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Vintage Eve Circa 8/2018: What Did We Love the Most at Live and Dine LA?
Angeleno‘s annual Live & Dine LA event honors the city’s most distinguished chefs and restaurateurs that continue to shape and evolve L.A.’s culinary scene. Guests will be treated to exclusive culinary demonstrations prepared by award-winning chefs, which will be paired with delicious wines and artisanal cocktails. This evening of culinary indulgences and refreshing libations is sure to make for a memorable date night, with its luxury lounges and unique tasting experiences under the stars and the Fairmont’s iconic (and romantic) fig tree.
Count me in! The last time I covered an event at the Fairmont Miramar – on Wilshire Blvd. just a block from the beach – was a Union des Grands Crus (UGC) Bordeaux Tasting in one of the large convention rooms. This time, as promised, we were outdoors under their enormous fig tree. Being outdoors was fine with me, as long as it was away from the street that, if you’ve been reading the news, is littered with abandoned electric scooters, the latest “craze” that may be dismantled by the time this article runs.
But lets move on, sorry about that, my attention had definitely been happily taken over by all of the restaurants, wineries and spirit companies – no scooters needed. (Read on or skip to the photos here.)
The crowd of smart couples and singles meandered from one welcoming table to another. My favorites of the tables (I couldn’t do it all!) started with
Menhir Salento Winery represented by Gaetano Marangelli, where I tasted Italian wines from Puglia. Between the Pass-O white blend to the Primitivo – I was enchanted. I hope to go through a tasting of their complete line up soon!
From there I inhaled: the Crab Guacamole with shaved Truffle from The Nixon in Whittier, Garlic Crostini from HomeCooked, the incredible Burrata cheese from di Stefana, a refreshing Lillet-based (a white Bordeaux wine made with quinine and citrus) cocktail made simply with tonic, Chick Souvlaki from Cleo, Roasted Peppers from FIG, Provence’s Domaine de Cala Rose wine, Ocean Prime Watermelon Salad, looooved the Mongibello blood orange juice with Tito’s vodka, and Deviled Green Eggs and Ham from Boa Steakhouse stole the show until I had a Deviled Egg from Yardbird that was equally yum-worthy.
Moving to the other side of the fig tree my taste buds were further delighted with wheat-based Carbonadi Vodka from Italy, AN Catering Garlic Noodles, a carved tri-tip sandwich from Grand Food and Beverage, really tasty cocktails from Gratitude, and Viva Tequila 32 Reposado in my favorite cocktail of the day made with Grapefruit and lime juices, agave, orange bitters and Aperol!
Still not done I munched on a heavenly slice of Grilled Cheese with Summer Truffle from Salt in Marina Del Rey (well worth a short wait in line), killer Reposado cocktails from Gracias Madre in West Hollywood and more lovely Burrata from Mozza. Of final note guests really appreciated the two open lounge spaces that served delicious Brugal Rum from the Dominican Republic and chilly gin cocktails from Sipsmith.
Restaurants and Beverage Companies
FIG | Carbonadi Vodka | CLEO | Del Frisco’s | Domaine de Cala | Grand Food & Beverage | HomeCooked | Honest Tea | House of AN | KeVita | Lillet | Lionfish | The Nixon Chops & Whiskey | Ocean Prime | SALT | Souley Vegan | Strand Boards | Tumbi Indian Bar | Viviane | Yardbird
Italy-America Chamber of Commerce West’s “True Italian Taste” section including Di Stefano Cheese | Luigi al Teatro | Menhir | Mongibello | N. 10 | Mozza | Solo Qualita’ | Veneto Hills
Sponsors
Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows, Hornburg Jaguar Land Rover Santa Monica, CBS 2, KCAL 9, Italy-America Chamber of Commerce West, and nonprofit partner City of Hope.
Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video (over 15k views), authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.
Five Romantic Cocktail Recipes to Get Sparks Flying This Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is coming up and our options are limited, but who says staying in can’t be sexy? Drinks retailer The Bottle Club has rallied together five of their most popular cocktails to help you ignite romance this Valentine’s.
