla played very well together.

Arancia Meccanica

Round Two for Lena was the Arancia Meccanica: Sombra Mezcal, red bell pepper, cilantro, agave nectar, lime juice, and smoked salt. She really enjoyed this one, declaring herself a fan after just one sip. With the wonderful, smoky Sombra as the base it’s no wonder she liked it.

Amy’s second cocktail was the Violetta: Belvedere vodka, Crème de Violette, shiso, vanilla syrup, and orange juice. Striking in color, floral and sweet in taste. The shiso added an intriguing basil/mint finish. Of all the drinks we ordered, the Violetta was probably the consensus favorite, if requests for more sips from the group were any indication. I wouldn’t place it at the top of the Drago list (that would be the Pozione Magica), but it’s a great cocktail nonetheless.

Violetta

Also on the menu:

• Api e Rose – Plymouth gin, Poli Miele, rosemary, honey, lemon juice
• Oro Bianco – Oxley gin, chamomile syrup, oro blanco grapefruit
• Pera – Belle de Brillet Poire cognac, Cointreau, lemon juice
• Two Classics, the Americano and the Negroni

Small Bites

In addition to the Nuovi Classici menu, Drago Centro offers a Small Bites Menu, available at the bar all day, every day. Select beers are $4, wines by the glass are $5-6, and four classic cocktails are $5: Aviation, Hemingway Daiquiri, Vodka Collins, and Ward Eight. Also available are Chef Celestino’s Bar Food Favorites, an assortment of small plates that pair nicely with the drinks. Standouts include La Bruschetta di Mare (marinated anchovies, onions, tomato, crostini), Gli Arancini Siciliani (saffron risotto fritters, bolognese), and La Pizza all’ Anatra (duck confit, rapini, mozzarella pizza).

Bruschetta di Mare

Drago Centro’s original cocktail menu was created by Copa d’Oro‘s Vincenzo Marianella. Michael has subsequently overseen the creation of new, seasonal drinks and has worked diligently to establish Drago as a cocktail destination in its own right. Being included in Jonathan Gold’s Where to Drink Now list certainly helped, and Michael’s latest menu is another confident step towards that goal.

Drago Centro
525 S. Flower St., Suite 120
Los Angeles, CA
(213) 228-8998
www.dragocentro.com

Follow Drago Centro and Michael Shearin on Twitter.

For another take on Drago’s cocktails and more pics, check out this post from e*star LA.

Related posts:

1. September 28: Drago Centro Fall Cocktail Menu Launch
2. January 20: Drago Centro Winter Cocktail Menu Launch
3. Living La Dolce Vita at Drago Centro

Radio Room menu pg. 1

Radio Room menu pg. 2

Related posts:

1. July 28: Radio Room at the Edison
2. February 23: Radio Room at the Edison
3. September 29: Radio Room at the Edison

Bartender Matt prepares a cocktail from the new Fall Menu.

Last Thursday, Rivera’s Julian Cox unveiled eight new cocktails (of a planned twelve) from his eagerly awaited Fall Menu. To mark the occasion, the new drinks were priced at $5 each, to go with a selection of $7 classics such as the Blood & Sand and Dark & Stormy. Our crew enthusiastically dove into the new menu and were duly impressed with Julian’s offerings. As always, his use of seasonal ingredients and inventive flavor profiles consistently surprised and delighted our palates.

Picking a favorite from the new list is next to impossible, but standouts include the Autumn Sour, the Dude Abides, and the New York Flip. All three perfectly captured the essence of the season, from visual appeal to taste.

Below are pics of several cocktails from the new Fall Menu. Needless to say, we can’t wait for the rest!

Scofflaw: rye, dry vermouth, grenadine

The Dude Abides: deconstructed White Russian, pecan tincture

Bee's Nuts: amontillado sherry, rhum agricole, Bärenjäger, pecans

Tony Manzana: fresh apple juice, applejack, honey, ginger

New York Flip: bourbon, port, cream

Not shown:

• Autumn Sour – pear infused rye, applejack, lemon, egg white
• Intro to Chartreuse – chartreuse, pineapple gomme, lime
• Smooth Criminal – blanco tequila, bianco vermouth, grapefruit

Rivera
1050 S. Flower St, #102
Los Angeles, CA 90015
(213) 749-1460
www.riverarestaurant.com

Related posts:

