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On Sunday, May 15th, the scenic hilltop garden of Barnsdall Art Park will be the site for Taste of the Eastside, an afternoon of food, drinks and music that showcases and celebrates the neighborhoods of Silver Lake, Los Feliz, Echo Park, Atwater Village, Eagle Rock, and Highland Park. Proceeds from this inaugural community event will benefit a number of local charities: SEE-LA, Rose Scharlin Cooperative Nursery School, Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, and Barnsdall Art Park.

At Taste of the Eastside, guests can sample tasting-size portions of signature dishes from a variety of participating restaurants, including Auntie Em’s Kitchen, Gingergrass, The Kitchen, Little Dom’s, Yuca’s and more. Fuel will be provided by Intelligentsia Coffee, while samples of the adult beverage kind include beer, wine and tequila from Eagle Rock Brewery, Silverlake Wine and Malo, respectively.

Talmadge Lowe will be mixing Pharmacie cocktails for VIP ticketholders. | Photo: TOTE

General Admission tickets are $25, which includes 15 Taste Coupons. General Admission entry begins at 1pm. $65 VIP ticket entry begins at 12 noon, and includes 30 Taste Coupons as well as admission into the Pharmacie Cocktail Tasting with mixologist Talmadge Lowe of Heirloom LA. Additional Taste Coupons can be purchased at the event.

During the event, Taste Coupons will be used to purchase food and drink from participating restaurants and sponsors. Food samples will require 1, 2, or 3 Taste Coupons. Alcohol samples will be a minimum of 5 Taste Coupons. (Must be 21 or older to purchase VIP tickets and alcohol samples.)

Besides the food and drink, Taste of the Eastside (in partnership with Skylight Books) is hosting a local author signing event, featuring Randy Clemens (The Sriracha Cookbook), Lina Lecaro (Los Angeles’s Best Dive Bars), and Jimmy Williams and Susan Heeger (From Seed to Skillet). And the whole family can enjoy a free art workshop, presented by Barnsdall Arts Sundays from 2pm to 4pm.

KCRW’s Garth Trinidad will provide an afternoon soundtrack of world rhythm and beats.

Tickets are on sale now at Brown Paper Tickets. All proceeds benefit SEE-LA, Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, Rose Scharlin, and Barnsdall Art Park Foundation.

Taste of the Eastside 2011
Sunday, May 15, 2011
1pm–5pm
Tickets:

• $25 General Admission (15 Taste Coupons)
• $65 VIP tickets (30 Taste Coupons)
• $5 kids ages 2-12
• Ages 2 & under FREE

Featuring:

• Tastes of signature dishes by neighborhood restaurants
• Beer, wine & tequila samples (21+)
• VIP Pharmacie Cocktail Tasting with Talmadge Lowe (21+, 1-3pm)
• Free family art workshop (2-4pm)
• Music by KCRW’s Garth Trinidad (2-4pm)
• Local author book signing
• Silent auction

For more information, visit www.tasteoftheeastside.com.

Barnsdall Art Park
4800 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90027
www.barnsdallartpark.com

Following is a list of selected Cinco de Mayo events taking place on Thursday, May 5, 2011. Salud!

Photo: Border Grill

Border Grill
Chefs Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger offer several Cinco de Mayo options to enjoy their upscale, modern Mexican food, whether it’s paired with Margaritas at their Border Grill Downtown LA and Border Grill Santa Monica urban cantinas, or on the go at the Border Grill Truck and the Border Grill Stop kiosk.

