Reviews – Page 14 – Thirsty in LA

Absolut Sensory Analysis Workshop: Part 1

December 30, 2010

The Absolut Sensory Analysis Workshop is an eight-hour educational and dining experience designed to re-engage vodka with the craft bartender community.

Find Your Comfort Zone at Bar | Kitchen

December 28, 2010

After a re-design and now under the management of Proprietors LLC, Bar | Kitchen’s lively mix of high quality and affordability is sure to entice downtown residents, workers, and visitors alike.

Thirsty in Waikiki: Mai Tais, Lewers, and Whiskies! Oh, My!

December 26, 2010

Oahu may not be everyone’s first choice of the Hawaiian Islands to visit, but the burgeoning cocktail scene will dispel preconceived notions of tourist-laden Waikiki.

Holidaze 2010: Words to Drink By

December 15, 2010

Let’s assume your favorite imbiber already owns the Holy Trinity of modern cocktail books: The Essential Cocktail, Imbibe!, and The Joy of Mixology. (If he or she doesn’t, read no further; you know what to do.) Following are gift ideas that will appeal not just to the cocktail geeks on your list, but history buffs…

A Drinkable Feast at Hemingway’s Lounge

November 27, 2010

Since its opening in September, Hemingway’s Lounge has been packing them in on DJ-driven nights when the multifaceted venue transforms from low-lit cocktail den to energetic dance party. Owner Johnny Zander (whose velvet rope CV includes Hollywood hot spots Green Door, the Tropicana Bar and Teddy’s) and his partners have taken 2800 square feet of…

At Big Bar, Cocktails Speak Softly and Carry a Big Kick

November 23, 2010

Not content to be a Los Feliz favorite serving hearty fare, artisanal baked goods, craft beer and fine wine, Alcove Cafe and Bakery recently opened Big Bar, where Bar Manager Juan Sevilla (previously at The Edison and Soho House) has created a cocktail menu of classics, variations and signatures. Big Bar and Alcove share a…

1886 Opens at The Raymond in Pasadena

November 17, 2010

Cocktail enthusiasts in Pasadena have a bar they can call their own, now that 1886 has soft-opened at the historic Raymond Restaurant. 1886 takes its name from the year that Walter Raymond first opened his eponymous hotel, before a devastating fire destroyed the property in 1895. He then opened an even grander Raymond Hotel that…

Tasting the Glenfiddich Range at the 2010 Esquire House

November 13, 2010

Last month, the eighth iteration of Esquire magazine’s Signature Space program debuted in the “Bird Streets” of the exclusive Doheny Estates in the Hollywood Hills. Elaine Culotti (Porta Bella Design) and a team of top designers rebuilt a family home from the ground up, transforming it into the 2010 Esquire House, a contemporary indoor-outdoor lifestyle…

Zahra Bates mixes her Old Pal variation at Test Kitchen

Zahra Bates Guest Bartends at Test Kitchen, Next Up is Copa d’Oro

November 12, 2010

The ongoing culinary experiment known as Test Kitchen continues to bring in stellar guest chefs and mixologists, and last weekend was no exception: Alain Giraud was in the kitchen, while Zahra Bates (Providence) and Davidson Fernie (La Descarga) were behind the stick. As I sat down at the bar (the restaurant is frequently booked but…

Liquid Fridays at the Buffalo Club

November 11, 2010

Longtime Santa Monica restaurant The Buffalo Club recently launched Liquid Fridays, a weekly happy hour with a rotating menu of specially-priced cocktails made with a featured spirit. Actually it’s happy hours, since Liquid Fridays runs 6-7pm and 10pm to midnight. The night I stopped by with Caroline on Crack and SocialDomain Co-Founder John Colletti, the…