Pink Heather Cocktail
1) The Royal Sidecar
There is something romantic about the royal sidecar cocktail. It’s sweet and tangy taste will be sure to add a striking touch to your Valentines. Impress your date with this simple yet effective cocktail. Recipe below.
Ingredients
- 35ml Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal Miniature
- 30ml Cointreau Orange Liqueur Miniature
- 15ml Fresh lemon juice
- Ice
Method
- Shake Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal with Cointreau, lemon juice with ice
- Strain into your best coupe glass
- Enjoy
2) Nutella Martini
If your date has a sweet tooth, this is the perfect cocktail for your Valentine’s date night. It could even save you making a dessert (or perhaps not). You probably haven’t thought about putting your favourite nutty spread in a cocktail, but booze and Nutella is a match made in heaven. Recipe below.
Ingredients
- 400ml whole milk (or swap out for nut milk)
- 2 (very) heaped scoops of Nutella
- 1 heaped spoonful of cocoa powder
- 3 shots of vodka
- 2 shot Amaretto
- Ice
- Additional Nutella & chopped hazelnuts (for garnish)
Method
- Gently heat the milk in a pan, with the Nutella and cocoa powder.
- Stir until smooth and sufficiently warmed through
- Leave to cool
- Spread some Nutella onto a side plate, and cover another plate in chopped hazelnuts.
- Dip the rim of your glass into the chocolate and twist
- Once dipped in the Nutella, dip the glass into the pile of nuts
- When your chocolate milk is nice & cold, pour into a cocktail shaker and add the vodka and Amaretto
- Shake it and enjoy!
3) Pink Heather Cocktail
For whisky drinkers, it can be difficult to find delicious and romantic cocktail recipes – well look no further than the pink heather cocktail. Whip this up for your whisky loving date and you’re sure to have a good night. Recipe below.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz Scotch Whisky
- 1 oz strawberry liqueur
- Top with sparkling rose wine
- Strawberries for garnish
Method:
- Pour the whisky and the strawberry liqueur into a chilled champagne flute
- Top up with sparkling wine
4) Pomegranate Whisky Sour
Drinking pink doesn’t need to be all about the rosé. A good one for those who don’t like wine this Valentine’s, you can mix it to create a delicious pink cocktail so you don’t miss out on a rose-tinted summer. Drink pink with whisky? Hell yeah!
Ingredients:
- 2 oz of bourbon
- 1 oz of pomegranate juice
- ½ oz of simple syrup
- 1 oz lemon juice
Method:
- Add ice to a cocktail shaker
- Fill with bourbon, pomegranate juice, lemon juice and simple syrup
- Shake well
- Pour into an old-fashioned glass
5) Fruity Strawberry Daiquiri
This fruity cocktail can be made with fresh and/or frozen strawberries and is the ultimate refreshing drink to get the party started this Valentines. The sweetest of them all! You won’t go wrong with a Strawberry Daiquiri.
Ingredients:
- 4 medium frozen strawberries
- 4 medium fresh strawberries
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- 1-2 tbsp white sugar
- 50 ml white rum
Method:
- Add all ingredients into the blender and blend.
- Pour into a glass.
- Garnish with lime and strawberry.
- Enjoy!
Tip: Add some ice cubes to make a larger drink or to mellow the strawberry flavour.
All credit to The Bottle Club: https://www.thebottleclub.com/
Vintage Eve Circa 7/2018: The Seventh Art Beyond the Glass!
Art Beyond the Glass VII: L.A.’s Top Bartenders Come Together To Celebrate
Seven Years of Cocktails, Community, Women In The Industry and A Great Cause…Proceeds from ABTG VII will go to the Women’s Center for Creative Work, a vital arts nonprofit in Frogtown. Now in its seventh year, Art Beyond the Glass is L.A.’s premier cocktail culture festival, featuring more than 100 top bartenders making cocktails and showcasing their artistry, from painting and sculpture to photography, live music and more!
Yep, we did it again, covered three levels of mind blowing cocktail mayhem in the Los Globos nightclub in Silver Lake. The “mayhem” included a wide array of live music, a dj, burlesque, a tap dancer and wildly costumed bartenders as well as guests. There also was a raffle, art exhibit and “silent auction items such as artwork, photography, rare spirits and more.”