Border Grill Downtown LA
445 S. Figueroa St.
Los Angeles, CA 90071
(213) 486-5171
4pm-10pm
Featured on the Patio and in The CANTINA:

• $5 Margaritas by Karma Tequila
• $3 Tacos
• $5 Quesadillas – Cooked on the outdoor griddle on the Patio

Border Grill Santa Monica
1445 4th St.
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 451-1655
3:30pm-10pm
Extended happy hour drinks and bites:

• $4 Margaritas
• $3 Tacos

Border Grill Truck
Cinco de Mayo at LA Plaza
501 N. Main St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 542-6200 / (888) 488-8083
4pm-7pm
Featuring:

• Border Grill Truck menu: Quinoa Fritters, Tacos, Quesadillas, Ceviche and more
• Live mariachi music and DJ Betto Arcos (KPFK “Global Village”)
• Free LA ArtLab all-ages art workshops
• Free admission to LA Starts Here! and Calle Principal exhibitions

Border Grill Stop
601 S. Figueroa St. (at Wilshire)
Los Angeles, CA 90017
(213) 244-6861
11:30am-1pm
Featuring: $5 Quesadillas cooked on the outdoor griddle

Photo: The Yard

La Jarda – Cinco de Mayo
Head west to The Yard in Santa Monica, and instead of Chef Chris “CJ” Jacobson‘s gastropub fare, you’ll find his special menu of Mexican favorites such as Fried Quesadilla with Shrimp, Scallop Ceviche, Carnitas Tacos, House Queso, Fish Tacos, La Hamburguesa, Churros with Mexican Chocolate, Flan and Horchata.

The Yard
119 Broadway
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 395-6037
5pm-11:30pm
Featuring:

• $5 Margaritas and Tequila cocktail specials
• Special Mexican food menu

Click to view

Las Perlas
Downtown’s shrine to artisanal tequila and mezcal will celebrate Cinco de Mayo early this year, opening its doors at noon on Thursday. Las Perlas will offer specials on cocktails, tequila and cerveza all day, and DJs will spin a wide range of genres from 2pm to close. To soak up the agave libations, Pal Cabron will be serving Chicken Tamales with Black Mole ($5) and Puebla-style Tacos Arabes ($3) starting at 6pm.

Las Perlas
107 East Sixth St.
Los Angeles, CA 90014
(213) 988-8355
12pm to close
Featuring:

• $5 Margaritas and Palomas (12pm-8pm)
• $5 Herradura Shots (12pm-8pm)
• $3 Tecates (12pm-8pm)
• $8 Modela Especial cervezas with a shot of Tequila (8pm to close)
• Pal Cabron chicken tamales and tacos arabes (6pm-2am)

DJs:

• 2-6pm: Jose Galvan (Sala de Espera, Indie 103FM)
• 6-10pm: Takashi (Kapsoul)
• 10pm-2am: Darren Revell (Big Sonic Heaven, Moheak Radio)

Click to view

Malo – Cinco de MALO Celebración
Malo and its sister restaurant Mas Malo offer two locations with multiple levels of tequilas and mezcals, drink and food specials, and DJs to keep guests in the agave groove. Mas Malo kicks things off in downtown at 11am, while the original Malo in Silver Lake starts its festivities at 5pm.

Malo
4326 West Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90029
(323) 664-1011
5pm to close
Featuring: 901 Tequila

Mas Malo
515 West 7th St. (1st Floor)
Los Angeles, CA 90014
(213) 985-4332
11am to close
Featuring:

• Partida Tequila and Casa Noble Tequila (main level)
• Corralejo Tequila (cantina)
• 4Copas (mezzanine)
• Mezcal on the Mezzanine: Sacacuento and Agave de Cortes (6-8pm)

Click to view

“My group the Tijuana Underground will be laying down pop, rock, and soul music hits for your listening and dancing pleasure, 100% agave Real de Mexico tequila will flow from the Real Girls, and Mexican food will be served from the guys that cook in most Italian-American restaurants…..Mexicans!!”

Upstairs at Vitello’s
Vitello’s Italian Restaurant
4349 Tujunga Ave.
Studio City, CA 91604
(818) 769-0905
8pm-12am
$15 cover, doors at 7pm
Featuring:

• Music by the Tijuana Underground
• Drinks by the Real Bellas of Real de Mexico Tequila
• Special “Tastes of Mexico” menu

The Battle of Puebla

On May 5, 1862, the Mexican Army defeated the occupying French forces at the Battle of Puebla. Although Cinco de Mayo is of limited national significance in Mexico, here in the States and elsewhere, it’s a day to celebrate Mexican culture by imbibing some of its finest exports. Like bars and restaurants all over town, some of L.A.’s favorite cocktail destinations will be hosting special events.