1. October 8: Rivera Fall Cocktail Menu Launch Part 2
2. Rivera Springs into the Season with a New Cocktail Menu
3. September 28: Drago Centro Fall Cocktail Menu Launch

To celebrate the launch of Fall dineLA 2009, Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill hosted a kick-off press conference at L.A. Live last Friday. The event gathered a Who’s Who of the city’s acclaimed chefs, restaurateurs and VIPs, who joined speakers Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Mark Liberman (president and CEO of LA INC.), Tom Mullen (VP of Market Development / Los Angeles, American Express), Wolfgang Puck (executive chef/founder of Wolfgang Puck Worldwide), Josie Le Balch (executive chef/owner of Josie Restaurant), and Jimmy Shaw (chef/owner Loteria Grill).

The First Bite | Photo: Lena Watanabe

It was a great event with plenty of schmoozing, shop talk, and photo ops. Among the attendees were Neal Fraser (Grace), José Andrés (the Bazaar), Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken (Border Grill), and many more. Soon after the traditional “First Bite” and a group photo with the mayor and all the chefs in attendance, the wine started flowing and seemingly endless trays of Mr. Puck’s tasty apps were passed around. Highlights included the mini crab cakes, the corn soup and various desserts.

Photo: dineLA

I chatted with Rivera chef John Sedlar, who told me Julian Cox was at that very moment working feverishly on Rivera’s fall cocktail menu, scheduled to make its debut soon. I was also glad to have a chance to thank Jimmy Shaw for my friend’s wonderful birthday dinner our group enjoyed a few nights earlier at Loteria.

There are some excellent cocktail programs among the 260 participating restaurants, including Akasha, the Bazaar, Campanile, Craft, Drago Centro, Essex Public House, Fig, the Foundry, Ortega 120, the Penthouse, RH, and Rivera, to name just a few. Play your reservations right and you can enjoy some top notch libations with the money you’ll save, thanks to dineLA!

dineLA Restaurant Week
October 4-9 through October 11-16, 2009
Visit the Restaurant Week website for a full list of participating restaurants, dineLA prix fixe menus, and to make reservations.
For up to date info, follow dineLA on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

Related posts:

1. dineLA Welcomes Hungry Cat to Winter 2011 Restaurant Week
2. October 12: Drago Centro Fall Cocktail Menu Launch
3. Fall Cocktails and More from Julian Cox

After a brief hiatus, the Radio Room returns on September 29, featuring guest mixologists John Lermayer (The Florida Room, Miami) and Jeffrey Morgenthaler (Clyde Common, Portland).

Below is the night’s featured cocktail menu (drink creator in parentheses):

Radio Room Cocktails (9/29)

• The Charley Horse (Jeffrey) – Amaro Averna intermingled with Death’s Door Vodka, ginger, and orange
• Allspice Sour (John) – Hudson River Rye Whiskey combined with Allspice Dram and shaken until frothy
• East of Eden (Jeffrey) – G’Vine Gin accented with house-made Gewürztraminer syrup and shaken “into a frenzy”
• Red Pepper Collins (John) – A “delicious tango” of G’Vine Gin, fresh muddled bell pepper, and Dimmi Liqueur
• Susquehanna Cocktail (Jeffrey) – Amaro Averna coupled with Punt e Mes, stirred “ever so gently”
• Winter Daiquiri (John) – JM Rum meets Walnut Liqueur in this “classic blend” of lime and sugar
• Tuthilltown Punch (Jeffrey) – Tuthilltown Bourbon accented with Crème de Cassis, fresh lemon, ginger, and champagne

In addition to imbibing cocktails from the Edison’s ace bartending team, guests will be entertained by Portland’s March Fourth Marching Band, “a charismatic big band spectacular that takes audiences on a musical journey around the globe.”

Limited online presales are available now. Tickets will also be sold at the door on Tuesday night.

Radio Room at the Edison
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
108 W. 2nd St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 613-0000
www.edisondowntown.com

Guest Mixologists: John Lermayer & Jeffrey Morgenthaler
Featuring: The March Fourth Marching Band

• Doors at 8pm
• 21 and over
• Presale tickets available online
• $10.00 tickets at the door on event night

Related posts:

1. November 10: Radio Room at the Edison
2. July 28: Radio Room at the Edison
3. September 6: Radio Room Returns to The Edison with The Bon Vivants