As you know I was there to take it all in (photos here if that’s all you’re after) these are the spirit vendors I made sure to meet up with:
Jack Daniel Distillery Lynchburg Tennessee, The Bombay Sapphire Distillery, Ming River Baijiu and Teeling Whiskey – these were just part of the first floor of fun, and each spirits’ table offered more than one cocktail option so you could do them all or just select one that sounded good to you.
More from the first floor: Fun stewards (stewardesses, whatevers) from Aviation Gin sat guests in a mock airplane, served them cocktails and if you agreed to sit in the exit row you got a special treat! Loved the two cocktails – one with tea and another in a slush – I sampled from Pomp & Whimsy (remember them – hope they’ll be back for Cocktails on the Roof 2018!) and fun drinks from Fords Gin, Plymouth Gin, and Lillet.
The cutie pies at the Mulholland Distilling table were happy to sing for a photo on the second floor! Fun table, and the drinks were yummy. I had the Mulholland Mule and I swear there was another drink they made with Boba in it. I really loved the Edinburgh Distillery Rhubarb Ginger liqueur! Also enjoyed checking out Distillerie Clement rum.
And on the ground floor, an outdoor patio filled with happy smokers and vapers, had a cold brew coffee vendor, Colorado Common Hard Cider and Illegal Mezcal Joven cocktails in ice cube glasses that blew my mind – the one I tried was called “560 Shades of Greg”, while the other, which I didn’t try, had CBD in it!
Even more entertainment on the first and second floors: we got our VIP badges from Jack Daniel’s, sampled cocktails from Åhus Akvavit, Born and Bred, Domaine Combier, Partida Tequila and The Real McCoy Rum.
More About Art Beyond the Glass (ABTG): Art Beyond the Glass is a special event that showcases the artistic pursuits of top bartenders when they’re not behind the stick. ABTG began, as many things do, with a conversation in a bar. In the fall of 2011, bartender Zahra Bates and writer Daniel Djang were at Sunny Spot in Venice, discussing how so many bartenders in Los Angeles express themselves creatively through painting, photography, music, and other arts. But at the time there wasn’t a proper showcase for bartenders to share their artistic pursuits. To fill this gap, Art Beyond the Glass was born: uniting the bar community, which gives back to the art community, and strengthening the community in which we live.
At ABTG, everything from the cocktails to the art and music is created and performed by bartenders. Proceeds from every ABTG event are donated to a local arts-based charity. To date, Art Beyond the Glass has donated more than $98,000 to nonprofit organizations across the country.
The inaugural ABTG raised more than $6,000 for Inner-City Arts. In 2013, ABTG II raised $13,700 for Art Share L.A. and saved this vital nonprofit from closing. ABTG III raised $18,000 for the Mural Conservancy to restore Struggles of the World, one of the landmark Freeway Murals from the 1984 Summer Olympics. ABTG IV raised more than $20,000 for KCRW on behalf of its Capital Campaign to open a new Media Center and public event space in Santa Monica.
To celebrate its five-year anniversary in 2015, Art Beyond the Glass expanded to cities outside of Los Angeles for the first time. The fifth annual ABTG was the largest event to date and raised over $25,000 for Global Inheritance. In July 2016, the first-ever ABTG outside of L.A. took place in Oklahoma City and raised $7,300 for Arts Council Oklahoma City. ABTG Chicago took place in August 2016 and donated $8,450 to ArtReach.
Art Beyond the Glass will continue to grow into established and emerging markets that are eager to demonstrate the creative prowess of their bar community.
The Charity
This year we are honored to be raising funds for the Women’s Center for Creative Work, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit located in Frogtown. Combining a co-workspace on the L.A. River, project incubation facilities, residency programs, a rapidly growing network of over 20,000 followers, and a full calendar of artistic and professional development programming, WCCW advocates for feminist-led creative businesses and projects in Los Angeles.
Follow Art Beyond the Glass on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArtBeyondTheGlass
Twitter: @ABTGLA
Instagram: @abtgla
Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video (over 15k views), authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.