Following are a few of today’s festivities, as well as links to other Cinco de Mayo roundups. Salud!

Copa d’Oro
217 Broadway
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 576-3030
www.copadoro.com

• Broadway Block Party
• $5 margaritas at Copa d’Oro, Bar Chloe, Ma’kai, and The Yard
• More info at the Facebook event page

The Edison
108 W. 2nd St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 613-0000
www.edisondowntown.com

• $1 Casa Noble Tequila Shots from 5-7pm
• From 7pm, live music by Willie Martinez Y Mambo Loco with DJ Tatiana
• For every Casa Noble drink you purchase, you’ll receive a drawing card for special prizes to be awarded throughout the night.
• Prizes include: a night at the O Hotel, Casa Noble products and Edison gifts.

Las Perlas
107 E. 6th St.
Los Angeles, CA 90014
(213) 988-8355
www.lasperlas.la

• $4 Tecates
• $6 Margaritas
• $5 shots of El Jimador Blanco
• $6 shots of Herradura Antiguo
• $7 shots of Herradura Blanco

Click to view.

Malo
4326 W. Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90029
(323) 664-1011
www.malorestaurant.com

• Cinco de Mayo cocktails: La Cucaracha, Semental Italiano, Battle of Puebla
• Cocktail specials: Herradura Silver Margarita ($4), Medicina Latina ($5)
• Pitchers: Herradura Silver Margarita ($25), Medicina Latina ($30)
• Shots: Oro Azul Reposado ($4), Oro Azul Añejo ($5), Arette Reposado ($4)

The Thirsty Crow
2939 W. Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA
(323) 661-6007
www.thirstycrowbar.com

• $7 Corzo tequila shots
• $8 Cazadores Añejo margaritas

More Cinco de Mayo events:

• Citysearch
• Caroline on Crack
• Daily Dish
• LA Inc
• LAist
• Squid Ink

Battle of Puebla image from Wikimedia Commons, used under a Creative Commons License.

Making return appearances from last year are tequilas such as Casa Noble, Tequila Ocho, and Maestro Dobel. New brands participating this year include Corralejo, Cazadores, and El Jimador. The full list of tequilas and more details are below, including a discount code for presale tickets.

Why Wait Till Mayo?
A Tequila Social presented by the Tequila Appreciation Society
Monday, April 5, 2010
6pm-9pm

Taste premium 100% Agave Tequilas:

• Casa Noble
• Corralejo
• Tequila Ocho
• Corzo
• Cazadores
• Gran Centenario
• Maestro Dobel
• El Jimador
• Herradura Antiquo

Featuring:

• Malo’s Cointreau Silver Margaritas
• DJs
• Snacks from the Malo kitchen

$15 presale, $20 at the door
Presale tickets available at Ticketweb.com
Use code CANDY for $3 off (via DailyCandy)

We’ve all heard of (and perhaps even done a few) pub crawls, but how about one dedicated to the great American authors? On Saturday, February 20th, join Book Soup, Goodreads and PEN Center USA for the first Literary Pub Crawl and channel the spirits of Hemingway, Kerouac and Chandler with a boozy journey along Sunset Boulevard.

It all starts at 7pm in the upstairs area at Malo, with readings by authors Aimee Bender, Joseph Mattson and Martin Pousson. From there, the group will move on to Tiki-Ti, Good Luck Bar and 4100 Bar.

"Civilization begins with distillation." ~William Faulkner

During the crawl you can toast your favorite authors, as PEN USA suggests: “Raise a glass of rye whiskey for Salinger, a champagne cocktail in memory of Parker, a mint julep for Faulkner, a boilermaker for Bukowski, a splash of Wild Turkey for London.”

Drinks, literature, and a bit of exercise: what more can you ask for?

Literary Pub Crawl
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Begins 7pm, upstairs at Malo
Stops at Tiki-Ti, Good Luck Bar & 4100 Bar

Featuring:

• Aimee Bender
• Joseph Mattson
• Martin Pousson

Malo Cantina
4326 W. Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90029
(323) 664-1011
www.malorestaurant.com

Sponsored by Book Soup, Goodreads and PEN Center USA.

Dead Author Drink Specials at each bar.

NOTE: this event is for readers 21 and over only.

William Faulkner photo by Carl Van Vechten [Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, Carl Van Vechten Collection, reproduction number LC-DIG-ppmsca-10445].

Last Thursday, cocktail enthusiasts braved the rain to attend ‘Twas the Punch Before Christmas, a punch contest presented by Matt Robold (RumDood) and sponsored by Kraken Rum. It all took place in the upstairs area at Malo.

Blair Reynolds, ready to serve.

The contest entries were whittled down to five (initially six) finalists, a formidable lineup of mixology talent: Chris Bostick (The Varnish), Zach Patterson (STK), Blair Reynolds (Trader Tiki), Jason Schiffer (320 Main), and Chuck Taggart (Looka!). The judges were Marleigh Riggins (SLOSHED!), Joe Keeper (Bar Keeper), and Joe Brooke (Copa d’Oro), recently named America’s Top Bartender.

Each contestant had their own station to prepare and serve their respective punches for the judges and the eager crowd. Because of work commitments, Chris Bostick’s entry was mixed and served by Forrest Cokely. All the contestants chatted amiably with guests as the punches were served, explaining the ingredients and sharing their experiences in creating their punches. The array of ingredients and hours spent on recipe creation were impressive, and the complex, unique flavor profiles meant there was a punch for everyone. Presentation ranged from Chris’ minimalist approach to Jason’s elaborate orange peel tendrils.

Besides sampling the punches, guests could nibble on snacks provided by Malo. The butternut squash soup was especially good, and welcomed on a cold and rainy night. Even better was the Hot Buttered Rum with the Kracken Black Spiced Rum. Mine was nice and hot, but my friends had drinks that were either lukewarm or cold. It’s all in the timing, I guess…

After everyone had a chance to taste the entries, the judges picked Chuck’s Ponche Relajante (“Relaxing Punch”) as the winner. Chuck was genuinely surprised and humbly accepted the $500 prize with a resounding “WHO DAT?” Chuck’s punch will be featured on Malo’s menu the rest of the month, another pleasant surprise for Chuck and a chance for Angelenos to taste the winner.

Guests could participate in the judging by voting for the People’s Favorite, which turned out to be Zach’s Port of Portland Punch.

A fun time was had by all, thanks to everyone who put together a great event. Here’s hoping the punch contest becomes a new holiday tradition for L.A. cocktail enthusiasts!

Update 12/15: For all the recipes and additional pics, check out this recap from the RumDood.

~

And the winner is...Ponche Relajante!

Below are the five finalists and their punch ingredients. For the full recipe and insight into the creative process behind his winning punch, be sure to check out Chuck’s blog post, “Una Noche de Ponche.”

Who dat? It's the winner, Chuck Taggart!

Ponche Relajante by Chuck Taggart (Judges’ Favorite)

• Gran Centenario Rosangel Tequila
• Del Maguey Mezcal Minero
• Fino Sherry
• Licor 43
• Guayera Liqueur de Damiana
• Demerara sugar
• “Seven Blossoms” Tea
• Lemon & lime juice
• Fee Bros. Whiskey Barrel Bitters
• Bittermens Xocolatl Mole Bitters

Port of Portland Punch.

The amiable Zach Patterson, a man of the people.