Vintage Eve 2/2018: Review of Graham’s 20-Year-Old Tawny Port
I recently shared a press release from Graham’s regarding their 20-year-old tawny port, and lo and behold, a week later I received one for review.
From Graham’s: “…Graham’s 20 Year Old Tawny Port (is)—made from the highest quality Douro Valley grapes. Rich caramel flavors and notes of toffee…20 years of cask aging gives the wine its beautiful golden amber color…” read more here. And see how my notes compare below!
Tasting
From the label: 20% alcohol, 5 generations of the Symington family for over 190 years have crafted this port, with an “art of blending” and control from “harvest to cellar.”
Color/appearance: A cross between your standard colored-raisin and a golden raisin, with a deeper garnet-hued edge.
Aroma: Chocolate covered cherries, liquor-filled chocolates, almond, crushed raspberry, caramel, coconut and raisin. Very welcoming.
Flavor: A lovely mouth-coating viscosity filled with milk and dark chocolate, macadamia nut, raspberry again, butter, fresh blueberry muffins, plum, cream, real pancake syrup and with no real discernable burn but with an incredible long length.
Pairing: I do a chocolate class with Cab, Zin or Shiraz and at least one port. We start with the highest percentage of cacao and work ourselves down to milk chocolate. Most of the bars also have dried fruit and/or nuts. Every time the class ends up finding new respect for dark chocolate, and every time the port helps them transition from dark to milk. So, I’d definitely like this port, with all of the aromas and flavors I noted above, at my next class. Beyond that, and again due to the flavors I found I would enjoy this with a fruit-topped cheesecake, flan, bread pudding with rum and/or fruit, all kinds of cheeses, or after a night of wine or whisky.
More From Graham’s
Graham’s was founded in 1820 and now has earned an unmatched reputation as the leading producer of premium Port wines. The company has been owned by just two families in its entire history; originally founded by the Graham’s, it was acquired by the Symington family in 1970.
The Symingtons can trace their ancestors as Port wine producers back four generations to Andrew James Symington who came to Oporto in 1882, but back thirteen generations through their great grandmother, Beatrice Atkinson, to Walter Maynard who shipped 39 pipes of Port in 1652. A unique record in the history of Port.
Today, five members of the Symington family work in the company – Paul, Johnny, Dominic, Rupert and Charles. The family personally manages all aspects of wine making from the vineyard to the final bottling of the wine.
GRAHAM’S owns 5 vineyard properties. Quinta dos Malvedos, Graham’s flagship property, has always been the heart of GRAHAM’S Vintage Port, where most of the grapes are sourced. Quinta da Vila Velha and Quinta do Vale de Malhadas (both privately owned by a member of the Symington family), as well as Quinta das Lages, have contributed to the GRAHAM’S unique style. The latest acquisition, Quinta do Tua, perfectly complements Malvedos and adds a further dimension to GRAHAM’S Port wines.
Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video, authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.
Vintage Eve Circa 12/2017: Hot Toddy Or Cool Cocktail, What is Your Favorite Winter Drink?
I met a consulting client of mine at 9am in the morning this past month, he had something milky looking in his large coffee mug and proceeded to goad me into trying it. Hot Eggnog and cognac. My how toasty it was, and how toasty it made me feel. He offered to have one made up for me, but lest I wanted my meeting to get detoured into the fun zone (we’re old pals too) I had to skip it.
From The Signal: Cocktails on the Roof 2018, how I miss these events!
Later that night I made up for it. Hubby had been scenting our home with apple cider cooking on the stove with mulling spices. I whipped out some Brandy, added a shot to each of our coffee mugs, and we thoroughly enjoyed our libations on the porch as the sun set.
All of this got me to thinking, what are your favorite holiday libations this time of year? So, as is my thing, I did a roundup on Facebook and asked my pals there. Here’s what you all are drinking this season, either at home or your fave bar:
Cari: We love mulled wine and Irish coffee (depending on the time of day) at our house!
Natasha: In the Caribbean we have Sorrel (hibiscus), hot or cold, only at this time of year, it’s a special holiday drink. I just brewed a gallon. (I asked if there wasn’t any alcohol in this and Natasha responded: Oh no hunny, we throw Caribbean rum in there.