Port of Portland Punch by Zach Patterson (People’s Favorite)

• Kracken Black Spiced Rum
• Canton Ginger Liqueur
• Benedictine
• Green Tea
• Lemon
• Gum Syrup & Vanilla Citrus Blend
• Topped with Prosecco

Forrest grates lemon zest for each serving.

Punch You in the Eye Punch by Chris Bostick

• Green tea-infused El Tesoro Silver Tequila
• Scarlet Ibis Rum
• Aperol
• Benedictine
• Cucumber Demerara Syrup
• Lemon & grapefruit juice
• Topped with Ting soda

Blackheart Punch.

Blackheart Punch by Blair Reynolds

• Cruzan Black and Amber Rum
• Iced black tea
• Cinnamon syrup
• Lemon & lime juice

Tonjok Punch.

Jason serves his Tonjok Punch.

Tonjok Punch by Jason Schiffer

• Bols Genever
• Batavia Arrack
• ROOT
• Depaz Cane Syrup
• Simple Syrup
• Lemon juice
• Peychaud’s Bitters
• Topped with Chandon Brut

Photo: James Weir

Last Friday was National Tequila Day, and I couldn’t have asked for a better group to celebrate with than my friends Amy, Lena and Delia. For the occasion we headed to Malo Restaurant, a familiar name to enthusiasts for its excellent tequila cocktails and tasting events.

Although Malo had some cocktail specials for the night, I stuck with the traditional by starting with the 100% Organic Margarita, made with 4 Copas Blanco, 4 Copas agave nectar, and organic lime juice. The margarita was perfectly made and tasted particularly refreshing on a balmy Friday night. It was also exactly what I needed to temper the scorchingly hot salsa that accompanied the chips.

For my next drink I went with The Spicy Cucumber, a tasty creation made with Casa Noble Crystal (Blanco), cucumber, agave nectar, fresh lime and chile. The smooth, peppery Casa Noble was enhanced by the cool taste of cucumber and nicely balanced by just the right amount of kick from the chile. By this time my ceviche soft tacos had arrived, which made for a wonderful food/cocktail pairing.

I closed out with an Anejo Old Fashioned, a nice twist to a classic that featured Gran Centenario Anejo, agave nectar, and bitters. The cocktail’s smoky, oak flavors held their own after plenty of food and previous drinks; a great way to finish up an enjoyable meal.

Putting the potent in "potent potable."

But it wasn’t the end of the night. Mayahuel had smiled on me the day before, when I had received a sample bottle of 1800 Select Silver Tequila to review. Knowing my friends would be happy to help me with this task I brought the bottle with me, and after Malo we went back to Amy and Lena’s place to break out the barware.

After admiring the elegantly designed bottle, your eyes will no doubt zero in on the words “100 proof.” According to the press materials the 1800 is targeted to the youth market, which would explain the extra kick. After opening the bottle, the extra 20 proof asserts itself with a strong initial aroma. Interestingly, the bottle stopper doubles as a shot glass. It’s a clever design element, though none of us had any desire to put it to use. This isn’t a tequila to be trifled with, so we limited ourselves to a single cocktail each. According to the company, the 1800 is twice distilled then blended with a bit of aged tequila, resulting in a blanco that’s smooth, crisp and strong. The 1800 made for quite tasty margaritas, and the extra punch was noticeable but not off-putting. Overall, the 1800 is a solid choice for mixing that, despite its intended audience, can still be appreciated by connoisseurs as well.

From now until August 15th, 1800 Tequila is accepting entries for its “Win the Ultimate Man-Cave” sweepstakes at www.1800Tequila.com/mancave. The winner will receive $10,000 towards an ultimate “cave” featuring a new home entertainment system, game console, furniture, and (natch) a bar fully stocked with 1800 Select Silver. Faithful butler and Boy Wonder not included.

S.I.N. will feature $5 cocktails with 1800 Añejo, Plymouth Gin, Tito’s Vodka, Cointreau, Ron Matusalem and more. The kitchen will serve up $2 Happy Hour tacos, including potato and cheddar, beef and pickle, and braised chicken.