Shirley: Hot Apple Pie – Traders Joes spiced cider warmed in the crock pot, add your favorite brand of dark rum. Ladle into your mug and top with whipped cream…yessirree!
Deb: Bonefish Grill ~ their Winter White Cosmopolitan – Look forward to it every year. Reyka Vodka, Cointreau, St. Germain Elderflower liqueur, white cranberry juice and fresh lime juice. Has floating cranberries in it too.
Celeste: My mother in law makes a hibiscus drink called Ponche. Like a hot punch/tea Typically with cut fruit and sugar can pieces inside…and a shot of tequila to really warm things up.
Cheryl: Disaronno on the rocks. (Actually never had that one. Might have to try as I do like almond. Looked it up: Disaronno Originale is an amaretto-tasting liqueur with a characteristic almond taste made in Italy.)
Lewis: A spiced ganache dark hot chocolate with whip cream on top and hot fudge drizzled. Also a spiced Caramel hot cider with whip cream on top. Can you imagine what you can fix up with Jack Daniels fire, like… Hot apple cider?
Tim: Whisky… although to be honest I like it in the winter, summer, fall, and spring.
Cynthia: White Russian and anything with eggnog!
Jackie: I make egg nog martinis, just Egg nog and vodka with a dash of cinnamon on top, so delicious and amazing to sip in front of the fire!
Rene: Rompopo. (Which is a Honduran eggnog. Here is the recipe: https://hispanickitchen.com/recipes/rompopo-hondureno-honduran-style-eggnog/)
Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video, authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.
Pusser’s Rum Aged 15 Years wins Double Gold at the 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition
CHARLESTON, S.C. (PRWEB) – Pusser’s Rum is proud to announce that its 15 Year Old rum just earned the coveted Double Gold Medal at the 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition in the aged rum category. “This distinctive award endorses our own claim that it’s the ‘Crown Jewel’ of aged rums and unequivocally the best in the world,” says President and CEO, Gary Rogalski.
The SFWSC consists of four days of controlled blind tastings. Judges do not receive any information on producer or price point, ensuring each spirit is judged fairly, equally and without bias. While tasting, judges evaluate each product on an individual basis and determine which entries are worthy of a Gold, Silver, or Bronze medal. Double Gold Medals are only awarded to the entries that receive a Gold medal rating by all members of the judging panel.
The Pusser’s Aged 15 adds the SFWSC Double Gold Medal to a long list of other accolades, including the World’s Best Pot and Column Still Rum which it earned at the 2019 World Rum Awards sponsored by the Spirits Business in London.
Deemed “The Single Malt of Rum” by Forbes Magazine, Pusser’s Aged 15 is produced in small batches. The rum originates from stills located in Guyana’s Demerara Valley. The blend is heavily influenced by rum from vintage wooden pot stills – the signature of the Royal Navy. Constructed in the early 1700s, these historic “vat” stills produce flavors unmatched by modern metal column stills. The rum is then Caribbean aged for 15 years in once used charred bourbon barrels. Most other major rum brands add flavoring and sugar to make their products smoother and to give them body. By contrast, Pusser’s uses no flavoring agents or sugar. It is all natural.
Wine.com Launching Spirits In California, New York, Florida And New Jersey
Already the world’s largest wine store with over 15,000 wines, Wine.com now offers a selection of over 2,000 spirits, including rare and collectible items not easily found in stores. With many wine enthusiasts enjoying premium spirits and craft cocktails at home, Wine.com will delight consumers with the ease of one-stop shopping for all their wine and spirits online.
Photo: Marco Verch, Flickr
“Wine.com has serviced consumers with wine for 21 years – offering a comprehensive array of spirits is a natural progression. With so many wine consumers also enjoying craft cocktails and experimenting with their own home bars, we are thrilled to offer the same selection, education and guidance in spirits as we already offer in wine.” – Mike Osborn, founder of Wine.com
Wine.com‘s spirits selection includes a deep assortment of whiskey, vodka, tequila, mezcal, gin, rum, brandy, cordial, and liqueur. With a focus on premium spirits, including a wide array of rare, collectible and limited-edition products, Wine.com offers the ideal selection for the classics connoisseur and the artisanal explorer alike.