Just make sure to bring a recent paystub and you’re good to go!

Service Industry Night
Sunday, July 12 & every Sunday after
9pm-2am
$5 Cocktails
$5 Sangria
$4 Tecates
$2 Happy Hour Tacos

Malo
4326 W. Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90029
www.malorestaurant.com

Photo: James Weir

On June 3rd, Malo hosted its first Ultra Premium Tequila Tasting in its upstairs event space. For a mere $15, guests sampled from an outstanding selection of tequilas, including 4 Copas, Partida, Maestro Dobel, Comisario, Casa Noble, Hacienda de Chihuahua sotol, Tequila Ocho and Siete Leguas. The complimentary light fare and DJ were both greatly appreciated by the crowd, if the constantly-replenished food trays and lively dance floor were any indication.

Mmm...Maestro Dobel...

Upon entering the first room I was greeted by Maestro Dobel, “the first-ever diamond tequila.” Its crystal clarity and extremely limited availability certainly justify the tagline.

According to the promotional materials, Maestro Dobel can be appreciated based on “the four C’s”:

Clarity – the result of a proprietary filtering technique.
Crispness – from the lowlands where the hand-selected agave plants are grown.
Complexity – derived from a blend of reposado (rested 15 months), añejo (rested 24 months), and extra-añejo (rested 36 months) tequilas.
Craftmanship – a nod to the Tequila Maestros who create each small batch (check the handwritten notes on each bottle).

Maestro Dobel was the perfect tequila to start my tasting journey; incredibly clean and smooth, full-bodied and multi-layered. There are strong flavors of oak and dried fruit, as well as pepper and honey. It’s truly a great sipping tequila, though I’m sure it would be enjoyable in a classic margarita or similar “clean” cocktail.

Nearby was 4 Copas, “the world’s only organically certified tequila.” 4 Copas is featured on cocktail menus throughout the city (including Malo, Akasha, Cameo Bar, Locanda del Lago, and more) and figures prominently in those that emphasize fresh, locally sourced ingredients. The añejo in particular was exceptional, its oak barrel aging process yielding notes of vanilla, citrus, and lingering smokiness.

Tequila Ocho's Scott Haro.

In the other room, two booths in particular were drawing a great deal of attention. First up was Tequila Ocho, where Brand Ambassador Scott Haro took great care to make sure guests did the proper tasting progression from plata to reposado to añejo. Scott explained that Tequila Ocho is on a mission to demonstrate, through its Single Estate Vintages, that “terroir” exists in agave. Each estate (“rancho”) produces a limited amount of agave, thus each vintage of Ocho is limited, as designated by the hand-numbered bottles. Of the three excellent 2008′s, the El Carrizal Reposado stood out, with an initial floral nose that opened up to vanilla and fruit notes.

Damian Windsor shakes things up. (James Weir)

Next to Scott was the Partida booth, and none other than Damian Windsor (The Roger Room, The Edison, Bar Lubitsch, etc) was shaking up margaritas and pouring samples. Guests seemed more interested in the margaritas than learning about Partida, but that’s to be expected when one of L.A.’s top bartenders is mixing free drinks.

L to R: Christine D'Abrosca & Silameth Weir. (James Weir)

Even though it was her birthday, Malo Beverage Director Christine D’Abrosca was busy clearing tables and checking on the booths. You have to respect someone who will work her own birthday party in order to make sure her guests were enjoying themselves. Many thanks to Christine and the Malo crew for putting together such an enjoyable and educational event.

Limited $15 tickets are available online, and will also be sold at the door. If this event is anything like Malo’s recent cocktail competition, expect the tequila to be flowing, the food to be tasty, and the crowd to be lively!

Malo’s 1st Ultra Premium Tequila Tasting Show
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
7pm-10pm
21 and over
Purchase tickets online

Malo Restaurant
4326 W. Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles CA 90029
www.malorestaurant.com