Consumers can browse spirits using the wide range of filters standard on the website. In addition to reading descriptions of a product’s style, the distillery and region of origin, consumers can also engage spirits experts through chat to find the perfect bottle for them. Wine.com will also offer customers tips on how to serve and mix their drinks in the future.
The same convenient shipping options provided for wine are provided for spirits. StewardShip, Wine.com‘s free shipping program, applies to all products alike. Customers continue to be able to choose specific-delivery dates and have packages delivered to their home, work or local pickup location.
Suppliers interested in working with Wine.com should contact trade@wine.com.
ABOUT WINE.COM
Wine.com is the nation’s leading online wine and spirits retailer, offering selection, guidance and convenience not found in brick and mortar stores. The company provides its customers access to the world’s largest wine and spirits store, with experts available to chat 7 days a week on its website and app. With multiple fulfillment centers and the most sophisticated alcohol retail distribution network in the United States, Wine.com delivers in 1-2 days to most addresses, offering date-certain delivery and convenient pickup options from 11,000 Walgreens and FedEx Office locations nationwide. The company’s popular free shipping program, StewardShip, provides unlimited shipments and exclusive access to new releases for $49 per year. Wine.com‘s mission, to inspire the wine lifestyle through innovation, is captured in its brand manifesto video, viewable here. For more information, visit the company’s website at www.wine.com or download its app in the Apple Store or Google Play.
Iconic Chez Jay In Santa Monica Introduces the Backyard Where All Good Peep Meet to Eat & Drink!
SANTA MONICA – Santa Monica’s most iconic restaurant, Chez Jay, officially celebrated their 60th Anniversary by kicking off the festivities with the Grand Opening of The Backyard at Chez Jay, ‘where all good peep meet to eat and drink’ this past August.
Photo Credit: acuna-hansen.
Chez Jay, located in the heart of Santa Monica on Ocean Avenue, is Owned by Michael Anderson and now operated by his son General Manager Chris Anderson. Shortly after Chez Jay was named a Historical Landmark in 2012, The Backyard began as a vision that Michael Anderson had where he wanted to create a special experience for his longtime following of extremely loyal clientele so they could enjoy outdoor dining right by the Santa Monica ocean under the stars. M. Anderson set out to start this project, which he thought would be a great addition to Chez Jay and the City of Santa Monica, but the process turned out to take much longer than expected. “Everyone fought me at every turn, but I was not going down,” states M. Anderson. “I just kept thinking of Robert De Niro’s line as LaMotta in Raging Bull during one of his fights with Robinson when he says, ‘Hey, Ray, I never went down, man! You never got me down, Ray! You hear me, you never got me down,’ and he kept going.” Michael’s son Chris Anderson joined his father at Chez Jay approximately 2 years ago as the General Manager where he quickly decided he wanted to help his father finish what he had started.
“This was not my first priority when I came on board at Chez Jay, but after seeing how much this meant to my Dad and realizing that getting this done was taking such a toll his health, I jumped in and did everything I could to help him finish this project and make his vision a reality,” says C. Anderson.
The Backyard was designed by Chris Anderson and Nataly Lopez with the thoughtful mission to create a comfortable and welcoming gathering space for family, friends and longtime guests of Chez Jay. The space features picnic tables, couches, Adirondack chairs, fire pit, wine barrels, hanging vintage lanterns and string lights, large off-white canopy, and bright blue fence that backs up to Santa Monica’s Tongva Park.
Chef Guillermo De Arcos G, known as “Chef Memo,” is the special secret ingredient at The Backyard at Chez Jay. Having been in the kitchen at Chez Jay for over 27 years, he now has his son Guillermo De Arcos Jr. cooking by his side, making this a true family affair as he introduces the new Good Eats menu at The Backyard at Chez Jay. The Starters kick off the party with the Peppercorn Maple Bacon, Grilled Street Corn, Southwest Steak Nachos, Truffle Fries, Kimchi Guacamole, Rhode Island Calamari, Shrimp Ceviche Bites, and Baked Clams. There are three delicious Salads that can be shared or enjoyed on their own including the Crispy Calamari Salad, prepared with fried calamari, frisée, romaine radicchio, tomatoes, pickled red onion, and French Dijon vinaigrette; The Cobb served with grilled chicken, romaine, bacon, egg, blue cheese, tomato, avocado and lemon honey vinaigrette, or the NY Steak Salad prepared with Angus New York Strip, arugula, mixed greens, blue cheese, cranberries, walnuts, pickled onions and balsamic. The Mains start off with seafood selections such as the Mahi Mahi Sandwich served with a grilled filet of Mahi Mahi, lettuce, tomato, onion and tartar sauce on a toasted bun, or the Fish & Chips with Allagash beer battered cod and French fries. Next, step-up the savory by enjoying the Chez Burger comprised of a 1⁄2 pound Angus beef, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato and onion, served on a toasted bun; the Crispy Chicken Sandwich made of fried chicken, house coleslaw, apple, frisée, chipotle aioli, and pickles on a toasted bun, or the Steak Au Poivre Sandwich with a Peppered Angus NY Steak, cream of horseradish, picked cabbage, arugula on sourdough. Lastly, there is the Jay Dog prepared with a grilled 10 inch Wagyu hot dog, tomato, pickles, onions, relish, peppers and mustard on split-top brioche, or the appropriately named Mike’s Melt, in honor of Michael Anderson, prepared with a pressed 1⁄2 pound Angus beef patty, melted cheddar, and caramelized onions on rye.
For the final finish on the menu, the Sweet offering inspired by Chez Jay Chef Juan De Arcos known as “Chef Tony,” are Chef Memo’s Fried Oreos – the ultimate comfort food fried to perfection.
Of course, The Backyard at Chez Jay is all about Good Drinks and the cocktails the Chez Jay team has created are no exception. The menu offers signature drinks such as the Hotel California made of Bombay Sapphire, grapefruit, lemon and rosemary; the Chevy To The Levy comprised of mezcal, pineapple, Ramazzoti Rosato, lemon and sage, The Juan Margarita prepared with Casamigos Tequila, jalapeño, cucumber, cilantro and lime, and the Ketel Spritz made of Ketel One, St Germain, Prosecco, lemon, and thyme. For classics with a twist, guests can enjoy the Pimm’s Cup made of Pimm’s, cucumber, mint, ginger, and lemon, the Dark & Stormy prepared with Gosling’s Rum, ginger beer, and lime, the Never Old Fashioned with Slow & Low Rock and Rye Whiskey, orange peel, Luxardo Marashino Cherry and bitters, or the Tecate Michelada made with veteran Chez Jay Bartender Petter Whichman’s Wickie’s Bloody Good Mix, and lime with a Tajin rim.
For guests that prefer a glass of vino, The Backyard at Chez Jay will offer Wines by the glass including options such as the Cupcake Prosecco, Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc, Ferrari Chardonnay, Bev Rose, Meiomi Pinot Noir, or the Josh Cabernet.
Beer lovers can enjoy an ice-cold Draft, Can or Bottle in The Backyard at Chez Jay. Drafts feature the Allagash White, Heineken, Santa Monica 310, or Angel City IPA. The Can selections include Palmia Light, Tecate, Angel City Pilsner, or Golden Road Wolf Pup, along with Bottle offerings Corona, Bud Light and Angry Orchard.
The Backyard at Chez Jay is open every Wednesday and Thursday from 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm; every Friday from 4:00 pm to 11:00 pm; every Saturday from 12:00 noon to 11:00 pm, and every Sunday from 12:00 noon to 8:00 pm. For more information, please visit www.ChezJays.com or call Chez Jay directly at 310.395.1741.
Social Media: Please follow Chez Jay on Facebook @ChezJays and Instagram @chezjay_sm
The Backyard at Chez jay
1657 Ocean Avenue Santa Monica, CA 90401 T: 310.395.1741 www.ChezJays.com
THE IMBIBLE Announces The 2019 Return of RUM AND PIRATES
New York, NY (PRWEB) –
“Remarkably compelling!” ★★★★ Critics’ Pick
– TIME OUT NEW YORK
“Absolutely Must-Do in NYC!”
– THRILLIST
“THE IMBIBLE has become a staple of the Off-Broadway scene, using music and theater to explore the great pastime of enjoying a cocktail.”
– BUSINESS INSIDER
Pillage Plunder – Credit Dixie Sheridan
As THE IMBIBLE: A SPIRITED HISTORY OF DRINKING enters its sixth smash year as one of the 100 longest-running Off-Broadway shows of all time with over 1,000 performances, its producers have announced the second annual return of the audiences have been raving about: THE IMBIBLE: RUM AND PIRATES! The show delves deeply into pirate life, legends, and history in addition to the mastery of rum and rum drinks – three of which are served during the performance! Join this unique company of performers, equally versed in education and entertainment, for an evening of cocktails, comedy, and a cappella sea shanties offered up with the kind of vibrancy that only THE IMBIBLE can deliver. Tickets are $89 for Orchestra Seating including three rum drinks, or $109 for First Class Seating on deck with a Guided Rum Tasting added, and can be purchased by calling 866-811-4111 or visiting Imbible.NYC.
“Top Five Off-Broadway Picks to Close Out Your Summer With a Bang”
-DC Metro Theater Arts
THE STORY OF RUM TOLD BY SINGING PIRATES!
Join us for New Pirate Onboarding as we muster our crew for the maiden voyage of the Pirate Ship Bumbo! We’ll cover everything there is to know about how to be a successful pirate, starting of course with the history, applications, and proper appreciation of rum. Follow this tropical spirit from its origins in Persia, through the pivotal role it played in forging colonial empires on both sides of the Atlantic by powering the infamous Triangular Trade, to the creation of classic modern-day drinks like the Daiquiri and the Hurricane. Along the way, you’ll be treated to three complimentary rum drinks including authentic pirate recipes while you enjoy gorgeous, traditional sea shanties and experience a taste of life aboard a golden-age pirate ship – all woven into THE IMBIBLE’s signature mix of comedy, science, history, and some of the best drinks in New York!
“Genius!”
-The Mama Maven
THE IMBIBLE: RUM AND PIRATES is a can’t-miss for all budding buccaneers seeking spirited adventure on the high seas! A limited number of First Class Tickets are available for each performance that include seating on deck with our crew, as well as a Guided Rum Tasting of silver, gold, and aged rums led by our Pirate Captain at the end of your journey.
“A no-brainer – who turns down music, comedy, pirates and rum drinks?”
-The Shady Lane
The cast of RUM AND PIRATES features Nick Barakos, Megan Callahan, Justin Chesney, and Devon Meddock, with book by Nicole DiMattei and Anthony Caporale, a cappella vocal arrangements of traditional sea shanties by Josh Ehrlich, and cocktails created by Anthony Caporale.
Producer and creator Anthony Caporale is an award-winning pioneer in the beverage world, internationally known for being the first to bring mixology to both YouTube, with his seminal web video series Art of the Drink TV, and then to the New York stage in THE IMBIBLE series. He is the founder and Artistic Director of Broadway Theatre Studio, as well as the Director of Beverage Research at New York’s award-winning Institute of Culinary Education. Anthony has appeared in over 600 performances of A SPIRITED HISTORY OF DRINKING, wrote and directed the three other IMBIBLE shows, and regularly appears on national TV programs like The Chew, The Dr. Oz Show, and FOX Money. He received a dual BSE in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science from Duke University, where he also studied vocal performance. Anthony has served as the National Brand Ambassador for Drambuie Scotch Liqueur, the Cocktail Ambassador for Truvia Natural Sweetener, the Managing Editor of Chilled Magazine, and the host of Spoon University’s Mixology 101 video series. He is also the creator and host of the Taste Award-winning series Broadway Bartender on Broadway World, featuring interviews with actors, producers, and personalities from New York’s Theatre District to give audiences a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like to live, work, and play on Broadway!
Performances of RUM AND PIRATES are 8PM Fridays, and 5PM and 8PM Saturdays from August 23rd through October 12th.
The Producers Club Theaters are located at 358 West 44th Street.
21 and over only with proper ID as three complimentary cocktails are provided.
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